Encounter

Encounter (2012)
23½×18½ Pastel on Pastel Paper
Original is Sold

After an unexpected Encounter with a jungle warrior living free among the elements, an injured explorer suddenly finds himself vulnerable and out of place. This piece captures that profound crossroads as the muscular, uninhibited defender of the forest cautiously reaches out to the exhausted visitor.

To capture a thick, humid jungle atmosphere, I used rich, saturated greens and heavy earth tones to build a dense canopy that frames the figures. The contrast between the two men was an exercise in texture, juxtaposing the wild man's smooth skin against the rugged, torn khaki canvas of the explorer’s gear.