Our aniversary picture: untitled

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Ashley Stott is the most amazing beautiful thing in the world.  i am a  very lucky man to have her.  i cant believe its been a year weve been married!  last night we were talking about our life together in categories, the funniest moments, the most awkward moments, happiest, saddest, funnest, weirdest, most romantic and "favorite".  talking about all this with her got me thinking about how happy i am, not just TO BE with her, but BEING with  her.  theres a difference between just  feeling lucky and thriving. Ashley "thrives" me.  she inspired a drawing that ive wanted to make ever since she pointed out her favorite picture of us, courteousy of Taryn Beus, for our engagement.  i knew i wanted to make it for her, but you cant jump into a 40 hour peice of art in the middle of school , work, and personal life (wherein hiding the peice is crucial), without it being for a very special occasion. for that occasion ive had to wait. 
and here it is, finally.  ive been working on it for a couple months now and at last it is complete.  Ashley had no idea i was working on this- ive been very sneeky (sir).  about every other day of february and march ive been carefully crafting, making it just right.  The difference between this one and the other mixed medias (particularly a drawing with watercolor over top) is this one is made of charcoal.  i have decided to use charcoal from now on, other than the peices that are already in motion (2).  charcoal, i have discovered, allows you to achieve a greater range of values, that is your darks are darker and your whites are whiter (whiter due to its stark contrast to  the now darker darks.)  it also makes a more real, almost photographic, quality to the subjects depicted.   Continue Reading »