Children see magic because they look for it. —Christopher Moore
“Oliver, Age 6″, 6×9”, graphite on Bristol paper by Annie Dash Studios
My son, Oliver, has such a kind and gentle temperament, which I felt was perfectly reflected in the reference photograph (below) that I took of him during the summer of 2024. I loved the dreamy expression of his face on an overcast day and hoped to capture the softness and gentleness of his countenance in the finished artwork.
Whenever possible, I prefer to use my own reference photographs for my artwork, as it allows me to better understand and capture the subjects of my art. I’ve spent over 25 years studying and practicing photography and became interested in the medium to get better reference photos for artwork. Having high-quality reference photos makes a world of difference when creating art.
This graphite piece was created on a half-sheet of Bristol paper using 4H and 2H pencils, harder pencils which I chose due to the soft and delicate nature of the lines they create. This work was my final piece of 2024. I am grateful for the opportunities I’ve had to grow and learn over the past year, and am excited for my continued learning in 2025.
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