The Lonely BuskerOil paint This piece was created after I read about a social experiment involving violin virtuoso Joshua Bell, where he busked in a subway having sold out a concert hall the night earlier, and everyone barely recognized him at all, much less stopped to listen. It made me realize the inherent loneliness of busking as a whole, playing for an audience that rarely listens—much less appreciate you or your art. This is combined with the fact that living in cities is a lonely experience, as the lack of community that many people face cause the oversized population and the constant crowds make them feel lonelier despite there being people around. The cold blue colour palette, the fog, the lack of lit windows and defined people and the fact that this is set at night all serve to create a feeling of being utterly alone. |