Unveiling "Hers": A Sophomore Examination of Form, Value, and Gaze

This project description offers an in-depth look at "Hers," a charcoal drawing completed for my undergraduate studio art curriculum in 2018. Although executed during my freshman year, this assignment was pitched at a second-year student level, following a rigorous prerequisite course, underscoring its pivotal role in fulfilling the portfolio expectations for my major. The subject of the piece is a daffodil bud, rendered not merely as a Value study, but as an intentional examination of gendered-sexed gazes and the occupations of space. The title, "Hers," intentionally directs the viewer to challenge preconceived notions and the gendering inherent in perceiving a delicate, spring bud. -Mastering the Technical Execution- The project's complexity demanded meticulous control over charcoal as a medium. A central focus was the importance of blending charcoal grit to achieve a sophisticated range of desired value tints and shades. This involved a nuanced approach to pressure and smudging, moving beyond simple application to engineer smooth, controlled transitions that imbue the work with depth and form. Equally critical were the tenets of scale and contour. The piece required a masterful handling of proportional accuracy to convey the scale of the bud's emergence, while the continuous contour lines were employed not just to define the edges, but to articulate the internal tension and nascent energy of the spring form. "Hers" is a testament to the synthesis of technical discipline and conceptual depth, utilizing the reductive and additive qualities of charcoal to navigate complex visual and theoretical terrain.

CONCEPTUAL ARTCHARCOALDRAWING