This work was inspired by a newspaper photograph of a Russian crime boss. He looked fat and frightened to me. I liked his cheeks and eyes, and his ugly little moustache. The photograph framed him in a way that made him seem powerless and pathetic, something to be pitied. I have no idea what his name is, as I never wrote it down.

People often look at my paintings and ask, "Who is that guy?" This annoys me. Does it really matter who the person is? If you see a painting of a flower, is the first question out of your mouth, "What kind of flower is that?"

This work is for sale. E-mail me if you'd like to buy it.