THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, April 12, 1996 TAG: 9604120062
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Teenology correspondent Luis Paredes
LENGTH: Medium: 57 lines
CHRIS LeCOUNT does not see himself as the son of God, as some have speculated after viewing his self-portraits. What he really is, is an artist with strong emotions rumbling beneath a cool exterior.
His two self-portraits, which earned him finalist status for Student Gallery '96, received a strong response from spectators and judges at preliminaries last month.
The artworks reflect the inner Chris, 16, a junior at Bayside High who also attends the Governor's School for the Arts. For one thing, a dark and moody palette is featured on his two painted panels.
``There's a reflection of me in those colors,'' he said. ``People call me cool, like the colors I use.''
Also, in one of his portraits,
Chris' face is painted over a cross - actually, two raised pieces of wood attached to the panel in the shape of a cross. The artist's brooding eyes stare out from a haunting face painted in dark grays and blues.
The cross form stirred interest, Chris said. ``People kept asking me if I thought I was the son of God.''
Chris is not the type to openly express his feelings. ``I'm not really emotional,'' he said. ``I'm more dull, not all lively.''
Through the years, Chris has learned to use art to express his inner self. ``If I feel rage, I'll draw someone who is frustrated. If I feel trapped, I'll draw someone in chains.''
Social issues also have influenced him, and found their way into his art. In one recent work, Chris addressed racism. The image is of a hanged man with a stop sign in the background.
``This,'' he said, vehemently, ``represents the bad part of racism.''
A more optimistic image is of two hands - one black, one white - shaking peacefully; in the background is Planet Earth, shining brightly with vitality and hope.
Writing also has been a way for Chris to express himself. When he feels frustrated, he writes about his situation.
``I've got a bad temper,'' he said. Both art and writing ``is a way to cool off.''
Yet, art remains his main outlet for expression. He hopes to pursue a career in art. He may try commercial art, but he'd rather resist it, he said, because he might feel trapped by the market.
``I don't want to cater to what other people want,'' he said.
His path of choice? ``I want to be a starving artist.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo
[student art]
by CNB