Tools of the trade

My drawing supplies.

Aside from the more normal supplies, I use some unusual tools to move and remove the charcoal and pencil from the paper including sandpaper and razor blades.

I can be pretty rough on my drawings.

a small one

Distant Showers, 2011. pencil on paper 5 x 6 sold

When I usually start a drawing I will begin with pencil and then move onto darker vine charcoal because I like to get as much contrast in my drawings as I can, but at this small scale I love the delicate nature of using only pencil and I can get enough contrast by building up layer upon layer of a soft graphite pencil.

b & w

Building Spring, 2011. charcoal on paper 22 x 30

a new drawing.

One way or the other

Buried, 2011. oil on paper 16 x 16

I found this quote somewhere, I adjusted it slightly to fit my situation.

"I have two sons, a wife, and a mortgage. Knowing what I know, I must be insane....OR completely rational in my belief in my art."

you gotta believe.

back to it

Inundated, 2011. oil on panel 18 x 24 sold

I tend to work in bunches, so when I started the year drawing, I knew it could last for a while. I ended up drawing for the better part of January and February! Not really what I had planned...but now paintings are starting to come along. Inundated is one of the first paintings to be completed this year. How could it be March already?

I'm looking forward to stretching my wings a bit on some larger works soon.

enjoy.

The Secret

Fortress, 2011. charcoal on paper 11 x 25 sold

"My secret for success?"

"Well its not a secret that I have never hung out too much and I've worked very, very hard for thirty-five years. It's just a lot of hard work. That's my secret - it's a BIG secret."

-Joan Snyder b. 1940

new year...new drawings

Western Rows, 2011. charcoal on paper, 22 x 30

I started out this new year with a series of drawings.

Here's the one of the first that I have finished.

It feels good to be back in the studio...

enjoy.