Against All Odds & Other Drawings

1. The Gymnast ( colored pencil version )

2. " Man Raising Leg Behind Him "

3. " Against All Odds "                       

1. This version of " The Gymnast ( colored pencil version ), was a personal favorite of mime, for a while. The more I explored colored pencils, the more I began to favor other finished pieces, created with this medium. I love the textures, that colored pencils can produce, depending upon how one uses them. I particularly love the rich, colored contrast, I can achieve regarding the flesh of a man's complexion and feet soles. This piece emphasizes the features, I enjoy creating the most, which is the male figure, below the waist ( feet, legs, butt, calves ). It was first noticeable how I can achieve satisfactory results, in color, with the use of colored pencils.

2. I was beginning to appreciate and enjoy the techniques, and hatching marks, I developed when "Man Raising Leg Behind Him" was created. And I realized that the brush pen added depth to certain areas, when used accordingly. I often thought it was an overbearing addition to my drawings, because of its bold and sudden strokes, that cannot be adjusted. But, like my tree drawings, it became a great approach, when creating a subject, surrounded by white, empty space. When I became more strategic with what details to include, and those to leave out, it began to resonate better with me, that a different style of drawing, could be utilized for certain perspectives and ideas.

3. " Against All Odds " is a very relevant piece, for the period we are living in now. It was important then, and still is today. LGBTQ rights are once again at stake, with new laws being placed in certain states of America. And homophobia still rages in other countries, where being gay, could cause one their life! And the issues of being a black gay man within one's own community, reflects the hatred, that exists on a larger scale outside of it. One may feel safe on one corner, but suddenly feel threatened on the next. But through creativity, pride and compassion, we still find ways to express ourselves, despite the forces that are against us.