Drawings.

The process of this charcoal self-portrait began with identifying shadows and breaking them up into shapes. Then, I went in with linework and shading to reconstruct the image I saw before me in the mirror. Taking composition into consideration, I darkened the background to emphasize my features. I desired for this drawing to evoke a sense of power.

In this 48"x57" charcoal drawing, I learned that shadows and shading are the keys to creating a still life. When it came to the background, I improvised the plant’s shadow on the ground and added a lightbulb in the upper left-hand corner to make the overall image more interesting.

The crosshatch grants a sense of directionality to a seemingly flat image while the sharp and angular edges of the vase juxtapose nicely with the softness of the fruit.