Barren Step

Cyrus R.

Charcoal and White Pencil

• Artist Statement

  I began with a sketch. I used charcoal pencils on toned paper, using a photo I took as a reference. I took the photo in art class, where my teacher had set up a still life with many objects, including the ones in this drawing. After sketching, I slowly shaded different regions of the composition, beginning with the skull. I layered the shading gradually, from 2B to 4B to 6B. Lastly, I added highlights with a white pencil. I used a kneaded eraser for subtle touches, like the shiny areas and texture on the boot.

• Creative Statement

  To me, being creative means following my artistic instinct.