Maskes

Maskes..

I hate masks.  I guess I’m not alone.  They cover the face so you miss half the expressions a face has to share.  As a portrait painter it’s a study in the face.  It’s said that if you capture the eyes you can see the soul.  I’ve always thought the eyes were the most important part of the face, but now when you see folks and you only see them from the eyes up, I’ve been reminded of how really important the rest of the face is.  Yes you can see a smile in the eyes most of the time but you really can’t see joy unless you see the smile on the lips. 

It’s the joy I miss, a toothy grin, a belly laugh, the smile that says it’s all right.  I miss that.  Instead I just see the eyes and often its fear I see I those eyes.  Who are you?  Are you sick?  Are you wearing that mask because they say you have to or because you really care about other people and protecting them or are do you have COVID? 

I miss the trust that a smile brings.  When someone looks at you and smiles, an honest, how are you smile.  That smile says it’s ok, ask your question, voice your concern, say your piece.  A smile says maybe they will listen, maybe they will hear me, maybe they are open to a new thought or idea.  Maybe things will change.  We need new ideas now more than ever so I wish we could see more smiles.