Back off

Epiphany: In an effort to marry the two main layers (paint and graphite), I often go way overboard, filling in EVERYTHING. Working on this the other day with graphite, I actually stopped early. And saw that I was making a big (60 x 50 inches) drawing as if it was a small drawing. I had been covering up all the cool huge brush-stroked washes with a blanket of (small) texture. Got out the eraser.

I heard you the first time

Color. New camera (much better image). Allowing much more of the randomness to show through. Need to ramp it up.

Sunday in the studio

Yesterday was a good day for drawing. I reworked this piece that started out as a small brush painting, blown way up. There was a lot of under-drawing here, and I love how it shows through. I'm thinking I will go back in with large areas of white paint, sort of getting back to the white of the paper, looking through the layers of drawing, but will hold off for now.

50 x 50 inches, graphite on paper

About that drawing day

Telling a story

Even if I don't quite know what the story is. Hal says it looks like an animation where all the elements are smashed onto one frame... awp!

Leaving now for upstate NY and a balmy 85 degrees. Tomorrow it will be 55. O Spring.

No. 5

Sadly, I've got to stop using this paper, only halfway through my ten pieces of paper. I was excited about it in the beginning – 10 sheets of 38 x 70 inch eco-friendly (by that I finally figure out they mean renewable, but not necessarily good). It's not holding up well, and I fear for its lifespan.

So, I have cut down a larger piece of Stonehenge to the same size and can do at least one more...

It will be a practice run for my gallery drawing at Elmira next week, so I'll start with a bit of subtle monotype. Right now.

Number four of ten

They say that in order to make a change you have to do things in a different way. I learned a lot from making this drawing for a couple of reasons:

I started out drawing with a stick and ink (hmmmm).

I could only see half of the piece while I was working on it (big wall issues).

I took a break overnight in between halves.

I managed, for a change, to push through the tightness and horror vacui into the eye of the storm (where white space works and scribbles are good). I love this eraser.

OK, I know I'm way behind in my 10 drawings in 10 days project. I've had a cold; I've been pretending to be a cowgirl in Nashville; I'm getting ready to do a gallery drawing at Elmira College next week. But, we press on.