Callie with Coyote, charcoal on paper, 40 x 30" (101 x 76 cm)Diana Kirkpatrick
Inspiration My inspiration for this piece was the loss of innocence. I have created many pieces with these themes in mind and attempt to convey through my work an emotion we can all relate to. This particular drawing comes from a series I worked on called Endangered Species. I selected the model because I felt she had an ability to connect with that theme, while the coyote represents the loss of belonging.
Process I worked with a model in my studio, posing her, setting the scene and then taking many pictures. I work from both life and photography. I use a sanded charcoal process which allows me to capture a large range of values. This is a very time-consuming process, and each drawing takes many months to complete. Most of my work is quite large, usually in the 40-by-30 inch range. I have found this process works best to create the types of environmental and emotional responses I want to convey.
Faith Hope Love, graphite, 12 x 9" (30 x 22 cm)Janet Maines
Inspiration During 2020, a time of quarantine and civil unrest, I found opportunity for self-reflection and deep soul searching. This stirred in me a strong urge to draw a series of innocents who could in some way bridge the gap between groups who focused on differences rather than similarities. These children would represent faith, hope, and love, qualities we all so desperately need. As I began, I prayed to see these children’s faces and their spirits through the eyes of God. This is what resulted from that prayer. There are two more young girls in the series, all of whom express, through soulful eyes, the qualities that unite rather than divide our spirits.
Process I have developed my own variation of the Loomis method of portrait drawing. In this case, I incorporated the features of a couple of different children from reference photos and added some more from my imagination to create someone I felt exemplified the attributes I wanted to communicate. The expression had to be just right. I used graphite pencils ranging from 2H to 4B in addition to my favorite soft, black matte pencil to get a full range of values. I really enjoy adding lots of detail in the face while being much more minimalistic in the hair and clothing. This causes the focus to be on the area that speaks the message I want to send.
Henry’s Birds, oil, 40 x 30" (101 x 76 cm)Bryony Bensly
Inspiration The desire to create a space of protection and safety for birds, where no harm can befall them, inspired this piece. I used a symbol of safety I grew up with—the white circle—to define that place, and the size is personal. It’s metaphorically what one person could offer. The idea is that if we all offered a space, they would be free of danger and would thrive. My use of some common and abundant birds was to express our lack of immunity from environmental and global changes. The model’s pose of receptivity and gentleness contrasts with our usual manner of dominating.
Process I research a lot! I read about every creature I paint, what they are facing and what is being done to support them. I watch documentaries and movies (a great one is Winged Migration by Jacques Cluzaud, Michel Debats and Jacques Perrin). When I have an image in my mind of what I would like to create, I work with a model. Finally, I bring everything together, playing with different layouts until I am satisfied enough to begin to paint.
Dr. Cooper, oil, 20 x 16" (50 x 40 cm)Barbara Hack
Inspiration Last year I was contacted by creative director Matt Michalko for Washington Jefferson College to paint a portrait of Dr. Walter Cooper who was being honored at his alma mater. He spent his life championing a better world, as a research scientist, a steward of education, and an activist civil rights leader alongside some of the nation’s most prominent leaders including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It was an honor to be asked to paint Dr. Cooper’s portrait.
Process Due to Covid travel restrictions, the college provided me with some photos for reference, and I proceeded to paint this incredible man. My focus was to capture his calm and positive demeanor. Although, to be true to his legacy, there is an element of strength and energy that I needed to incorporate in the composition and lighting. Dr. Cooper’s eyes have seen so much of our history, so I wanted to make sure they became the focus in the painting.—