The pencil and ink art of the feminine form created by local artist Bryce Stoskopf were highlighted at an artist reception hosted Thursday evening by the city of Ceres Department of Parks and Recreation.

In an effort to promote the arts, the city department routinely invites local artists to bring in their art to introduce to the Ceres Community Center over refreshments.

“There are forms and energy that are interesting to me,” said Stoskopf of the women he draws.

Stoskopf, 30, frequently draws women without faces.

“I’m not really sure why I started doing that – there’s probably some deep-seeded psychologic pull to it,” said Stoskopf, a 2006 Hughson High School graduate who now lives in La Grange.

A lot of his inspiration to be creative came from the work of Tim Burton and the story-telling of late night TV show, “Tales from the Crypt.”

Stoskopf was linked up to the Ceres artist reception program through his best friend’s wife who is a Ceres school teacher.

Along with his art samples, Stoskopf offered two books of poetry which he published with art illustrations. Because few artists find a way to make a living through art, Stoskopf works at the Save Mart store in Sonora.

“I tried to make a living off of it and it didn’t work. It’s almost impossible – especially in California because there’s so much competition.”

Stoskopf was raised in Kansas and was brought to Santa Rosa in 1999. Later the family landed in Modesto. He went to junior high and high school in Hughson. He now lives in LaGrange with his mother and stepfather.