Traditional Art

Traditional art completed for class and clients along with personal pieces.

Susan

To create a realistic portrait of an old Indigenous woman, I first sketched the outline with soft graphite, focusing on her face’s contours and textures. I captured wrinkles and folds with varied pressure to show depth, blending lighter areas smoothly. Then, I added charcoal for darker values and contrast, deepening shadows in her clothing, hair, and features to highlight age and character. Alternating graphite and charcoal balanced precision and texture, resulting in a lifelike portrait that honors her dignity and heritage.

Oil Painting

I began the realism oil painting by studying reference photos to capture the girl's expression and posture. Using a limited palette, I created an underpainting to set the composition and tone. I built up layers of thicker paint, focusing on skin tone shifts and light on her face. Fine brushstrokes rendered hair texture, blending strands for depth. Softer edges on clothing and background kept the focus on the face. The result is a detailed, lifelike portrait reflecting the subject's personality and mood through traditional oil painting techniques.

Tribal

Using graphite and charcoal, I created a realistic portrait of a tribal boy by layering and blending textures. I started with light graphite sketches for facial features, then added charcoal to build shadows and contrast. Charcoal gave rich blacks for his hair and deep shadows around his eyes and cheekbones. Smudging and fine lines captured hair texture and traditional clothing patterns. Attention to tonal variations and highlights added depth, while the mix of smooth graphite and bold charcoal strokes conveyed intensity and cultural respect.

Heavy

The graphite and charcoal drawing depicts an indigenous girl’s quiet strength and heritage. Fine lines and shading create lifelike eyes and facial features, while charcoal adds depth to her traditional clothing and hair. The contrast highlights her face’s contours, showing vulnerability and resilience. Details like eyelashes and attire patterns reflect respect for her culture. This piece honors her identity, telling a story of pride and enduring spirit through graphite’s precision and charcoal’s boldness.

AJR

Using graphite and charcoal, I created a detailed portrait of AJR’s lead singer. I began with a light graphite sketch to outline features and structure, then added charcoal for depth and contrast, especially in clothes and shadows. Blending both mediums captured fine details and bold textures, producing a balanced, expressive image.

Breeze

Creating a watercolor portrait of a woman with black hair in the wind involved balancing control and fluidity. I started with a light pencil sketch to outline her face and hair flow. Soft, warm washes built skin tone depth while maintaining watercolor's translucency. The hair, painted with deep blacks and subtle greys, used wet-on-wet blending for movement and dry brush strokes for strand definition. Highlights were preserved to capture light. The portrait contrasts soft facial features with the energetic, windblown hair, showcasing watercolor’s precision and spontaneity.

Street Fashion

This watercolor captures the vibrant spirit of Japanese street fashion through a girl’s eclectic outfit. Soft, vivid tones highlight bold patterns, bright hair, and accessories. Blended colors reflect playful sophistication, while delicate brushstrokes emphasize texture. The composition showcases her confident pose and expressive eyes, embodying Japan’s creative street style. The piece balances watercolor’s fluidity with urban fashion’s dynamic energy.

Summer

The watercolor depicts legs in fitted jeans and Nike sneakers, using soft washes and subtle gradients to highlight fabric texture. Light and shadow add depth, while the detailed sneakers contrast with the relaxed denim folds. The piece blends realism with watercolor’s fluidity, conveying movement and casual style.

Aloe

This watercolor captures an aloe plant’s natural beauty with delicate brushstrokes and soft greens. Yellow and light brown suggest gentle sunlight. Transparent washes highlight smooth leaves and pointed tips. The simple composition emphasizes the plant’s form against a muted background, evoking calm and resilience.

Kiki’s Delivery Service

My watercolor captures a serene scene from Kiki’s Delivery Service, highlighting Kiki’s red bow and Jiji’s black silhouette against a pastel background. The soft colors and fluid strokes evoke a dreamy, magical atmosphere, reflecting the story’s calm, nostalgic charm.

Ochaco

This colored pencil artwork of Ochaco from My Hero Academia highlights her energetic spirit. Layered colors add depth to her hair and skin, while subtle shading emphasizes lighting and contours. Detailed eyes capture her optimism and strength, making this piece a vivid and expressive tribute.

Juuzou

My marker drawing of Juuzou from Tokyo Ghoul highlights his unsettling personality with bold lines and vivid colors. Alcohol-based markers blend shadows and highlights on his pale skin and white hair, while reds in his eyes and stitches contrast with muted clothing. Detailed facial features and attire reflect his chaotic yet vulnerable nature, creating a striking portrayal of his complex character.

Mako

This marker and colored pencil artwork of Mako from Kill la Kill uses vibrant colors and dynamic shading to capture her lively spirit. Markers create bold tones for her outfit and hair, while colored pencils add depth and texture to her face and accessories. The blend highlights the contrast between her energetic personality and the anime’s sharp style, delivering a detailed, faithful portrayal.

Japanese Alley

This watercolor captures a quiet Japanese alley with soft colors reflecting morning light on wooden walls and stone paths. Muted earth tones and green vines add depth, guiding the eye through the narrow passage. It blends urban calm with traditional beauty.

House on the Hill

This watercolor depicts a charming yellow and white house, using soft hues to evoke warmth and nostalgia. Yellow highlights the exterior, while white contrasts architectural details like windows and trim. The fluid technique creates light and shadow with subtle gradations, resulting in a peaceful, inviting scene of home comfort.

Poppy

This piece merges abstract acrylic painting, textured paper, and a real plant leaf to form a unique skull representation. Bold acrylic strokes add depth and movement, while the paper offers tactile contrast. The leaf introduces a natural element, contrasting life with the skull’s symbolism. Together, these materials explore mortality, nature, and abstraction in a contemporary style.