In this self‑portrait, Edward draws inspiration from 1940s film noir, known for its dramatic lighting and strong contrasts. To create this mood, he uses a handheld light to cast deep, architectural shadows, later refining the tones digitally. Dressed in a white shirt and satin bowtie, he captures a focused, sincere expression through careful layers of graphite, charcoal, and ink. By slowly building rich darks against the bright surface of the paper, the drawing creates a sense of theatre—blending the nostalgia of classic cinema with the immediacy and texture of a modern portrait.
