NOMADDAM - SELF LOVE, Washington DC, March 2022

FRAMED ORIGINAL HAND DRAWING ready to hang, delivered with Certificate of Authenticity.

This hand-drawn pencil portrait is based on a real model I draw in Washington DC back to early 2022. I
t reveals a woman in a quiet, intimate moment just after emerging from the shower. Her long, dark, wet hair falls down her face, still carrying the weight of water. Seen from behind, she wraps her arms tightly around herself — a powerful, almost desperate embrace. Her fingers press into her own skin, stretching it slightly, as if she is trying to feel herself more deeply, to make sure she is still there.

The gesture is both tender and heavy. It speaks of self-love, but also of something more fragile — a need for comfort, protection, and reassurance in the face of inner turmoil. The line between care and pain becomes beautifully blurred: is she holding herself in affection, or in an attempt not to fall apart?

Rendered in delicate graphite, the softness of the body contrasts with the intensity of the pose, creating a quiet tension that runs through the entire image. Deep Self Love becomes a visual reflection on vulnerability — a reminder that loving oneself is not always gentle, and that sometimes it comes from a place of deep anxiety and silent struggle.

A raw and honest portrait of being alone with one’s own emotions, where strength and fragility coexist.


PENCIL HAND DRAWING : 220 x 150 mm.

There is only 1 Original drawing available.

Graphite pencils ranging from 4H to 6B were used, along with an array of erasers and shading techniques to create depth and subtle texture.
It has been CAREFULLY SEALED WITH A PROTECTIVE FIXATIVE for long-lasting preservation.

THE DRAWING WILL BE DELIVERED FRAMED and ready to hang and it is accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity, included in the same shipping box.

It will be shipped in professional, elegant, and sturdy packaging to ensure maximum safety during transport.


The Artist :

https://nomaddam.myportfolio.com/home

https://www.instagram.com/no.mad.dam/

I am a Dutch artist traveling the world to capture people emotional fragility and scenes of life. With my pencils and camera always beside me, I seek out those intimate moments where emotion speaks louder than words — the soft glances, the unguarded gestures, the solitude we all carry.

I draw daily life scenes with a cinematic, dramatic touch:
a woman smoking alone in her kitchen at night,
a couple finding privacy in the middle of a party,
a man lost in thought on a crowded metro.

My work focuses on themes of mental health, human connection, and emotional vulnerability. I pay special attention to the eyes, posture and light — the details that reveal the real story beneath the scene.