This was probably one of the first pieces I have done where I used a reference photo for inspiration. I usually just use them for anatomy and perspective, but this time I stuck to the basic idea of the photo. (I still changed a lot tho, haha)
When we look at each other, all we see is their outward appearance. However, we are all much more than that. We are all more than the color of our skin. I am black, but I am also Cuban, American, African American, and Irish. I am more than my skin color.
This is the very first charcoal portrait I ever made. I think I spent about 25 hours on this piece over the course of a week. Portrait Model is a Japanese singer (Gackt) and a reference photo was used. Size is 18x24 inches.
I’m fascinated in how something may make you feel. For instance, I’m deeply moved by images of outer space from the Hubble space telescope, but I do not try to recreate those photographs in my work. What does not exist in those photos, is how they may make us feel. This is why you won’t see any “realism” in my art. When we send astronauts to space, they can discuss factually what is happening, but what truly moves human beings is when astronauts describe how they felt while they were there. So, I choose to express how I feel, as opposed to illustrate what I see.
The inspiration for this collection came from a conversation I had with the Founder and Executive Director of the Underprivileged And Underserved Foundation (UAUF), George Goodwine. While discussing race and whether or not every opportunity was fair based upon someone’s familial structure or “starting line,” I was asked the following questions. How does someone overcome these hurdles? How can the playing field be leveled to make things fairer, when others may only have 50 hurdles to overcome in the same competition?
My response was simple. “The person in front of 150 hurdles has two choices. They can either get discouraged before they begin, or start jumping. In the midst of the race they might get tired, unsure, or discouraged, but if they press on to the finish line they may become more physically fit than the person who jumps over 50.”
I used to dance ballet and at the time, there were a lot of hurdles I had to overcome solely based upon inconveniences that came with being raised in low-income, single parent home. Above are pencil sketches and sharpie drawings that I have drawn from actual photos. I plan on making these images my own by adding more abstraction and vibrant color to them.
Over the course of the project, stay tuned to see how these pictures will transform into a work of ART!!! Check out my artwork at theservingartist.com
gabizuniga.com | @gabizuniga - It's funny how a warmup did to take a break from my usual work turns into a piece I actually really like. This represents how I often need to take a break from my own overthinking to clear my head and function.
(Ps its my 22th / 23th time drawing my oc Junior in my Sneezy art and doodle addict era and forth time in my counter social era but not my first time drawing my sml trans woman Jewish 6'2 woman oc exp I drew her during her now being 9 months pregnant btw still.
(PS 9th junior drawing on sneezy art and 5th time on doodle addict btw.)
*PS photo 2 inked ver is better is better then photo 1 is finished ver.*
*Ps: it's not my best work at all! But its tge one i rilushed the whiteout process to do someone bday art so far!
But it's bit if an downgraded remake of last time an few days ago even I took 4-5 days aka almost an week to draw this I started it on oct 13th and finished it on oct 16th and I hated than last junior I made last time and its better then the the 2023 ver from dev art era.
(Ps shout to those dev art users who saw the og vampire junior in 2023!)
(Dorry if remake duspointed u future remake ne better whiteput nib job i rushed it for Maxwells 17th b-day request.)
(Ps jeffoween 2025 is here but came bit late this year
Leo..wasnt the best at taking pictures for his school page. But at least the cat ones look good, right? No he just stole them from one of his favorite games. Dammit Leo! (still tired and sleepy..honk mimimimimimi but i have no clue what to draw next honsetly. IM THINKING OF STUFF I THINK, THE SIDE PHOTOS ARE CATTAIL FROM PLANTS VZ ZOMBIES. I LIKE CATTAIL!!!!) (just kill me already...............(again))
