I Miss America

Has this past year been a little crazy or what?

I felt the need to create a work showing patriotism, bravery, and a desire for harmony.

I miss the America I remember from my youth. I miss peace. I miss unity. I miss patriotism. I miss pride in our country. Maybe I was living in a bubble that has burst. Maybe I just miss my bubble.

Initial sketch. White charcoal pencil on black Canson Mi Tientes Touch Black paper. 12″ x 16″

Light values are blocked in using a very pale grey where there will ultimately be blue, cream for the red stripes and white for the white stripes.

Detail shot of the first layer of red on one of the stripes. Each area, including the white stripes, is made up of many, many layers of pencils of various colors.

Time to begin working on the eagle.

After blocking in some initial layers for the eagles eyes and beak, I began working on the feathers. I wanted the whites of the eagle’s head to really “pop” so I gave it an underpainting of white pan pastels. This will help establish the values and contrast needed to create depth.

After adding some pencil layers on top of the pan pastels.

The final work after adding many more layers of whites, grays, browns, golds, orange and purple.