This is a story worth telling.

The best thing I did while creating this piece was to stop. The thing with art (and life) is that magic is waiting to happen. But you have to show up.

We had planned for the pose to be a longer one. But a short while into the pose, the model was unable to hold the pose and requested to end the pose early. In a frenzied rush, I scampered to throw in any details that could become landmarks that helped me complete the sketch later. A few seconds later, I was left with Unplanned Jewels - an expressive powerhouse of a sketch. I knew in that instant that I couldn’t retouch the piece to “fix” or “improve” any element of it.

Unplanned Jewels was completely unscripted, and better than anything I could’ve created that day.

Magic is waiting to happen; but you have to show up to witness it.

Specifications:

Type: Original Sketch
Category: Figure
Medium: Charcoal on Paper
Size: 24” x 18”

This piece is scheduled to be on display as part of the MARN Small Works… BIG Impact show. The show is live from Friday, April 17 through Saturday, May 16. Please visit the Marshall Building to view and purchase the artwork.

Stylistically, Sounds of a Waterfall was created in stark contrast to my typical style that embraces rich, deep, dark shadows. The preservation of negative space became important almost as soon as I started working on this piece.

Emotionally, the effortless grace with which her hair falls to her side became a moment in itself - hence the title.

Spcifications:

Original Sketch
Figure
Medium: Charcoal on Paper
Size: 14” x 11”

Type: Original Sketch
Category: Figure
Medium: Charcoal on Paper
Size: 24” x 18”

What do you do when your artwork tells you to change course? You listen.

The intent was always to have well-defined eyes for this piece. But when it came down to it, the piece was stronger without it. I decided to go with my gut feeling and leave out the details. And in doing so, it looks like the light isn't really falling down on her, but emanating from her. And that little choice changes the whole piece.

In Inward Reflections, she rises from the shadows like a force of light. Is she illuminated from above or within? Because the shadows tell one story while her eyes tell another.

Inward Reflections teems with a tussle of tensions:

• Between the light and the shadows

• Between the textures - crisp and hazy

• Between the planned piece, and the end result

Specifications:

Type: Original Sketch
Category: Figure
Medium: Charcoal on Paper
Size: 24” x 18”

Type: Original Sketch
Category: Figure
Medium: Charcoal on Paper
Size: 24” x 18”