A drawing done in pastel and 23 karat gold leaf accent. 18” x 24”, ships rolled gently and in a clear plastic sleeve backed with plastic.

ORIGINAL, part of the “Enchanted Portal” series which explores introspection during the 2020 COVID-19 time of isolation.  I was thinking of the desire to record the self, the selfie as an art form and starring in and creating one's own private world. They will all have the presence of a mirror, and a phone in the drawing, with the mirror acting as a portal.

This portrait is of scene director, actor and XR coder Victoria Misu, @victoriamisu. I was struck by how Victoria creates the most beautiful environments around her, composing each ephemeral shot using light, props, and reflecting mirrors to create worlds within worlds. She epitomized what I was thinking about how we can create our own special worlds and document our existence in ways that reflect our sensibilities, aesthetic preferences and the story we want to tell. Especially in this time of being home bound, creating within our own small worlds and seeing ourselves within a world of beauty can be empowering and give us a sense of joy and control over our own autonomy. I loved the soft gauzy pink folds of the dress accented by the peonies, framed by the greenery surrounding her, all arranged to give a dramatic and romantic feeling of sumptuousness.