I see portraits as a gateway to understanding and compassion towards others. In crafting these animal portraits, I have tried to reveal an archetypal presence in each piece for the viewer to connect with. Each painting is named after a virtue, capturing something of the presence of the animal and the power of each individual face. For the last several years, I’ve taken a dive into soft pastels. I found early inspiration in the works of Degas, mesmerized by the way he used layered marks to create passages of light and shifts in tone. Yet in practice, pastel can be unruly, tricky, and even fragile. And so I’ve learned to let go. Straddling the forms of drawing and painting, this series is a celebration of pastel and the journey we’re making together.
