He became friends with people who turn out to be the most generous and most hospitable people he knows. I’ve learned to count blessing sin my life, to hear the stories of what they encounter and what they consider a blessing.” – Brian PetersonĪpart from the economical value, Brian discovered also very much social value in portraying his homeless neighbors. If you haven’t yet, watch the video above to learn about one of Brian’s friends and her touching story. With the proceeds of the sold portraits, the people experiencing homelessness can get help. One of the painters of faces of mankind that portrayed a man experiencing homelessness in Jackson, TennesseeĮvery one of the paintings goes for sale once finished. How can I take off my human eyes and see with the eyes of my heart, so to speak? Getting into all the stories they’ve told me, all the pains, all the hurts, and then all the hopes and dreams and things they wish for.” – Brian Peterson “The painting process for me is always a process of worship. If people agree to that, Brian asks some more questions that would make them smile and then takes some pictures before he goes to his studio.

Sometimes it takes a few days or weeks to become ‘friends’ until it feels right to ask the question: “can I paint your portrait?” Brian encourages them to be vulnerable, to open up and have a human conversation. Painting someone you don’t know and who is experiencing homelessness begins with a first conversation. Up to this day, the project has portrayed more than 150 people experiencing homelessness. It became a community of painters in Detroit, Anaheim and Miami and other US cities. We were able to help a lot of people.” – Brian Petersonįaces of Santa Ana became Faces of Mankind and expanded to other cities. “The aim was to help the homeless, help our neighbours, get them off the streets. Later, he founded his non-profit project Faces of Santa Ana with the mission to help homeless and inspire creatives to connect people with their neighbors in need. It was in 2015 when he painted his first portrait of his homeless neighbor Matthew. Brian had not painted for 9 years but jumped back into painting.

He asked the man if it was okay to paint his portrait. Brian talked to him and saw beauty in his story, his face, hopes and dreams. Picking up his paintbrushĮveryone around the neighborhood knew the homeless man, but no one knew his name.

That is the day it all began for Faces of Mankind. Brian decided to go out on the street to talk to his homeless neighbor. But one day, he and his wife got at a tough point in life and wanted to change something. “That is the screaming homeless man again”, said Brian Peterson to his wife. Living in Santa Ana, California, and working a daytime job as an automotive designer, Brian lived a pretty normal life.

I Give My Eyes... by Brian H. Peterson