When I lived in NYC (1993-1995) I spent some time photographing street people, including gang members. The young couple depicted in this painting, Karen and Jeb allowed me to create a rough sketch of them and photograph them frequently. They really enjoyed telling me about their lives; hopes and dreams they had before ending up on the streets and addicted to drugs. I was so moved by their plight and positive attitude despite their circumstances. I visited them frequently, brought them items, mostly food and would listen to their stories. One of the last things they told me was that they were expecting a baby. The last time I saw them I knew I would probably not find them again. My hope is that they found their way off the streets.
This painting was never used for commercial purposes and is still in my possession. The technique is acrylic on canvas.
Rough sketch before executing the painting:
*All artwork on this blog is property of Kristina Applegate. Thank you.
