Sonsini's frequent subject, a Mexican American immigrant named Gabriel, played a significant role in shaping his artistic direction.
[3] Based in downtown Los Angeles, Sonsini often painted portraits of day laborers from Latin America, depicting them in the modest clothes they wear while waiting for work.
[3][7][8][9][10] Sonsini's artistic influences include the work of Bob Mizer, founder of Physique Pictorial, a significant magazine in gay culture, and abstract painters like Willem de Kooning and Francis Bacon.
[3] One critic has written that Sonsini's work offers a powerful and beautiful portrayal of his subjects, showcasing their stories and identities to the audience.
[11] Another has written that Sonsini's art is characterized by a Whitmanesque affection that permeates both the paint and the portraiture, creating a sense of genuine connection between the artist and his subjects.