Brantley Merritt

This piece came from a place that felt a little more personal than most of my work.

I was thinking about what it means to feel lost but still moving forward. That feeling of wandering without a clear direction, but holding onto something that keeps you grounded. The writing in the piece came first, almost like a stream of thought. It set the tone before the drawing really started to take shape.

The Tin Man felt like the right figure to carry that idea. There’s something about him that represents both strength and vulnerability at the same time. Covered in armor, but still searching for something deeper. That contrast is what I wanted to focus on.

I worked this piece slowly, building up the values and letting the form come through in layers. The surface has a softness to it, but the structure underneath is very deliberate. I wanted it to feel quiet, like something you sit with rather than something that demands attention right away.

The text stays visible and imperfect on purpose. It’s not meant to be polished. It feels more honest that way, like a thought written down in the moment instead of something rewritten or edited.

For me, this piece is about faith, direction, and trying to stay steady when things feel unclear. It’s about trusting that even when the path doesn’t make sense, there’s still something guiding you forward.