2008 - Painting Portraits of the Homeless

How I started Painting the Homeless

Elfrida Schragen, Victoria BC Canada

Portrait of a homeless man by Elfrida Schragen

Ramadan of 2006 was the most surrendered Ramadan I had observed. I felt waves of joy and gratitude. It was this that I believe was the foundation for the idea for my project. Since my retirement I had felt that I needed to volunteer and give of my time to worthy causes, and I was particularly bothered by the plight of the homeless. Any movement toward action in this area brought on a feeling of resentment and anger, so I just let it go and got on with my art.

A week after Ramadan as I was sitting quietly reading with my husband I received an idea, seemingly out of the blue. I was to paint portraits of the homeless. I got very excited, and at first refused to talk about it in case someone told me all the reasons it wouldn’t work. As the day progressed I began to flesh out some details. I would paint from photographs. The portraits would capture dignity and humanity. All the proceeds from sales would go to charity. Very slowly I began to share the embryonic ideas with close friends. Amazingly, every one was enthusiastic and had helpful suggestions. Two friends were so keen they offered to help and became my promotion and sales committee.

The project quickly became tied to a building fund for Our Place, a building being constructed with 45 beds, therapeutic resources and a drop-in center for the homeless. A price was set per portrait and I started painting so that we would have samples to show. I set a goal for 30 paintings, which if sold would bring in $20,000 at the very least.

The process of going down to the various shelters, approaching strangers, explaining my mission and getting cooperation from people to be a subject was very educational. Many were happy to share their stories, and the stories were all different. I did not find it at all depressing or frightening, and I felt guided in terms of who I decided to approach. In almost every instance I felt I made a strong contact that went beyond the outer appearances. I would come away and feel my body was full of shivers. At this point I have completed 24 paintings. Of these, nine are now sold. We have raised $7000 already. Each one is unique and contains in the background a reflection of their stories or maybe just how they struck me. It is gratifying to be able to paint as I want and not what might be expected in a commissioned portrait. I have learned that I must go to the studio and paint in a disciplined regular way. But once I start to paint, I need to keep my being open, not be too controlled by the mind, but allow my eyes to play, take breaks and trust. I have had no feedback from other artists and am only slightly nervous about this. All the portraits are photographed, reproduced and a copy is taken down to the shelters. The subjects are pleased.

Good things happen: for example, the framers have given us deals; we are getting free shows at three venues, including City Hall; a printer has donated his printing and material for cards, posters; a designer has offered to design our next poster for free; three paintings brought in more than the asking price. In all it seems like a project that is meant to be. I am happy and grateful for the guidance I have received.

For a much more detailed up-date check out the web site at www.helpingvictoria.ca