Artist Spot: Chandra Kirkland

By Alex McComas

Name – Chandra Rose Kirkland

Year – 2013

Major/minor – Environmental Science, Creative Writing (undeclared)

At a young age, Chandra began her pursuit in art like many of us did. She used to draw horses and other animals, not to mention the occasional dragon, to pass the time. It wasn’t until around 2008 that she began to take art seriously. She decided that, though she had never been able to do so previously, she would teach herself how to draw people, and someday even portraits. With no previous art experience than the doodles since youth, she took to carrying a sketchpad with her everywhere she went and drawing every face that popped into her head. Eventually, after several notebooks had been filled with slowly transforming faces, she started drawing real-life faces from magazines. Very steadily, her art was improving. When she could persuade her friends to do so, she would sketch them in various poses, farther developing her artistic talent.

Now, it is the year 2010, and just last semester Chandra took her first art class, Intro to Drawing, with Professor John Kovaleski. The portrait at the top left was the product of two years of practice and the aforementioned class. The drawing at right is one she made approximately one year ago.

Chandra’s experience is one we can all learn from. Sometimes we forget how far we’ve come, and can grow discouraged when we think we’re getting nowhere. It’s nice to step back and see how we’ve improved.

The below pictures are arranged by the years she drew them, and the last two are products of the drawing course from the previous semester. Oldest to Newest as you go down.

2008

Drawn from a picture of a sarcophagus fresco.

Early 2009

Drawn off the cover of a magazine.

2009

A woman, drawn off the cover of a magazine.

2009

Drawn off a magazine cover of H+M.

9/19/2009 (a quick sketch for Intro to Drawing”

A good example of things one might learn in Intro to Drawing, and also a sample of Chandra’s other skills.

2009 (over Thanksgiving Break)

A portrait of the artist herself.

Beyond pursuing her passions in art (which also include watercolor and other mediums, not only pencil shaded pieces) she is working towards her black belt in Karate. Chandra is a wonderful person to talk and work with as well.