This is a portrait of my baby brother Gabriel. I designed it after a photograph of him as a child. Gabriel, my most American patriotic brother was appropriately born on Flag Day (June 14) of the Bicentennial Year (1976). The youngest of my parents’ six children, Gabriel was the second to be born in the United States. Fluent in English and Spanish, Gabriel grew up in New Jersey, Tokyo, Saudi Arabia and Spain. My father’s job as an electrical engineer for Mobil Oil, necessitated our family being itinerant. Today, Gabriel works and resides in Europe. When people look at this painting of Gabriel, they think it is Rafael, the eldest of my five young sons. I painted this portrait four years before Rafael was born. Funny how they’re both named after Arch angels! Scroll down for a current photo of Gabriel all grown up and handsome! |
