Counting Out My Last Dollars

Acrylic Paint on Canvas Board
18 x 24"
2024

This acrylic painting, inspired by photography I took of the model Joseph Fakih, captures the contemporary struggles faced by blue-collar workers in America. The composition centers on a man counting out his last few dollars from his paycheck, a symbol of the financial disparity that defines the lives of many in the working class. A bag of chips beside him serves as a reminder of the poor dietary choices often imposed by economic constraints. The bottle of wine represents the issue of substance abuse within this community, a coping mechanism for the stresses of trying to provide for oneself and their family. I sought to convey the reality of trades workers, painting the subject in a narrative that evokes empathy and reflection towards the lower class. Growing up in a blue-collar family, I find this narrative extremely important to tell and vital to the perception of economic struggles and stereotypes.