Portraiture and Why Everyone Is Beautiful
As an art program graduate, I have attended many model drawing sessions. Life drawing and sketching was one of my most difficult classes, but it was also my favourite. The deep, traditional history of charcoal and conté sketching, along with the meditative observation of the human form, made for a tranquil three or so hours that I always looked forward to.
It helped me understand something somewhat obvious that we, as people, still need the occasional reminder of: the many forms people take, their differences, imperfections, and flaws are what make them truly beautiful and, in my opinion, interesting and fun to draw. I’ve had friends I’ve asked to pose question my choice of them as subjects, and I often need to explain my preference for uniqueness or interest-grabbing features rather than “traditionally beautiful” subjects.
From blocky noses and chins to unique or unusual scars, curves that inspire silk-smooth lines to angles that force harsh shadows and sharp profiles, each shape creates striking definition in a figure that breathes life into a sketch.
I find that when the act of creating work feels inspired and lifelike, the end result feels the same. The embrace of imperfection brings artwork into reality. It is explosive and beautiful. The unique features that make up a subject create a defiant and powerful work of art, and I believe that description applies to everyone. Every feature that inspires self-consciousness is actually a defining detail that makes an individual’s portrait more realistic and recognizable.