Barriers
Barriers (2021)
18¼x24¼ Pastel on Pastel Paper
Original is Available
Like stones rolling down hills, fair ideas reach their objectives despite all obstacles and barriers. It may be possible to speed or hinder them, but impossible to stop them. — José Marti
With all the Barriers we face in life, nothing is worse than the ones deliberately placed in our way by others.
With this piece I wanted to visually represent that exhausting, visceral struggle. Stripped entirely bare, the subject relies on nothing but his own raw physical strength and resilience to scale a massive, imposing stone wall. Reaching up toward the warm, hopeful light breaking just over the edge, the piece captures that exact, grueling moment right before you finally pull yourself over an obstacle and break free.
The central artistic challenge of this piece was balancing the intense contrast in textures. I spent a great deal of time detailing the rough, heavy masonry of the wall, using cool grays, browns, and subtle earthy tones to make the barrier feel immovable and dense. The dramatic light source spilling over the top edge naturally highlights his broad shoulders, sculpted calves, and completely exposed form, driving the eye upward and emphasizing the sheer effort it takes to push forward.
