| Artist Statement Art is in my blood. Both of my parents were incredibly creative and they passed on that ability to me. Without trying to sound too cliche, I've been drawing ever since I was able to hold a pencil. And drawing has been a lifelong learning experience. Just like an old dog, I still learn new tricks ever day. And I enjoy every minute of it. When I draw a portrait of someone, I do tend to focus on the eyes. I believe that the eyes are the windows of the soul, and if you do not capture that in the drawing, then the drawing is a failure. You do not capture the true essence of the subject. If you do, then you have succeeded and anyone who views the piece will immediately recognize it. And it will seem as if you have captured not just an image of the individual, but also a moment in time. Another thing I focus on, is trying to create a 3D effect in my drawings. When I draw a subject, I try to think that I am not just drawing the subject to create a 2 dimensional object, but I think of trying to sculpt the subject onto the page, making the viewer think they can look behind the subject. I truly love my work. I think of it as a labor of love. Each drawing seems almost like I am raising a child. And it brings me so much joy to watch each piece grow and mature as they develop on my drawing table. Each piece has it's own individual personality, and hopefully it is the subject. And I only hope that people who view my work see that as well. Jennifer Mercer |