Neda Agha-Soltan

On June 20th, 2009, Neda Agha-Soltan was shot and killed by government snipers during a protest of the Iranian election. Her death was filmed and photographed by fellow protestors, with footage and pictures quickly making their way to YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter. Her death has in many ways provided a rallying cry for Iranians, despite the fact that the government has declared mourning and prayer for Neda illegal. She has become a symbol of the hundreds of people who have lost their lives standing up for what the believe in during this tumultuous time. The name "Neda" means "voice" or "calling" in Persian, and she has been referred to as the "voice of Iran".

Her story has struck a chord with me in many different ways, especially since we were born in the same year, and I felt strongly compelled to make a portrait of her. Though her death was horrific and far too soon, it has made a huge impact around the world. She is a martyr in the truest sense of the word. Here's to the people of Iran. Stay strong.

FIT Sketching, the Sequel

We went back for another sketch night at the old alma mater on Thursday evening. Two nights of long figure drawing sessions in one week was a total luxury, and I was so glad to be able to take advantage of such lovely opportunities. Here are a couple of drawings from Thursday...Thanks to my partner in crime Stephen Gardner for keeping everything in check and for bringing such great music along. If only I could draw from four models to Mazzy Star every night...

Sketching at FIT

Last night I went to a wonderful sketch night at FIT organized by the always inspirational Melanie Reim. It was a night steeped in nostalgia in many ways, drawing on our old turf for several hours. I'm a big fan of the way Melanie structures drawing sessions. Most poses are kept very short, giving you time to put it down without getting too fussy. This creates a great energy in the room, which everyone contributes to and feeds off of. The drawings below are a few of my favorites from the night. The sketches on kraft paper were from one minute poses, and the ones on white were five minutes.