“Working in traditional mediums such as graphite and charcoal have helped me to connect with art in a new and refreshing way. While creating portraits with digital tools has its own unique advantages, there’s something unmatched about the tactile nature of pencil and paper, of smudging and blending with charcoal. I love using the interplay of light and shadow and the contrast of the materials to explore the contrasts of emotion, of subject, of ideas. If a piece can engage you with a smile or a lingering thought, I consider it a success.”