A mixed media on wood panel painting by the American artist R.A. "Drew" Buys. Titled "You are the Poison I need," this bright pink abstract work depicts a central face covered in various designs and floating against a background of patterns. Signed and titled to the verso, the painting is displayed in a black frame. Born in California, Buys studied sculpture at the Herron School of Art and Design in Indianapolis. He also studied art restoration under fellow Indianapolis artist, Steve Redman. His work focused predominantly on mixed media paintings and drawings as well as found object sculptures. From the artist: Years ago, he [Buys] moved into his current house and he had no connection to internet, smart phone, or cable. He started drawing these stream of conscience faces in the late hours of the night, that have evolved over the years and continue to change. While a few of them are actual portraits of existing people, most of them are abstract and void of any recognizable features of a real person. He tries to strip away gender, sex, age, race or any other feature that we tend to intentionally or accidentally judge others on. Matter of fact he likes to look at his drawings as having the skin peeled back and them showing the colors, textures, and patterns that make up a person on the inside.