"Chance of Thunderstorms" Striking Charcoal Art by Noel Reese

In her own words, "I poured my blood, sweat, and tears into this drawing. It would not comply with anything, just, uhg! But it turned out very well. The idea for this drawing actually came from a book my mom and I read that said one of the best ways to describe a seizure is that it is a thunderstorm in your brain. I went off of that description to create this piece. I used willow charcoal, pastels, two kneaded erasers, and Strathmore charcoal paper. It might have been very frustrating but, it was a good experience. I got to spend some time just unwinding while listening to a couple of podcasts and reflecting on my own epilepsy journey."

A profound drawing with a heart-wrenching story.

About Noel

Noel is a homeschooled high school sophomore. Just 26 days after her eighth birthday she had her first known seizure and within six months was diagnosed with epilepsy. As of December 28, 2018 Noel was one year seizure and med free, something she and her family thought would never happen. Since weaning off her meds, Noel has found a greater passion for art and wants to share this love with the world. She wants to use her talent to help others by becoming one of the very few medical/scientific illustrators in the United States. As of now, she plans on interning this summer for Nucleus Medical and, upon high school graduation, she wants to attend Oglethorpe University with a dual major of Biology and Studio Art. After her undergraduate studies, she hopes to attend Augusta University to earn her Master's degree in Medical Illustration, a highly competitive program where no more than ten students are accepted each year.

The proceeds from this item will go to support Camp Carpe Diem scholarships, in honor of Noel and her love of camp!