Impression № 001: Fault lines

Graphite on paper, by Michaela Irving.

Michaela Irving talks to Dr. Hurley’s Snake-Oil Cure about her art:

“I draw portraits using graphite pencil on paper as I find this gray scale effect highlights peoples expressions rather than distracting the viewer by using colour. It also shows the starkness of people’s lives.

“I try to make people think about who they are and who other people are by bringing out the models inner- or flip-side.

“With poster boys, I bring out their dark side; with homeless people I try to show their sensitivity or humanity. Homeless people are particularly interesting subjects as they are unseen, ignored or forgotten people, as their contrast with the “perfection” of other society is painful. It is easier to ignore these people than to see how easy it is to become like them, not necessarily financially but emotionally. People who look at my drawings are forced to see homeless people’s humanity, and so face their own pain through connecting with this darkness.”

Michaela Irving talks to Dr. Hurley’s Snake-Oil Cure about her art:

I draw portraits using graphite pencil on paper as I find this gray scale effect highlights peoples expressions rather than distracting the viewer by using colour. It also shows the starkness of people’s lives.

Posted by Dr. Hurley on March 17, 2011

https://snakeoilcure.wordpress.com/2011/03/17/portrait-%e2%84%96-001-fault-lines/