Hopeful Gaze

"Hopeful Gaze" is a portrait painted from a visit to Ava, the ancient capital of Burma (Myanmar). This young child was one of many selling snacks to tourists visiting the ancient ruins along the Irrawaddy River. Families living in this region are mainly farmers struggling to grow enough crops to feed themselves and to sell at the local market. Children at a very young age are expected to contribute to this daily search for income. Robbed of their childhood innocence by feudalistic history and now military authoritarian rule each day is a labor to survive.