As soon as I saw the prompt ‘crown,’ I couldn’t help but think of the one that goes on teeth, so here’s my punny take for Inktober!

Wham banm blaw.... my issues coming at me full force! 🤪😁

Started as a sphere study yesterday, to unwind and relax. Today I looked at it again and now it’s a figure pushing the world while a bird watches, bored. Funny how some weights are invisible to everyone but the one carrying them. What does “heavy” mean to you today?

I tried this charcoal portrait as a way to gear up for oil painting. It’s such a great exercise—working in charcoal really helps me train my eye for values and structure before diving into color and paint.

I set out with a goal on this graphite portrait—capture that frown. It was fun chasing the expression, and I think it actually reads the way I hoped! (graphite, sketchbook 8”x10”)