Ring of Fire - Johnny Cash

This was an assignment in my illustration class. We were to choose a famous figure and tell something about this person in the artwork. I chose Johnny Cash because of his recent death as a tribute to him and his family. Everything was done in pencil and blending stumps except the fire and highlights on his face that were done in airbrush. I made his portrait as dark as possible to signify the man in black which makes the ring of fire more vibrant.