Every time I draw a portrait, I feel like it’s the first time. You can generally understand the structure of most human faces. But, there’s a complexity and subtlety that emerges from gazing at someone’s face for a long period of time. It’s entirely unique to that person and to the moment. When I work with charcoal I am reminded of the value of patience—waiting for moments of spontaneous liberation that are captured so beautifully in it’s rich textures, dark shadows and expressive lines. My job is to look and to respond, letting what I see move me and touch my heart. I’m not drawing a picture of the person, I’m drawing how I feel about them.
