Sarah Leslie-artist

As a portrait artist, I strive to produce a timeless recreation of life. I intend for my subjects to visually flee from the page and breathe life into one’s nostalgic remembrance. I work directly from a photo to capture appropriate likeness and create an image that evokes past sensations of the exact moment once discovered through a lens. Photographs are visual keys to the past. We cling to them as artifacts, and visual prompts to our memories. As I begin to draw, the snapshot embarks on it’s metamorphosis from a still moment in time back to organic life. I work on illustration board with graphite pencil and charcoal in a tight, additive process, with extremely minimal use of an eraser. The finished piece allows for people to reconnect with loved ones who have passed, treasure children who are grown up, or pay homage to furry friends. My drawings act as a catalyst and a tribute to those that enrich our lives throughout the time we spend here on Earth. With the use of black and white and refined detail, I aim to spark that original love and bridge the gap between the physical and the memory. Thus, I have created a portal; a mirror, and a glimpse into infinite time stored in each individual mark in every drawing.