ist, Andrei Acris, is able to capture on the faces of his subjects a
wealth of emotion in a single instant. A mere 22-years old, the pre-
lust, ambition, determination, and self-discovery, themes indicative
of his age. Such are emotion easily glimpsed on the subdued expres-
sions of the characters he paints. Also, by using a merging technique,
whereby his subjects melt into one another, he is able to capture the
alternate facets of a single individual, or alternately, the unity of a
couple in love.
vibrant purples and blues, lends his paintings the same nostalgic quali-
ties of a memory. By basking his subjects in sunlight, he punctuates
sity of his lighting is contrasted with a subtlety in the gestures
he uses. There is nothing dramatic about his subjects' expres-
sions. Moreover, he prefers to small gestures that advertise
stronger emotions. Through the use of the seemingly mundane
a crane of the neck, a closed eye, a raised shoulder he is
able to depict an entire world of thought.
only slightly upturned. He, on the other hand, is looking away
as he holds her. Both subjects, however, appear completely
lost in their embrace. Their faces are melded mid-nuzzle,
and their shared contact
result in warmth. One can
see heat emanating from
underneath his hand, which
is holding her arm. The act
is a simple tender show of
affection, and the melting
effect is a manifestation of
the subjects' unity and of
the feelings they share. His
use of bare skin also draws
out the sensuality of the encounter. Her bare leg, suspended at
a slight angle, is completely evoking. It is a haunting detail, the