Pastel Self Portrait

This is a chalk pastel self portrait that updates one I did a number of years ago. Both are more fanciful representations of myself as I give myself a new set of clothing and glasses to wear. However, the clothing reveals multiple interests of mine, which includes fashion history and fiction/fantasy writing. My eyes are as small as they are because I wanted some way to represent how near-sighted I am while keeping the glasses looking elegant.

20"x27"

Graphite Portait

This graphite piece is a portrait of a friend of mine who I asked to dress as androgynously as possible. I believe we were very successful on that end. I concentrated on creating a variety of grays that also followed the laws of perspective, which became oddly difficult at times.

9"x13"

Chalk Pastel Drapery and Live Model Study

Chalk pastel is one of my favorite media to work with and I believe this piece is my best example of my love for the medium. This study concentrates on the lighting on the drapery and of the shading transitions on the model. I also enjoy the variety of colors in the piece.

20"x20"

Graphite Landscape

This graphite landscape is of my backyard in the Pine Barrens. I found describing all of the different textures to be a fun challenge of keeping all of the plants unique. It was also a nice study in applying the rules of perspective.

6.5"x11"

Charcoal and Graphite The Black Bird Girl

This is a charcoal, white and black, and graphite piece of a girl modeling a Venetian bird mask. I wanted her to have something on her body to strengthen the bird theme. So she has a cloak that resembles feathers, but could be another material as I liked the idea of keeping it ambiguous.

11"x14"

Ink and Graphite Skeletons

This is an inked, graphite drawing of the skeletons of a horse, a rhinoceros, a fox, and a moorhen. These skeletons were later combined in order to create new creatures.

17"x25.5"

Mythical Creature Card Designs

These are four card designs that I intend to print using a silkscreen/serigraphy method, which require strong black and white contrast to transfer properly to the screen. Each card design represents what I consider the central elements of a mythical creature. The top left design represents the Kirin from China, a creature known for its carp scales, long lion's tail, connections to chinese dragons with the pearl of wisdom, and the single deer antler in the center of its forehead. The top right design represents the Pegasus, the famous flying horse of Greek myth with its large wings and capacity to soar through clouds. The bottom left design represents the Unicorn, the beloved medieval beast of purity who is known for its long lion-like tail, cloven goat hooves, and its single long spiral horn. The horn's design is based on the original unicorn horns, narwhal tusks. The bottom right design represents the Kelpie of Scotland and Ireland, a malevolent river beast that usually took the form of a beautiful black horse. This aspect is represented by the black simplified river ring. As a horse, the only sign of its devious nature is its dripping wet mane, which is part of the inner circle. The Kelpie can also take other forms, the more common ones being that of an old man or a young woman, which is also part of the inner circle. The fish eye in the center is to reinforce the Kelpie's underwater nature and need to eat its prey in the river.

11"x14"

Carnevale Serigraphy Print

This print is based on a photograph from my trip to Venice during Carnevale while I was studying abroad in Florence, Italy. I decided on colors similar to cyan, magenta, and yellow in order to see what slightly different shades of each color would create when layered.

10.5"x9.25"