Just One More Second

Just One More Second
23” W x 18” H graphite on Strathmore 400 Series drawing paper, signed Pamela Watson (2021)

Just One More Second is a powerful continuation of Pamela Watson’s quarantine drawing series—created as a visual response to the mental and emotional endurance demanded by the COVID-19 pandemic. In this large-format graphite piece, a bull rider is captured mid-ride, muscles taut, posture braced, holding on for dear life.

Inspired by the artist’s experience watching a live rodeo at Cheyenne Frontier Days in 2009, the scene takes on new meaning in the context of the pandemic. The rider becomes a symbol for all of us—gripping tightly through uncertainty, exhaustion, and chaos, trying to hang on just long enough to make it through to safety, to vaccination, to whatever comes next.

With rich texture, dramatic contrast, and dynamic movement, Just One More Second channels the raw intensity of the moment while offering a relatable metaphor. It reflects the collective struggle, the inner grit, and the hope that somehow—despite the bucking force of everything around us—we can hold on just a little longer.