Portrait of Melissa Newkirk - CHiPS Volunteer Coordinator

Melissa organizes all the volunteers at CHiPS. She has been helping people her whole life, having volunteered for the Peace Corps and worked with various non-profits. At CHiPS, she helps her neighbors help neighbors. This piece is part of my upcoming exhibition – The Faces of CHiPs - What if God lived in Gowanus? – a series of studies and portraits of the people of CHiPs, a soup kitchen/residence that has served my neighborhood for 50 years. All proceeds from sales of paintings and prints will be donated to CHiPs to further their mission. The original is 17" x 14" brush and sumi ink on strathmore drawing paper.