![]() “We’re telling as little about the sitter as possible so that the viewer can project onto them.” “And we’re doing the same thing with these paintings,” McCurdy said. He compared the technique to a session with a psychiatrist in which the patient and doctor tell each other as little as possible about themselves “so that you can project onto them.” “We’re here to create an encounter between the viewer and the sitter.” “They have plain white backgrounds, nobody gestures, nobody - there are no props because we’re not here to tell the story of the person that’s sitting for them,” McCurdy said. McCurdy told the White House Historical Association for the latest edition of its “1600 Sessions” podcast that his style is “stripped down for a reason.” He’s also done portraits of South Africa’s Nelson Mandela, Amazon’s Jeff Bezos and the Dalai Lama, among others. The portraits do not look like any others in the collection to which they will be added, in terms of style and substance. The former first lady chose artist Sharon Sprung for her portrait. WATCH: Biden to help unveil White House portrait of Obama Obama himself visited in April to help celebrate the anniversary of the major health care law he signed. Obama’s first visit since her husband’s presidency ended in January 2017. Robert McCurdy likes to present his subjects without any facial expression and standing against a white background, which is how America’s 44th and first Black president will be seen here for posterity, in a black suit and gray tie.īiden and first lady Jill Biden invited Obama and the former first lady back to their former home to unveil their official portraits. The artist whom Barack Obama selected to paint his portrait says the “stripped down” style of his works helps create an “encounter” between the person in the painting and the person looking at it. He praised Biden - his vice president - as someone who became a “true partner and a true friend.” “It’s great to be back,” Obama said when it was his turn to speak. Some in the audience gasped, others applauded. “Barack and Michelle, welcome home,” President Joe Biden said before he invited the Obamas to the stage to unveil the portraits. WASHINGTON (AP) - Former President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle returned to the White House on Wednesday for the unveiling of official portraits with a modern vibe: him standing expressionless against a white background and her seated on a sofa in the Red Room wearing a formal light blue dress.
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