Description: There is something incredibly powerful, yet almost comical, about a hippo breaking the surface of the water. I wanted to capture that massive, untamed energy in this piece. I focused on bold, visible brushstrokes to make the river feel alive and rippling around the heavy weight of the animal. Contrasting the earthy, muddy tones of the hippo against the vibrant, cool blues of the water was the most satisfying part of this process. It’s a slice of wild nature, painted with raw emotion rather than strict, polished realism.
Description: There is a certain honesty in stripping away all the color and working only with shadows. I sketched this single bloom to capture its raw, textured silence against a rough backdrop. Every stroke was a meditation on finding beauty in simple, unpolished things. It’s a quiet piece for a noisy world, created for those who appreciate the tactile, handmade feel of traditional pencil and charcoal art.
