I had already begun this large charcoal drawing a few weeks ago when the request for submissions appeared for the “A Day in the Life” show at William Miller Studios and Fine Art, prompting me to finish it by the deadline. Miller has invited artists to “showcase everyday moments or routines that hold significance” and to “capture the mundane in meaningful ways.”

The drawing’s title — “It’s So Much Better with Two” — comes directly from the subtitles on the television screen to the far right, nearly illegible in charcoal but clear enough in the source photograph (see clip below). The words seem particularly apt for this very familiar scene from a few years back: My husband is entrenched in his favorite spot, gazing half-awake in his favorite direction — the TV. Everything revolves around a favorite bottle of wine perched on the edge of the marble coffee table that is a relic from Richard’s favorite party days of his youth in Philadelphia.

If the elements of the room look sketchy, each of them holds a clear, positive memory for me, and each is a personal reminder of the comfort of living with this crazy, often difficult man. He’s what I call “a real one.” It really is so much better with the two of us: him on the couch and me behind the lens. The table has been gone for years, the couch and easy chair have been replaced, the kitchen has been remodeled, and neither of us drinks anymore. Even the barrier island past the sliding doors behind me, the viewer, has eroded significantly. But the main players are still here, a bit older, living the life.

If the framer does their job on time, the drawing will be at the gallery in time for the 5-8 p.m. reception during First Friday Art Walk, on the Fourth of July. I’ll be there if I can!

“It’s So Much Better with Two”: charcoal, PanPastel, and graphite on Rives BFK paper, 35″H x 53″W framed. Viewable July 3–15, 2025, at William Miller Gallery, 702 8th Ave. N., Myrtle Beach, SC 29577. Gallery hours during road construction are Tuesday-Friday 4:30-7 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.–7 p.m., and Sunday 1–5 p.m., or by appointment.

Postscript October 3, 2025: After the time of this post, I renamed the drawing “Interior Landscape.” This evening I’m pleased to say it was purchased by a collector!