For several years I had the assignment of doing these portraits. Politicians, priests, criminals, anybody who was the center of attention of media in Greece would win the honor to pose for me for a portrait! Joking, of course, I did the portraits of these individuals from photographs. But several of these portraits ended up in the collection of the model, bought from me either by them or by a person who gave it as a present to them.
This is the portrait of Mr.Tsohatzopoulos, ex-minister of defence, and a long-lasting politician, socialist. The socialist who lived a life of a very rich man, married to a much younger woman, in a huge house... He often looked high, or straight into a camera, with a look that kills. That is why I chose this composition, profile, with a look down. He is in jail now.
The wife of the ex-Prime Minster, living in the shadow of her husband.
This is Haris Pamboukis, politician. I do not remember what exactly was happening with him at the time, but I remember that he was loosing his position, he was on his way out. That is the reason for this unusual composition.
This high-ranking priest was involved in a huge scandal, I do not remember exactly what was it about. My concept was to show the hands that steal, oversized. See the sketches as well.
This is how I typical did all these portrait. The sketch, 2-3 watercolor paintings, Scan, then fixing it in my computer.
The final portrait is the combination of the two above. Note the big pockets, another politician caught stealing.