Introduction to the series Half-life
Introducing Half-life, my new series of eight 18”x13.5” self-portraits in graphite pencil and India ink.
The idea for this series took ahold of me and demanded to be brought to fruition. It came at a time when I was contemplating the arrival of my late thirties and the disconnect between how I felt about middle age and the narrative I was being fed by Western culture. Instead of glorifying youth and naivete, I wanted to showcase the reality of my own experience approaching the statistical halfway point, and in so doing, touch on some universal issues that are as timely as ever.
The Half-life series explores the concept of halves in both form and content— from only half of the face being visible in any single aspect to each piece focusing on the inherent duality in a different area of life (such as the physical, spiritual, political, etc.). In keeping with this overall theme, Half-life will be released in halves: four pieces in 2023, and four in 2024. The series is an honest exploration and celebration of femininity, and my hope is that when complete, this body of work forms an incisive representation of true womanhood in the twenty-first century.
Another goal has been to spread my wings formally, and I’ve done so by working at a much larger scale than I generally do, combining my chosen media, and employing techniques such as stippling for the first time.
Importantly, this series is both ambitious and fun; I’m having a blast producing it. From incorporating Easter eggs and tongue-in-cheek references to DJing what I believe is a killer soundtrack, I am working exactly on my own terms and loving every minute of it.
That’s right: each piece in the series is accompanied by a song I’ve chosen to magnify the theme of the work. These songs are all by female or female-led acts, and I’ve curated a YouTube playlist where they can be enjoyed all together. Find it at: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCqyznXdAYhqp0YVi6XnXe9b9_HxuVqXa In my blog posts on the individual Half-life pieces, I discuss these songs and why I chose them to complement the respective drawings they correspond to.
I’m happy to announce that 5% of my income from the sale of these works will be donated to Plan International’s initiatives to help women and girls in developing countries. I have supported Plan International annually since 2017 because they do such important work around the world.
Half-life is here. View the artwork, read the blog posts on each piece, listen to the playlist while you wash the dishes. Dive in as deep as you desire.
