A simple assignment. Create a self portrait. It seems when we are asked to look at ourselves and think about how those around us perceive our being, things suddenly become anything but simple. This self-portrait was a high school art assignment. The medium was was India ink over wax crayon, etched through the ink to show the color below.

Upon instructor request, this piece was entered into the Scholastic Art Awards in 2006. The portrait was awarded a Gold Key Award regionally and a Silver Key Award nationally. It went on to a travelling exhibition starting in Washington, D.C., on to New York City, and all across the country before finally being returned home.

At the time, I never appreciated this piece. I felt it was rushed and poorly executed. It wasn’t until years later that I came to truly see it for what it was, a reflection of myself at the time, for better or worse.