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.

In this piece inspired by Misty Copeland, principal dancer with the American Ballet Theatre, she stands at her mirror backstage, the makeup and theatrical accessories spread out before her, but behind her is a world of fantasy and enchantment. In this piece I wanted to draw how artists of all kinds create an alternate reality by their vision and efforts, so that when Misty looks into this "portal" and records this snap of herself, she is part of the fantasy world that she is creating on stage! This world is created first in the imagination, so that the fantastic landscape behind her may only be seen in her imagination at first. But it will be brought to life as she dances on stage, and makes us believe in the story of the ballet for a moment.