Stephanie O: The Art of Eye Contact

Stephanie O

As artists, our yearning for solitude is equal to our yearning to connect - without one there cannot be the other. Last year I developed a series of fluid hand drawn portraits of musicians I collaborated with on tour. The dichotomy of the perception of a band on tour - the notion of a never-ending party on the road, is in stark contrast to the reality of the strain of many hours spent in the confines of the tour bus with long periods of time spent away and fragmented relations with loved ones back home. In moments of longing and solitude, the simplicity and immediacy of putting pen to paper to capture portraits of my collaborators; brought me back to the present moment - giving me the feeling of connection I was craving. I became fully engaged with myself, others and my environment.