“Hollowed”
Jesse Bullen
Charcoal on Drawing Paper

“Hollowed” is an exploration of expression. I wanted to make a series of faces with strong character. The dark and dense charcoal lines give each face the perfect intensity. The figures in each drawing are not meant to represent specific or clear emotions but are rather intended to highlight the smaller expressions humans are capable of. Specifically, I dove into the subtle differences in this sad and hollow expression. Each face is meant to make the viewer feel something different without the expressions shifting a great amount.

The process for creating these pieces was loose and somewhat random. I challenged myself to scribble on the page and find the face within the lines. Not thinking about the final outcome brought a very natural feel to the expressions that were created. I made more than 10 images using this method and in the end, I picked 6 of them for my final presentation.

I chose to display the series in a symmetrical grouping (shown in the first image) because I want the audience to focus on the drawings altogether. When viewed all at once, the faces look like they are all staring at you. It brings an eerie feeling to the series that wouldn’t be achieved if you viewed them alone.

I was really inspired by the work of Josh Hernandez when creating this series. His work combines realism and expressionism and often features unfinished faces. I experimented with those same elements in my drawings but found my style leaned away from the soft airbrushed realism that Josh’s work features.

Creating this drawing series was very fulfilling. I enjoyed focusing on a repeating style and watching it evolve over time. They say practice makes progress and this project was a great way to see that in action.