Charcoal on Rives BFK

Charcoal and acrylic ink on Rives BFK

Charcoal on Rives BFK
33"x 42"

Charcoal on Rives BFK, November 2010
51.5"x 42"

My work is about the drawing process and how I am able to utilize it as a way to explore an attraction to or fascination with specific aesthetic features of an individualâ??s face. I am trying to understand how or why I see particular features as iconic elements of the individualâ??s both physical and metaphysical image, and what these attractions mean to me. I choose subjects based on their unique features, which may range from full beards to specific bone structures, acne or even nose shape. I use different forms of charcoal and erasers for large format drawings in order to move between traditional photo-realistic portraiture and abstracted texture. I use these materials as if sculpting a drawing.
By applying the process of printmaking to my work, I am further able to expand my drawing. Once the drawing is complete, I may produce a plate version of that charcoal drawing. I then apply techniques gained from the plate production and editioning toward creating a whole new drawing. This obsession explored through the cycle between drawing and printing has led to the development of my current body of work, which centers on descriptive facial features.