Andrew Cuomo
Nicole Jeffords, April 2021
I couldn’t resist making an attempt at a drawing of Andrew Cuomo. When I work on a portrait, whether in oil or graphite, certain things about the person bubble up -- whether they’re kind or mean-spirited, talented, fearful, in love, angry, depressed; whether they carry secrets, harbor grudges, have a cruel streak; whether they take drugs or drink too much. Kinks in Cuomo’s personality are well-known, but I could see he’s hard-nosed, determined to have his way, rough in his behavior and approach to things. I could see he has obsessive traits, is argumentative, has a tenderness deep in his soul, and is hell to get along with. And that he likes power.
I really enjoy reading people from drawing/painting them, and sometimes even think of hanging out a shingle as a “portrait psychic.” Here’s what happens when I look at a photo of someone. First I think, Oh no, I can’t do this! Then I think: But wow look at those ears, the way they’re set into the head, and look at the difference between the right and left eye (both usually connected with intelligence, imagination, sense of humor), and that lopsided mouth, and pretty soon the whole image blurs into a single basic image, a twist of anguish, yearning, joy, despair, and I begin to see what the person’s really all about. After that, I start hearing oddly formal phrases in my head that have nothing to do with me (but everything to do with the person I’m looking at). Images of the subject start flickering in my brain. I write down everything as fast as I can, and from the sheer intensity of the experience can tell whether I’m right or not. Usually I’m right (in fact, I don’t ever remember being wrong). I’ve had people come up to me and say, “Remember that reading you did of so-and-so? Wow I couldn’t believe you were so on target,” but I never remember a single thing I say. The words are gone from memory as soon as I’ve written them down and probably that’s a good thing.
See my previous post for details on how you can get one of my pencil portraits and/ or a reading of yourself or a loved one.
