Portrait/Figure Series. Mount Olive College. 2007.

"Last Dance" is a painting based on the spirituality and culture of the native Americans and Latin Americans in the time before the Europeans. I was reading a great book called "1491" about the history of the Americas before Columbus. The painting is more of a mixed media piece as it is mostly a charcoal and chalk drawing with some paint. It was 4' x 6'.  I think at the time it was one of my strongest works, but now I see it as yet another step in my development. 

Small ink sketch for "last Dance." In some ways I think I executed this better than the larger work.

"Triple Self-Portrait."  I think this was from an assignment to use repetition. I used the repeated images of the cup and myself. This is more of a mixed media drawing with paint. 

Detail from a portrait the class did of one of the grounds keeper/maintenance man John at Mount Olive College. This was a full on painting, as opposed to the  other paintings here. I learned a lot from making this painting. I remember figuring out how to paint the trees and leafs while driving back and forth school and home. I observed the light acting on the trees. I am fortunate I didn't crash. The flesh tones clothes were a challenge too, but I think they turned out well. The most difficult part for me was the truck. I have never been one to draw vehicles and I struggled with it the most I think. That is why it looks a little off.  Overall, I think it turned out well. 

Watercolor Portraits. SWOSU, 1996.

 These portraits of Frank Sinatra, John Lennon, Trent Reznor, and Micheal Stipe were made in spring 1996. I don't recall if I chose to use the un-natural color scheme for the flesh, or if it was a part of the assignment. I had forgotten about these until recently when I found them in an old portfolio. I was surprised to see how the color usage is similar to what I do now. I know I didn't understand color back then; I must have done it intuitively. Color was always difficult for me to wrap my head around. I think I was sick the week we covered color in class. I have a much better understanding now, but it took me a while to put it together in my head.