Captured Memories: Quiet moments and reflections of hope with my dad

Captured Memories is a collection of 84 vine charcoal drawings created during visits with my dad as he lived with Alzheimer’s. This time was deeply unpredictable, and I never knew what mood would greet me. Yet one constant remained: when I opened my sketchbook, a sense of calm settled over both of us. 

Drawing became a way to be present. It allowed me to listen, observe, and stay grounded in moments that were often fragile. As I sketched, I asked simple questions, and his responses, sometimes tender, sometimes humorous, sometimes unexpected, became small treasures. I wrote his words directly onto the pages, allowing his voice to live alongside the drawings. Some visits I would leave with three or more sketches, and despite how hard it was, I found myself wanting to return. 

These works honor the quiet moments we shared. Through charcoal, I preserved fragments of conversation, gesture, and emotion…creating a body of work rooted in presence, love, and attention.