Mitchell & Delano Project

What I See

DENNIS LINE • 24 × 38 • ACRYLIC & PENCIL ON HARDBOARD
A fractured portrait exploring perception beyond sight, where memory, instinct, and emotion reshape the familiar into something entirely new.
What I See
The Story

Seeing Beyond the Obvious

A fractured portrait built around the idea of perception without sight. The face is split and reassembled through multiple viewpoints—eyes misaligned, features shifted—suggesting an understanding of the world that isn't tied to a single, stable image.

The surface moves between tight pencil work and smooth acrylic passages, with sharp lines cutting through softer transitions. Muted grays and off-whites hold the structure together, while the teal band and warm tones in the eyes and lips become points of focus within an otherwise unsettled composition.

Like the song that inspired it, the painting explores seeing through memory, sound, touch, and instinct rather than vision. Nothing aligns perfectly because perception rarely does. Every fragment becomes part of a larger whole.

Built on 1/4-inch hardboard, the layered media leaves every decision visible, reinforcing the idea that understanding is accumulated over time—imperfect, evolving, and deeply personal.

Medium
Acrylic & Pencil
Surface
1/4" Hardboard
Size
24 × 38 in
Style
Contemporary Mixed Media
Collection
Studio Works
Status
Available
Studio Process

Building the Composition

Concept

Initial Sketches

Loose drawings explored multiple arrangements of the face, breaking familiar proportions into overlapping perspectives before committing to the final composition.

Drawing

Building Structure

Detailed pencil work established the portrait, layering line work and shifting planes while preserving expressive marks beneath the paint.

Painting

Adding Color

Transparent acrylic layers introduced restrained color, allowing teal accents and warm tones to guide the eye without overpowering the monochromatic structure.

Finish

Final Balance

Highlights, edge refinement, and selective texture unified the portrait while intentionally leaving evidence of the drawing process visible throughout.

Studio Gallery

Process & Detail

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Original Music
What I See

What I See

Wade Raymond
Listen While You Explore

Written during the development of the painting, What I See follows the same themes of fractured perception, memory, and intuition. The music and artwork explore the ways we experience the world beyond what our eyes alone can see.

Listen on Lantern Club
Project Notes

A Different Way of Seeing

Not every painting is meant to provide answers. Some ask us to slow down, look again, and accept that perception is rarely complete. What I See explores the space between observation and interpretation, where memory, instinct, and emotion become part of the image itself.

Inquire About the Original