Whether working in aqua media or charcoal, my approach to image-making remains fundamentally consistent: I construct the surface through successive layers, retaining the ability to add or remove material as the work requires. Through repeated charcoal applications or watercolor washes, I selectively lift pigment and introduce thin veils of color, continuously assessing the overall composition, contrast, and value relationships until the desired surface quality and texture are achieved. This process produces a patina of varied colors and tonalities. For me, this surface “is more beautiful than layers of transparent or opaque color.” My paintings and drawings derive their expressive strength from a deliberate restraint in materials. Even portraits left partially unresolved—emerging from preliminary outlines and marks and culminating in arresting, evocative faces—are intended to command sustained attention. – Nancy Gaucher-Thomas