“I began this drawing at the end of 2020, scarred from a year of death, isolation, political divide, and social unrest — but also empowered with strength and hope for a brighter future. I finished the drawing on January 20th, 2021, the same day a new administration was sworn in as America’s new leaders. The image of this anemone is meant to represent the restoration of life and light as we begin to rebuild our health, communities, economies, and well-being in the coming years.

Aesthetically, I wanted to work with a bright flower on a dark background to accurately represent both the year behind us and the possibilities of the year ahead. I used Caran d’Ache Luminance and Prismacolor Premier pencils, applying light and even layers of pencil to develop the specific colors and textures of the anemone. Working in layers creates a vibrancy in the drawing that just one or two colors alone can’t achieve.”