Duncan Reitz

Whenever I do a portrait or take a picture of someone, I like to incorporate at least one of their character traits. For example, Fiona McKillop (the individual in the picture) has a hairstyle called the Chelsea cut. I decided to paint a Chelsea Grin ( a wound shaped like a smile,) on McKillop's face; because "Chelsea Grin" and "Chelsea Cut" both have the name "Chelsea" in them. Luckily, the real Fiona McKillop was not harmed in the making of this photo.

For the final of my Senior Year Art Class, we were required to make a drawing that was part abstract, part realistic. Many other students labeled which side was abstract, and which side was realistic. I parodied that by writing, "I think you can tell the difference between realistic and abstract, as well as which side is which." The subject of this painting, Maddie Teece, had gotten me interested in psychedelic art through her own creations. Therefore, I decided a psychedelic picture of Teece would be appropriate, because that would pay homage to my artistic influence.

My mother's co-worker, Carly, has many tattoos of elephants. Therefore, it's only natural I did a caricature of her AS an elephant.

At the Neutral Zone, Ann Arbor's local teen center, there is an art class that meets every Wednesday called Visual Arts Council. During one of these sessions, one boy brought over a bunch of skulls, which we all drew. There was a total four skulls: a monkey skull, a bear skull, a deer skull, and a beaver skull. I focused only on the bear skull, because I am fascinated by large carnivores.

"Behind a Gruff Exterior Lies a Heart of Gold" was the intended message behind this sculpture. In this case, the "gruff exterior" is a face with both organic and cubic (or as I sometimes call it, "organicubic") elements, and the "heart of gold" is being purged out of the mouth.

In my beginner-level art class at WCC (Washtenaw Community College), Art 111; we were instructed to create an imaginary room. This exercise was meant to enhance our knowledge about horizon lines and vanishing points. My result was this outhouse, which is Haunted by a ghost with a misshapen face and fingers made out of poison ivy.

Made this picture in Advanced Art, which was during my Senior year of High School. The assignment was to draw other students while they themselves were drawing. At the time, I was under the impression Max, the gentleman in this picture, was part of the Emo subculture; so I added some Emo-like accessories (i.e. colored contacts, lip piercing.) Later I asked if he was, in fact, Emo. Turns out he wasn't.