Gaze & Shine

 

Graphite and charcoal on Sketch paper,   Harvard University Staff Art Show, 2023

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     In this paired study of the human eye, I explore the quiet drama and emotional resonance of close observation. Gaze, rendered solely in graphite, offers an intimate, hyper-detailed frontal view of the eye — a moment of stillness and introspection captured through subtle value shifts and intricate textural precision. In contrast, Shine incorporates charcoal to heighten contrast and atmosphere, casting the eye in dramatic side lighting that evokes movement, depth, and psychological presence.

     Each eye, while anatomically grounded, invites the viewer beyond surface realism — into themes of perception, emotion, and the unspoken narratives held in a single glance.