This portrait of my mother dates back to 2007, and it marks the moment I shifted from realism into hyperrealism. Each drawing around that time felt like a different experiment, trying new techniques, pushing detail further, and figuring out what ‘more’ could look like.

I heard all the usual comments: that realism isn’t considered art, that I should just take a photo, that leaving parts unfinished would make it ‘look more like a drawing’. My answer was always the same, add more detail and keep refining the technique.

Looking at this piece now, I can see the foundation of what would become my style. Every drawing after it carried a bit of this one forward.

Private Collection
Year: 2007
Size: 16″ x 20″
Graphite drawing on Paper