As a realist painter, I’m always looking for compelling images to interpret. Sometimes, in the case of this photograph by Pile, much of the work (lighting, mood, strong formal elements) is already done for me. What I chose to bring is a painterly quality, the psychology of the sitter, and the subtle chaos of multiple layers of paint. I was moved when Pile told me this was a candid portrait! I tried to capture that fleeting energy of a random encounter.
