In the realm of artistic endeavors, revisiting familiar subjects can unfold new chapters. Such is the case with my latest endeavor—a charcoal portrait of a young model from the early 1990s, whose name escapes my memory.

The reference image, a relic from my photo studio days in Las Vegas, became the canvas for my creative exploration. Armed with Procreate, my preferred charcoal pack, and a carefully chosen substrate, I embarked on a journey of rediscovery.

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"This isn’t the first time I’ve tried to draw this young model. I don’t recall her name or I’d offer it. This took approximately 7 and a half hours and over 11k brush strokes."

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The creative process was a delicate dance between enveloping and size sight techniques. Each stroke carried the weight of past attempts, yet I approached it with renewed vigor. The struggle of multiple endeavors culminated in a rendering that, this time, felt like a genuine success.

The dedication invested in this portrait manifested in over 11,000 brush strokes, spanning a meticulous 7 and a half hours. The result—a visual representation of my artistic evolution and perseverance.

To offer you a glimpse into this journey, I've compiled a short video capturing the essence of the build. From the initial blank canvas to the final strokes, witness the transformation unfold.

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In every stroke, I rediscovered the intricacies of this young face, immortalizing her essence on canvas. This rendition stands as a testament to the beauty of persistence and the ever-unfolding chapters of artistic expression.

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