Typically I start with the face, looking to find a spirit that will infuse the whole piece. 
Beauty is not what I strive to achieve; neither is symmetry. On the contrary, I purposely explore every wrinkle, every vein pumping underneath the skin,as well as the pull of gravity as you tilt your head, to capture the truth of a particular moment.
Besides the toothpick, my only tool is my fingers.
Hands and feet demand as much attention as the face. Not only do they express emotion but also, help guide the eye along the movement of the body. Even though this particular figure is at rest, there is an undeniable muscle tension, as though she may turn away at any. I love defining a pose where one hand lifts, the other supports; one foot curls in, the other out.
The hair coming down into the head, the direction of the gaze, and the earth streaming down the fingers all create a continuous movement. It is the movement of being wasted, being subject to the forces of gravity and time.
A few details left to sharpen before starting the drying period, but here she is: "Earth".
Now imagine the hand of the creator hovering over her head. This figure is streaming down out of that imaginary hand in much the same way as earth is streaming down her fingers.
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