Theo in the Wilderness - Colored Pencil Drawing

"Theo in the Wilderness" Colored Pencil

Theo is caught during a momentary respite while hiking in Utah’s rugged wilderness. Brimming with confidence and full of a youthful spirit, he eagerly answers the mountain’s call to keep climbing.


It’s a long and winding trail through unforgiving terrain that leads to those spectacular white peaks. It will be an exciting adventure filled with unforgettable memories, earned experience and great peril.


Influenced by Pop Art, this full-length portrait is a modern snapshot highlighting everyday life in the American West. To create interest, it combines black outlines and bold, flat color with some soft shading and distinct texture.


The artist’s son is seen standing in a statuesque pose while dressed in athletic apparel and a weathered ball cap. His person is realized in a raw gesture rather than a photographic likeness.


The young man’s face is distinguished by a full beard that expresses a maturity that masks his true age in years. Tall and slender, he has the burnt-ochre flesh tones of someone who spends time in the outdoors.


It’s early spring so the coarse landscape has been resurrected as the new life features a vibrant palette of bright yellow and green. The steep foothills zigzag in tiered layers of olive-green, gray-green and lavender.


The literal landscape is complicated and filled with minute details but this portrait is drawn in a more simplified way. The deliberate, naive manner evokes a mood that communicates a deeper meaning than words can express.


Theo is a compassionate, Christian soul on an arduous pilgrimage to discover the great healing power of a sacred mountain range. The grassy slope is sliced by a muddy pathway that inexplicably exits the composition.


It’s difficult to tell exactly how the journey will proceed or when he’ll arrive at the summit. But, the final destination is not the goal as it’s always more meaningful to fully immerse yourself in the odyssey as it unfolds.

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