charcoal portraits

CONNECTIONS

The portraits are the bi-product of the art experience.  The real work is sitting with the individual... talking... being in a moment with someone... seeing them.

​It is ever more important to be with people in this age of constant social media.  We connect yet are disconnected.  Doing these portraits forces interaction.  Capturing the essence of a person, the twinkle in their eye...their 'spirit'...that is what I look to draw.  Not simply to recreate shape, tone, highlight and shadow...but to really "see" this person and convey who I feel they are.  So that you get the sense of the person even in their portrait.  

Life-drawn
portraits

These images are done during
a 40 - 45 minute sitting.

MATERIALS:
- Charcoal powder
- Compressed charcoal
- Charcoal pencils (2B, 4B, 6B)
- White eraser

T I M E L A P S E videos

2019

2018

Portrait Series

2007

"I push the drawings until I feel the same life on the image as I feel from the individual."  
- William Snyder III

In 2007, William received a Creative Fellowship from the PA Council on the Arts. With the funds he produced this series of portraits of friends, strangers and colleagues. 

These charcoal portraits, each 24 x 36, were drawn from life during a 45 min - 1 hr session.  

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Don Smitley 2001. Charcoal on paper. 30"x60"

Dean David Monk, Penn State College of Education. 2010. Charcoal on paper. 20"x36"

early self portraits

Self Portrait 1998. Charcoal and gauche on paper. 24" x 84"

Catch/Release, 2004, Charcoal on paper

untitled, 1998, ink on paper