I like drawing portraits in charcoal because they are in black and white. Without color, emotions don’t come from bright tones but from the expression of the face. I try to focus on small details, like the eyes, the mouth, and the way light and shadow shape the features. For me, this makes the portrait feel more honest and intense.
Sometimes I leave my drawings unfinished, for example with half of the face hidden or not drawn at all. I do this on purpose. It represents the idea that every person has a hidden side that we cannot fully see or understand.
Charcoal is perfect for this because it allows strong contrasts and soft transitions at the same time. Through these portraits, I want to show not only how a person looks, but also suggest what they might feel inside. This is an example depicting again the Queen Elizabeth, which for me it is a good example of a figure combining visible and not visible feelings.