Ksenia; pencil, pen and ink on 9 x 12” mixed media sketchbook paper, April 21, 2025.

Ksenia, a Russian architect attending Gage Academy’s “Portrait Club” several months, modeled under studio light for this double-paned live sketch. Each monochromatic portrait took an hour in a two-hour block with blue and orange Inktense pastel to fill large areas of tone quickly. The drawing began with pencil, Micron drawing pen and Sakura waterproof brush pen; then colored with Inktense pencil and finally Inktense pastel. “You made me look like I’m flying” Ksenia said, giving me a hug for the valiant effort conceptualizing her as a super heroine in high chroma.