42” x 60” Charcoal and Oil Pastel on Paper — Drawing Studio, Spring ‘22
This piece was created as my final project for my drawing studio course at the end of my freshman year. The prompt we were given was simply to create a piece that was 5 ft tall and included a human figure, so I chose to draw an old photo of my grandfather and I.
My grandfather passed in 2019 and was an incredibly prominent and influential person in my life, so I wanted to make a tribute to him that simultaneously depicts a dichotomy between the hurt of loss and the passion of unconditional love. The striking red of my shirt contrasts with its black and white surroundings, creating a clear focal point meant to represent both the warm inner feeling of experiencing love and the sharp pain of loss and heartbreak.