Life Story Portraits

Comments from a Thankful Retiree

Words cannot describe the range of emotions I experienced when I first saw Rafael’s portrait of me.  What struck me most was how well he captured the essence of my soul, my ever-present sense of humor and my projection of friendly acceptance.  

His work transcends drafting images on the page; the lines and colors come alive. You can feel the sense of wanting in my dog’s eyes, see the glow of blood flowing beneath the skin of my face, and hear the lush roll of waves lapping on the sunlit beach.  

What makes it special is Rafael’s infusion of wit and whimsy into his work: the lyrics and music to one of my favorite songs to sing placed behind my head; my face appearing on a magazine to which I devoted the last 15 years, tucked neatly in the corner; a gavel and scales of justice, an homage to my early career as a lawyer, planted partly off canvas. 

These are the perceptions and skills of a pure artist and master of his craft.     

– Peter Scarpato