The Comedian and his Puppet

This is aportraiture of Michal Wojcik. One of the most popular Polish comedians. Paintong it I was basing on a traditional sketch I had done some time ago. Back then I did have a reference picture, but painting it now I didn't have that picture anymore (I just didn't think I would use it again). So basically the monochromatic sketch was all I had when deciding about the colours, shades and light. To see the whole WIP the stages and some other pictres of Michal please visit this thread: [link]

Now about the picture and the whole concept: There was this one sketch that Michal and his friend did, where he was playing a puppet. His friend was a pupetier. At first I thought it would be funny to switch their places. I wanted to make Michal a puppetier this time, he could hold the puppet of his friend. But then I thought of sth else.

I'm sure every one of us has been at least once under a big influence of someone, allowing this person to "think and make decisions for us" in a way. On the other hand we tend to influence others as well. There's even been some research done, that proved that whenever two people are interacting with each other e.g discussing, the "weaker" one starts imitating the other persons moves and feels a bit intimidated by them.

That led me to think that "We all are Puppetiers and Puppets at the same time. Every Puppetier is a Puppet and has a Puppet of his own, playing both parts in this Comedy that life sometimes can be". And this is what this picture is all about.

All comments are very uppreciated