"Nashira" is a 22x30 inch drawing that I completed in 2021. I used charcoal, graphite, ink, and gold leaf. Nashira is part of my drawing series "Spread Radiant Light." The drawings in this series all have celestial-inspired names. Nashira is a giant star found in the constellation Capricorn. Nashira means "uncommon and mystical."

My current drawing series, Spread Radiant Light, is an exploration of vulnerability, strength, and femininity. It is a look at how we let our past shape us and how we choose to share who we are with the world. I am interested in how we can get in touch with the parts of ourselves that have been repressed (our shadows or dark side), find our inner light, and begin to heal. After this year with a global pandemic, tragedy, and calls for social and racial justice, we have become more aware of the importance of self-care and mental health. My artwork aims to consider the question - How much light do you want to shed on your shadows for others to see?

I use charcoal in my artwork to excavate the contrast of highlights and shadows. The heavy layer of charcoal creates the black backgrounds that serve as the dark voids in our life that we still need to explore. These shadows frame the highlights on each figure’s face, hair, and arms, which I have chosen to illuminate with great intention. The charcoal process is messy and somewhat painful, which symbolizes the often messy and painful process of dealing with our trauma. The more detailed areas require much more precision, patience, and care. The final phase of my process is the gold leaf, which represents both the light that guides us through our self-discovery and the golden fragments of ourselves that we share with others to see.

Nashira

"Astrid" is a 22x30 inch drawing that I completed in 2021. I used charcoal, graphite, ink, and gold leaf. Astrid is part of my drawing series "Spread Radiant Light." The drawings in this series all have celestial-inspired names. Astrid is derived from the word "astra" meaning star. Astrid means "divinely beautiful."

My current drawing series, Spread Radiant Light, is an exploration of vulnerability, strength, and femininity. It is a look at how we let our past shape us and how we choose to share who we are with the world. I am interested in how we can get in touch with the parts of ourselves that have been repressed (our shadows or dark side), find our inner light, and begin to heal. After this year with a global pandemic, tragedy, and calls for social and racial justice, we have become more aware of the importance of self-care and mental health. My artwork aims to consider the question - How much light do you want to shed on your shadows for others to see?

I use charcoal in my artwork to excavate the contrast of highlights and shadows. The heavy layer of charcoal creates the black backgrounds that serve as the dark voids in our life that we still need to explore. These shadows frame the highlights on each figure’s face, hair, and arms, which I have chosen to illuminate with great intention. The charcoal process is messy and somewhat painful, which symbolizes the often messy and painful process of dealing with our trauma. The more detailed areas require much more precision, patience, and care. The final phase of my process is the gold leaf, which represents both the light that guides us through our self-discovery and the golden fragments of ourselves that we share with others to see.

Astrid

"Lyra" is a 22x30 inch drawing that I completed in 2021. I used charcoal, graphite, ink, and gold leaf. Lyra is part of my drawing series "Spread Radiant Light." The drawings in this series all have celestial-inspired names. Lyra is a harp-looking constellation in the northern hemisphere.

My current drawing series, Spread Radiant Light, is an exploration of vulnerability, strength, and femininity. It is a look at how we let our past shape us and how we choose to share who we are with the world. I am interested in how we can get in touch with the parts of ourselves that have been repressed (our shadows or dark side), find our inner light, and begin to heal. After this year with a global pandemic, tragedy, and calls for social and racial justice, we have become more aware of the importance of self-care and mental health. My artwork aims to consider the question - How much light do you want to shed on your shadows for others to see?

I use charcoal in my artwork to excavate the contrast of highlights and shadows. The heavy layer of charcoal creates the black backgrounds that serve as the dark voids in our life that we still need to explore. These shadows frame the highlights on each figure’s face, hair, and arms, which I have chosen to illuminate with great intention. The charcoal process is messy and somewhat painful, which symbolizes the often messy and painful process of dealing with our trauma. The more detailed areas require much more precision, patience, and care. The final phase of my process is the gold leaf, which represents both the light that guides us through our self-discovery and the golden fragments of ourselves that we share with others to see.

Lyra

"Rhea" is a 22x30 inch drawing that I completed in 2021. I used charcoal, ink, and gold leaf. Rhea is part of my drawing series "Spread Radiant Light." The drawings in this series all have celestial-inspired names. Rhea is the name of one of the moons of Saturn. Rhea means "river or flowing."

My current drawing series, Spread Radiant Light, is an exploration of vulnerability, strength, and femininity. It is a look at how we let our past shape us and how we choose to share who we are with the world. I am interested in how we can get in touch with the parts of ourselves that have been repressed (our shadows or dark side), find our inner light, and begin to heal. After this year with a global pandemic, tragedy, and calls for social and racial justice, we have become more aware of the importance of self-care and mental health. My artwork aims to consider the question - How much light do you want to shed on your shadows for others to see?

I use charcoal in my artwork to excavate the contrast of highlights and shadows. The heavy layer of charcoal creates the black backgrounds that serve as the dark voids in our life that we still need to explore. These shadows frame the highlights on each figure’s face, hair, and arms, which I have chosen to illuminate with great intention. The charcoal process is messy and somewhat painful, which symbolizes the often messy and painful process of dealing with our trauma. The more detailed areas require much more precision, patience, and care. The final phase of my process is the gold leaf, which represents both the light that guides us through our self-discovery and the golden fragments of ourselves that we share with others to see.

Rhea

"Halley" is a 22x30 inch drawing that I completed in 2021. I used charcoal, ink, and gold leaf. Halley is part of my drawing series "Spread Radiant Light." The drawings in this series all have celestial-inspired names. Halley is a comet that is visible through the naked eyes from Earth and returns to Earth's vicinity about every 75 years. Halley means "ruler or commander."

My current drawing series, Spread Radiant Light, is an exploration of vulnerability, strength, and femininity. It is a look at how we let our past shape us and how we choose to share who we are with the world. I am interested in how we can get in touch with the parts of ourselves that have been repressed (our shadows or dark side), find our inner light, and begin to heal. After this year with a global pandemic, tragedy, and calls for social and racial justice, we have become more aware of the importance of self-care and mental health. My artwork aims to consider the question - How much light do you want to shed on your shadows for others to see?

I use charcoal in my artwork to excavate the contrast of highlights and shadows. The heavy layer of charcoal creates the black backgrounds that serve as the dark voids in our life that we still need to explore. These shadows frame the highlights on each figure’s face, hair, and arms, which I have chosen to illuminate with great intention. The charcoal process is messy and somewhat painful, which symbolizes the often messy and painful process of dealing with our trauma. The more detailed areas require much more precision, patience, and care. The final phase of my process is the gold leaf, which represents both the light that guides us through our self-discovery and the golden fragments of ourselves that we share with others to see.

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Michelle Merritt

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