“Pain” WIP 3

 Here is an update on my self portrait “Pain” 9 x 12 graphite on Strathmore 300 Bristol Smooth paper

I am slowly building up the values and the texture of my nose.  For pencils I’m using Pentel P205 mechanical pencils with 4H, 2H, H, HB, B, 2B, and 4B Pentel graphite.  I am also using @prismacolor Turquoise graphite pencils. 

I don’t use any blending tools.  I layer my graphite by making tiny overlapping circular motions with my pencils.

More to come soon!

"Pain" 9 x 12 Graphite on Strathmore 300 Bristol Smooth paper

 It's been awhile...

I started a new drawing tonight.  I'm calling this "Pain" it's 9 x 12 graphite on Strathmore 300 Bristol Smooth paper,  

What is pain?  To me, pain is living with mental illness, surviving a life threatening and life changing heart attack, certainly leaves one to think.  I find myself thinking about all that I've been through in my life.  All of the pain I've suffered through as a child through to my early 20's.  I should have died many many years ago but I persevered through the suffering.  How? I still don't know but I did.   As I get older, I still have days where it all just gets to me and life becomes too overwhelming.  I am learning to embrace my scars, both physical and emotional.  I decided to turn my pain and suffering into art.  This is the first of many self portraits where I am trying to cope and deal with the inner pain I suffer through.   I hope you, the viewer, can join me along my journey as I try to figure out who I truly am.   

More to come!!!