Ascension
Ascension (2012)
18¼×23¾ Pastel on Pastel Paper
Original is Sold
No matter how massive the challenge or insurmountable the obstacle, it is core human nature to persevere and overcome whatever stands in our way. We acquire knowledge, build skills, and summon internal strength to climb the rocky mountain before us. We may falter along the way, but by pushing forward, we eventually reach the pinnacle and succeed in our ultimate Ascension.
Being a Scorpio definitely drives my obsession with incorporating aquatic elements into my portfolio. Water is a technically demanding yet incredibly rewarding subject to render in pastel. For this piece, the focus was entirely on texture and physical effort: depicting the glistening moisture on skin, droplets cascading over tensed muscles, and the churning foam where the water meets the rock face. Balancing the soft, misty atmosphere of the background waterfall with the hard, wet stone in the foreground allowed me to emphasize the sheer, raw strength of the climbing figure.
