Narrative Portraits

Using a “drawing by subtraction” technique, Tracy Frein creates black-and-white portraits wrought with emotion

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My black-and-white narrative portraits help expose those dark and sometimes destructive emotional truths that may plaque my subjects. Each subject is a compelling visual portrayal of the human spirit, determination and courage. Working on drafting film allows me to capture these hidden emotions while creating the depth, texture and transparency in my subject’s features. I strive to show the viewer that while at first glance my subjects seem serene and normal, they show a sense of inner frailty. This inner frailty is what I strive to capture while documenting my subjects dealing privately with their own personal mental illnesses.

About My Process