Study of Jerrell 2019

Lanise Howard drew this portrait, Study of Jerrell, with graphite, and it's a study in how much expression can be found in a monochrome palette. What strikes me is the granular texture, the way the graphite is built up in layers. Look at the beard, how the artist coaxes out the form with tiny, insistent marks. It's almost like she's mapping the landscape of the face. The process feels very deliberate, as if each stroke is a question, a searching for the right way to capture the essence of the subject. The light catches the bridge of the nose, and you can sense the pressure of the pencil, building up the tone. It brings to mind Lucian Freud, in his unflinching observation of the human form. Just like Freud, Howard isn't afraid to get close, to really examine the nuances of the face. Ultimately, this portrait is an ongoing conversation, a testament to the power of seeing.