I grew up having a knack for drawing, but only stumbled again upon my love for visual expression in 2020, taking to sketching faces of old men and coastal scenes on Block Island with a ballpoint pen. Formal instruction provided a forum to, for the first time, develop technique. I “learned to see,” by observing value, perspective, and proportion when creating form. I never fully appreciated the importance of practicing descriptive drawing, recreating real objects and images. There was something I always found unexciting about looking without, rather than within, for a subject. I have since been encouraged that there is more nuance and beauty in observing and interpreting the physical world as it is, than I had imagined. This portfolio is, among many things, very experimental. I am constantly looking to understand new mediums, and how they play a role in the creative process. I have tried my hand with graphite, ink, charcoal, acrylic paint, oil and chalk pastel, collage, oil and spray paint, among other mediums. I think there is often a limiting comfort in relying on what you know best. I have learned to let pieces develop themselves, allowing mediums to manifest images without fighting against their innate qualities. I had always found faces and the human form to be the most compelling of compositions. I strive to illustrate emotion, age, gender, and experience in the characters that I have choose. Starting from a simple blind contour of myself, and eventually working into a full oil portraits and landscapes, the development of my capabilities in capturing the human visage is the best encapsulation of my progress. I made this website to share my work. Understanding my creations through the eyes of talented and thoughtful peers is the unexpected highlight of being an artist.
– Nick
Brown Daily Herald story on my Bob Healy portrait
Contact me: nsanzi14@gmail.com
Nicholas George Sanzi 