past

Camden, Maine. Getting back into making personal art after working on a huge commission these past few months.

Where do I begin with this one? This is a drawing of my dad and I; the picture was taken back in 2006, a happier time, I suppose. I don't commonly think about my dad, I don't necessarily think about how much I miss him or how I wish I could see him again, so it was odd for me to sit and look through old photos. I don't really know my dad; I do, but I don't. My dad was physically part of my life for 10 years, the second half of those were not the best. Mental illness, self medicating for years, debt, heroin, arguments, threats, uncertainty. I feel like I remember the negative more because I was older, my parents couldn't hide it from me like they used to. At the same time, when he was sober and stable, life was good. Life was great, things felt complete. So here I am, 6 years since he died. I don't want to say his image is fading, but I know less of who he was than I did before. I see the good from some (the ones who praise him, who act like he was a saint), and I see the bad from others (the one who felt the pain). I suppose I no longer see my view, my memories aren't there anymore. I don't necessarily feel sad, the anger has faded, and I can't say I'm happy. Maybe I'll figure it out one day, but, for now, it is what it is.

A lemon drawn with Carbothello pastel pencils

Charcoal and soft pastel

I've been dealing with mental health issues for the past few months. Finally painted something!

Drawing of my cat Sofia 9x12 pastelmat

Pastels...I've never been a huge fan of working with them, mainly because I can never seem to get them to blend or move the way I want. I think this turned out okay; it's not the worst it could've been...not the best. It was fun to try, considering the fact that I rarely try new mediums, and it got my mind off everything I've been worrying about. Anyway, enjoy.

Little nephew whose name is Leo counts as an ISO cat too! Big cat!

Pastel pencils on canvas fabric

This is the book I made which contains the educational paper I wrote and illustrated about my trip to China in the summer of 2017. I gave a lecture entitled, The Sketchbook: Let's Connect at ICON10, The Illustration Conference in Detroit, MI this past July. I gave a few of these books out along with pocket sketchbooks to the audience. Below are a few spreads from the 40-page book.

Mixed media doodle collage over Carhartt ad - using oil pastels, pen, highlighter, fineliner and glue

At first I planned on keeping this drawing realistic. But over a week ago I learned that a dear friend lost their sibling in an accident. Then this past weekend I worked on a small project that really struck a chord with me. I helped a friend and her son record a song she dedicated to her father, who had recently passed away as well. They sang "Let it Be" by the Beatles. There was so much emotion in the air. And for the first time ever I was brought to tears after I mixed a song. For the rest of the weekend I thought about my family a LOT. Especially my Parents. They've done so fucking much for me and my brother. It sucks that, only as an adult, I realized that every fiber of who I am, and where I am now is due to their love, support, and sacrifice. This piece goes out to the people you can count on. They're there for you no matter what the cost... No matter the pain, even if it's literally killing them. It's Purely out of Love and they wouldn't have it any other way❤️.

Acrylic and oil pastel on wood board. Thanks for looking.

Burnt oaker soft pastel

This was the second of the same lion drawn on two different surfaces. This one was drawn in pastels on Pastelmat paper.

Recent commission: How do women move forward when doors are continually closing in front of them? Doors that were open in the past are now being closed by those who think that you should live your life the way they do even though your life situation is vastly different from theirs. 2022, 13” x 19” Ballpoint Pen on Paper, Digital. Model: AmyM

Been inactive for a while here, but I have been making art :). Here's my newest work. A house warming gift for a dear friend.

This rabbit likes to rock out! 10 x 10 watercolor + marker & pastel. I had fun adding texture in this one.

Requested by 8 year old space enthusiast. Pastel pencil on dark blue pastel paper.

Pastel pencil study of the intertwined hands of the Ambrogio Borghi sculpture, Chioma di Berenice. Faber Castell pastel pencils, Black and White Generals charcoal pencils on 9” x 12” Strathmore Toned Grey sketchbook paper.

An old sketch - just found out tonight will be the first full moon of the year, also known as the 'wolf moon' (Jan 28th)

Chromatography is used in chemistry to dissolve a mixture and place it into a "mobile phase," which allows the solvent to carry it and its components up the paper. It shows the layers, exposing deeper, hidden tones and colors, something only seen when a solvent of the same polarity is used. It's odd. Life feels a bit like that, and I'm seeing the colors separate for the first time. It's all there, everything that's been hidden in the inky mess for the past however many years. And now it's smeared. Bold. Clear. But blurry. What's on me and what's on you? Where do we go from here?

I suppose this was just a tester/practice piece? My first actual still life from observation and my first time actually using charcoal (yes, I've never truly used charcoal before. Charcoal and pastels are two things I avoid. Their looseness and freeness scare me, considering how rigid I can be). Not sure how to feel about this one. I'm my worst critic, and I've known that for a long time now. There's a lot of practice and progress to be made, but it turned out half-way decent.

Moria Orc profile drawing (from "Lord of the Rings") using compressed charcoal, greyscale pastels and graphite pencil on paper, (size A4).

This is my first plant abstract in over six months because college takes up all my time during the school year now. This one was supposed to be more pastel, but the scanner washed out some of the lighter colors.

illustration for recipes for tea pastries 2/4 : Madeleine

Some LGBTQ+ members of the community can’t openly love who they want to love, so the bars represent that barrier. The fabric, with all its complex folds and creases represents sensuality, desire and love. Love, in all its forms is a complex thing of beauty.------------- The companion piece to my previous post ‘Ecstasy.’ Agony and Ecstasy were always meant to be a diptych. The issue for me is that there is a two-year gap between the completion of the two - there is a noticeable difference in the the way both were drawn. Faber Castell pastel pencils, Black and White Generals charcoal pencils on 9” x 12” Strathmore Toned Grey sketchbook paper.

Be gentle to little creatures

A portrait of my cat Linus, who has the sweetest nature, a lot of love for his brother cat Rex, and a lingering case of kitty gingivitis from his days as a stray. Derwent Drawing Pencils on pastel paper.