I deeply appreciate my art instructors for pushing me not to settle for mediocre, chicken-scratch drawing. I studied composition and worked with charcoal and graphite pencil years before I started painting professionally.
Here are some of my favorite works that show moments of "getting it!"

Still Life with Fan and Metal, 2000
graphite pencil; W 20" x H 24"

Untitled #1, 2000
charcoal and pastel; W 24" x H 36" (cropped - 24" around)

Fur stole, 1998
pen and ink; H 16" x W 20"

White leather jacket, 2000
pastel with gesso; W 18" x H 24"

Untitled #2; 2000
charcoal; W 24" x H 36"

Untitled #3, 1998
pen and ink; W 24" x H 36"