Subtle brushwork portrays downtown dwellers with dignity

Patiently addinglayers ofpaint withdelicate brush strokes, emerging Vancouver artistAlexSandvosscreatesimages of the people she's come to know on the Downtown Eastside.

They're thecommunity members many of them Megaphone Magazinevendors Sandvossruns into while working at Opus Art Supplies on Hastings andCambiestreets, across fromVictory Square.

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"Every morning I'dpass a man selling Megaphone and we became friends and he soldmemy first issueand thatawakenedme to the reality of people there and everywhere really. And I justthoughthe'd make a great subject for a painting."

The exhibit,Faces We Pass By Everyday,has 11portraits in oil in avariety of sizes.They'refor sale with partialproceeds going to Megaphone Magazine and the subjects themselves.

Delicate work

Sandvossuses a technique that results inrealisticportraits.First, she takes hundreds of photos to find a natural representation of the person. Then she painstakingly appliespaint withtiny brushes to build the images.

"So I can get eyelashes and pores and really detailed work. They take a few months and take a lot of layers and patience."

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It's important toSandvossthat her subjects like how they've been painted. She wantsto offer them dignity along with admiration.

Mindful of the message

She also wants thesubjects to speak for themselves and tell their own stories. Some of them will be visiting the gallery during the exhibit.

But even if people just come to look at the portraits,Sandvosshopes they take away a key message.

"I think it's important to look up sometimes. We are very much connected to our technology now. Just having a sense of community and connection and bonding with other peoplethat is something that is really important."

The exhibit is at VisualspaceGallery and runs until July 12.