Shadow Boxing

Original Materials: Pencil on Paper
Dimensions: 24” x 18”
1984

"Shadow Boxing" is a pencil drawing created in 1984 during the artist's spring semester at the University of Michigan. At the age of 19, the artist was a computer science student with aspirations of becoming a computer graphics artist. This drawing class significantly honed the artist's skills, leading to the creation of this impressive hand-drawn piece.

The drawing features a meticulously rendered stack of boxes, with a focus on capturing the interplay of light and shadows. The careful attention to shading and the gradation of tones create a realistic and three-dimensional effect, showcasing the artist's developing expertise in rendering forms and volumes.

During this time, the artist was also taking figure drawing and third semester calculus, studying the mathematics of shapes. The parallel courses from a left and right brain perspective provided a fascinating and challenging experience.

"Shadow Boxing' is one of two pieces I saved from my drawing class in 1984. As a computer science student with dreams of becoming a computer graphics artist, this class was instrumental in refining my drawing skills. The exercise of drawing a stack of boxes, paying close attention to light and shadows, was both challenging and rewarding. Concurrently studying figure drawing and calculus offered a unique blend of artistic and mathematical perspectives, pushing my limits and leading to significant growth. This piece, which I proudly titled 'Shadow Boxing,' remains a testament to my development as an artist during that formative time."