Strokes of Genius | Cristen Miller

Lost in Thought, charcoal, 13 x 9.

I did Lost in Thought from a photograph using a 6B charcoal pencil. I created the value by overlapping light layers of charcoal without any blending or smudging. I wanted to focus on capturing the subtle value changes, as the light and shadow reveal the structure and anatomy of the back. Creating a sense of depth was also important to me, not only between figure and background, but also within the figure itself. Forms closest to the viewer have higher contrast and crisper edges, while those moving away decrease in value contrast and focus.

representation: Renditions Art Gallery, Walnut Creek, CA.

Featured in March 2012.