TIMES SQUARE PORTRAITS

This series was inspired by the classic formal European portraits from the 17th and 18th century. In my continuation of documenting life in Times Square. I have found the collaboration between street portrait “character” artist and their subjects reminiscing of the formality of commission portrait sessions of long ago. I am fascinated by the seriousness of each of the sitters as well as their body language in posture and attitude. Different from the early portrait painters using natural light, these character artists use the overhead light from the overbearing wattage of the billboards which illuminate the night in Times Square. Most of the portraits I capture are taken during the nocturnal hours. I ask each artist and sitter if I can document the challenge between the spontaneous energy between their joint collaboration. I am fascinated particularly by the fact that the portrait session is taking place outside in the environment of surrounding urban chaos on sidewalk streets in one of the busiest locations on the planet.

Frank Schramm 2020