Notes on my Drawing: I. “Drawing is an essential act in my practice. At times, it is the truest representation of the artists hand, in as much as it records a direct and unmediated mark. In this way the hand of the artist is shown in great honesty and vulnerability.” II. “I do not see drawing as subordinate to painting. It is its own practice and can stand as an equal to painting. Drawing is among the very first arts of man.” III. “I work in various dry media such as charcoal and even charred, carbonized wood salvaged from pit fires. I also work in conte’ crayon, china crayon, and graphite pencil, sometimes in combination. I consider ink on paper a manner of drawing, even though its closer to painting since I use a brush. Recently I have drawn with a stick or a feather quill I’ve picked up on a hike, dipped in ink, in order to deliberately lose some control over the line and allow for an accidental and erratic quality to emerge in the line. I feel this lends visual excitement and helps to circumnavigate my own conscious design, and allow for Natures hand to have a part in the building of the image. I choose good quality papers, such as Arches and Strathmore, but sometimes my best drawings come out of problems I’m working out in a simple sketchbook.” IV. “It will often, and typically does, take dozens of drawings in a single session to arrive at one that is even somewhat acceptable. This drawing then becomes the point of study and departure point for various subsequent ideas. I also find luck and timing often play a part, in so far as my own state of openess, rest, confidence, and clarity of mind intersect with the times I have available to work.” NOTESNOTES.htmlshapeimage_1_link_0
Third Gate    (2001)
charcoal, wax crayon, ink, and chalk
on Arches cold-pressed paper
 48 in. x  30 in.