Drawing Studio
In my foundation year, my Drawing Studio class allowed me to draft by observing reference. I drew still lifes, portraiture, perspective, and more.
"Self-Portrait with Apple"
January 2025
Graphite on paper
18x24"
I was assigned to do a rendition of a still life in graphite, of objects I composed and chose. When it came to the light and interactions between these objects, I decided to use some impressionist techniques. For example, visible marksmanship allowed me to communicate details such as texture. Additionally, I blurred some parts of the drawing to bring attention to other areas and elicit the viewer’s focus.
"The Summering"
February 2025
Graphite on paper
18x24"
The prompt of the assignment was to use objects to recreate a famous work of art and then portray it in a still life. My artwork is an interpretation of the similarly titled painting by Đoko Mazalić. Objectives in this piece included a realistic depiction of the foreground/background relationship as well as the portrayal of light falling across the diagonal composition. I accomplished this by meticulously studying from my reference and ideating multiple times to get my drawing as close as possible to reality. Technical skills I applied included the use of my eraser to create contrast within dark objects as well as to blend. I also used my chamois to create consistent value within shapes.
"Still Life with Flower and Eggs"
February 2025
Graphite on paper
12x16"
The still life that served as the subject of this drawing contained dramatic shadows and lighting. When it came to portraying these tenebristic values through graphite, I used technical methods to cover large swaths of the canvas. For example, using tight circles to create smooth gradients and applying multiple layers of pencil. I additionally used soft and visible pencil lines as a technique to render texture and quality of light, as well as mood.
"View of Desk"
January 2025
Inking markers on paper
18x24"
The prompt given for this still-life was to arrange objects to create a self-portrait and portray their outlines in a contour drawing. Thinking about line as a principle of design, I used it to portray tight and detailed forms accurately as well as to suggest shapes by what bounds them or by lines broken up by negative space. Negative and positive space was definitely a consideration when composing my still life. Because there was no value nor hue in this drawing, I wanted the forms to be apparent to suggest a realistic dimensionality. The objects chosen have significance to my culture and life experiences, this influenced my compositional decisions because of how the objects interact and draw the eye.
"Study of the Hand"
Janruary 2025
Inking markers on newsprint
18x24"
In this study, we drew our own hands from observation using contour lines. Using techniques related to line, I portrayed texture as well as the form of the hand. I additionally explored the technique of having a continuous line as a means of observing reality.
"Self-portrait"
April 2025
Charcoal on paper
30x22"
I created this self-portrait based on a photo I staged. I incorporate details from my Bulgarian culture and pose with a guitar, representing my creative aspirations.
"3:39am, Akifa’s Lawn Was Still Smothered with Dew"
May 2025
Charcoal on paper
30x45"
In this drawing I convey a feeling of closure and longing by utilizing impressionistic and visible mark making. The scene itself is an unexpected and tender reunion on one figure’s doorstep at night, visible by the light of the rear figure’s (Akifa’s) home. My inspirations included the style of candid photography/videography as well as the elevation of mundane scenes to fine art; this influenced the content of my piece and its dramatic yet grounded aesthetics. The composition uses tenebrism and frames the embrace and points of contact between the two women. The gauzy quality of the illuminated face (Marjami’s face) indicates the bond between the figures. The two characters are close but have a tumultuous relationship, it is difficult to see clearly when you feel so strongly.
I created this drawing as a depiction of my characters (Marjami and Akifa) and an homage to a key point in their relationship. They are both doctors at the same hospital where their personalities and professional practices clash despite their long-standing friendship. The title references how malleable the hours before dawn are, when the feelings of night have not yet evaporated. This metaphor and visual darkness serve as the backdrop and reflection of Marjami and Akifa’s relationship.