Formerly a professional sign language interpreter, I now translate into drawings the personalities and dignity of individuals.

I work with charcoal on frosted Mylar, a polyester film. This tough, translucent support allows me to aggressively build up marks and then work the charcoal with erasers to reveal a luminous quality of light.

The sitters assume frontal, uncompromising poses and look directly at the viewer, turning the observer into the observed.

The larger-than-life size format magnifies the intensity of the sitter’s gaze and infuses the portrait with a psychological presence.