💎 A portrait is never just a face
Gem #57 The soul behind my art
Bonjour my little demon,
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TODAY’S GEM
This week, I want to step back from technique and talk to you about something that’s been quietly guiding my work for the past few months: my portrait collection.
Alongside the portrait sheets I often share, I’ve been building a slower, deeper body of work. A series of pieces that speak about the world we live in, and what we’re losing.
Each one is a reminder.
A face that carries a story.
A spirit shaped by nature—and scarred by its destruction.
Through this collection, I hope to touch people. Not just with the beauty of the artwork, but with the urgency of the message behind it. Because our world is fragile. And if art can help people feel that—even for a second—then I know it’s worth creating.
I’ve shared a few of these pieces before.
But today, I’d love to bring them together.
To show you the soul of this collection, and the stories it holds.
And soon, I’ll be adding new works—paintings and graphite portraits—continuing the cycle.
Here they are:
The collection
This series of graphite portraits brings to life protective spirits of nature. Their strength, as old as time, is rooted in the elements. But as humanity scars the earth, their world begins to crumble, and these beings—wounded, cornered, and humiliated—awaken, ready to defend their realm.
This portrait captures the Dragonfly Queen in a moment of reckoning. Once, her name was but a whisper among the trees—a force that breathed life into the forests and marshes. But now, her kingdom lies in ruins—sacred marshes drained, forests reduced to ash. The disappearance of her dragonfly sentinels turned her sorrow into fury. For the first time in millennia, the Immaculate Queen with ethereal wings has emerged from her sanctuary, determined to reclaim what was lost and bring her judgment upon humankind.
Can you hear the cry of the lone wolf spirit? Once a leader whose howl unified the hunt and bound her pack together, she now roams alone. Driven out by relentless hunting and the loss of her homeland, her pack—once vital to the balance of the ecosystem—has been reduced to ashes.
This portrait seeks to highlight the tragic fate of both wolves and their habitat. Social, timid creatures who rely on the strength of their pack, wolves play a crucial role in maintaining ecosystem balance. Yet, burdened by an age-old reputation as a 'threat' to humans, they face relentless hunting and the constant loss of their natural home.
In the heart of forests, teeming with beings hidden from inattentive human eyes, reside the flower fairies. These delicate beings draw their ethereal power from the vibrant blossoms that adorn the meadows and forests they call home. Each flower fairy is a guardian of her floral realm, tending to the blooms with unwavering devotion. Their connection to the natural world is profound, and they share a deep bond with all living creatures.
This graphite portrait captures the Spirit of the Rhino in quiet lamentation. Once a sacred guide to the wild herds she is now haunted by humanity’s relentless pursuit—their greed for horns turning her world to ruin. With the last survivors, she flees, forsaking the freedom and grandeur they once knew. Sheltered in a fragile sanctuary, her gaze now carries the sorrow of a world slipping away—a silent lament for the fallen.
This piece is a humble attempt to shed light on the tragic fate of rhinos, now listed among the world’s most endangered species. Hunted for centuries, what should have been their greatest pride—their horn—has become their curse. It’s also a reflection on the sanctuaries I’ve visited, places where safety and loss coexist. Spaces of rescue, but also of deep wounds, and the quiet echo of what’s been lost.
Certain spirit are believed to seek revenge or retribution for wrongdoings against nature or other sacred places.
Your pick!
So far, the piece that carries the most weight in my heart is Refuge as the subject feels particularly cruel. But this is only the beginning of the collection. There are so many other stories that deserve to be seen. And this year, I’ll be adding new works to this series I hold so close, including oil paintings I’ve been dreaming of for months.
And you—which piece speaks to you the most?
