Traditional Works
Bruce
This piece, titled Bruce, was created during an introductory drawing class in the first semester at Webster. It was the third-to-last project completed in that course and remains one of only two pieces that stands out as a true point of pride. The class spent a single three-hour session on this assignment, which continues to be surprising, as much more time was initially anticipated to complete something of this nature.
The professor instructed the class to focus on light and dark contrasts, begin with a basic outline, and identify shapes within the larger composition. The initial approach followed the professor’s guidance, starting with a light sketch and focusing on the basic shapes. However, the process quickly shifted toward adding finer details, refining the drawing as it progressed. This project proved particularly challenging, with the professor closely supervising, encouraging a different approach that ultimately proved more effective.
Skull and Roots
This is the second piece most proudly displayed. In contrast to Bruce, Skull and Roots was developed over a period of about a month and a half, spanning five or so three-hour class sessions. While Skull and Roots was created before Bruce, it reflects an earlier approach, with too much focus on small details. Despite this, the piece turned out exceptionally well due to the considerable amount of time spent on it. However, the growth between this work and Bruce is significant.
At the time, there was still an adjustment period when working with waxy charcoal, experimenting with techniques to blend and shade effectively. In the final stages of the project, the use of white charcoal for highlights really helped bring the piece together and enhance its overall composition.
Vase and Cloth
This piece, Vase and Cloth, was the first work completed at Webster. It is often included to show the growth made as an artist and to serve as a reminder that practice, not just classes or teaching, is key to improvement. For this particular piece, the focus was on light, shadow, and how light can bounce off surfaces to create different shadows. This concept proved challenging, and at the time, the piece was not well-liked because of it.
Another reason for the dislike of the piece was the use of waxy charcoal for the first time, which made blending difficult. As a result, the darker shadows did not transition smoothly into the lighter areas. Looking at this piece now, it represents a lesson learned and the progress made since its creation.
