Refugees welcome

An new association just opened the doors in my neighborhood. They offer German lessons and a place to meet refugees hang up in the Görlitzer Park selling grass. German laws don`t allow them to work, so the only work they can do is an illegal one. Most of them have some papers from Spain or Italy and they can stay in Germany until 3 months as “tourist” Whenever I cross the park I try to avoid looking at their faces to avoid being ask if I want “something” This new association Bantabaa (Mandinka for meeting point) offers a place where I can meet them in a different context talk with them, learn about their stories. look into their eyes and see the people behind.

Most of them come from West Africa. I know where Gambia, Guinea, Guinea Bissau are, but when I went home I looked at Wikipedia to understand what the political and economical situation is.

When drawing people, that are not modelling,  you have to remember that people have the tendency to go back to a comfort position. So you have to study them first before drawing the first line.