Nina Bethel

At the start, I knew that I wanted to draw portraits, but I also knew that I wanted to do something different — to approach portraiture in an unconventional way. After some experimentation, I decided to focus on a part of the portrait that is often unnoticed and unconsidered. The drawings in my concentration all focus on the area below the facial features — on the upper chest, shoulders, and neck — all parts of the body that I discovered are very beautiful.

I chose charcoal because my images are focused on the abstract beauty and elegance on this part of the body. I felt the pieces would be more ordinary, familiar, and everyday if I used color. By limiting myself to black and white, I was able to create rich contrasts and heighten the dramatic quality of certain specific features — like the collarbone and the architecture of the shoulders, and a straining neck. I also became interested in the texture of certain fabrics — in some of my pieces, I enjoyed drawing the clothing as well. Throughout my concentration, I strongly avoided depicting any part of the face, as I wanted to challenge the viewer to reconsider his or her own preconceptions of portraiture.