Graphite Drawing 1 Drawing

Here is an article I wrote for Nashville Arts Magazine about "Graphite Drawing 1" - I had started working in charcoal abstractions about 18 months ago. Recently hopped over to experimenting with its cousin, graphite. As per my usual routine over the past year or so, I taped a 52" x 42" slice of heavy paper onto a board and placed it on my easel. Picked up a large number 6 graphite stick and started scribbling. Freedom. Scary but exhilarating. After a while, I stepped back to get a view from about 15 feet away. It wasn't working. Tried some more scribbling. Still wasn't working. That's ok. I'll get a fresh look at it in the morning. The next day I took the board, paper, and scribbles outside, laid it flat on the ground and sprinkled some graphite powder onto the surface. I enjoy working in the comfort and convenience of my studio but working outdoors in the open air provides a connection to the elements that is difficult to explain. A relationship between one's self, nature, the artwork and the process that is both primal and precious. I started rubbing the graphite powder all across and into the surface of the paper, over the scribbles from the day before. Some of the scribbles peeked through from beneath the powder and together they began to take on a different, more integrated identity. The two applications merging, embracing each other. Now, something was starting to happen. The image had my full attention. No daydreaming. Intrigued and eager, I scribbled more over the rubbed in powder. Spontaneous, improvised, intuitive scribbles all over the surface in different directions, speeds, and pressures. Then another layer of rubbed in powder. I repeated the process of layering the rubbed in powder over the scribbles and vice versa. With each layer, it became more and more powerful and started to stir something in my soul. It began to take on its own aura, strength and being. Staring into the deep, dark, layers of shimmering grey, I began to reflect, contemplate, feel something. Not sure exactly what, but something. Each distinct layer of grey speaking to me in a silent voice. Could the vast, mysterious flaws, subtleties, and depth of the surface possibly be echoing the vast, mysterious flaws, subtleties, and depth of existence? I've always found comfort and beauty in the darkness. Probably explains my nocturnal nature. Speaking of darkness, after a while of rubbing the graphite deep and hard into the surface of the paper and subsequently my skin, I looked down at my hand. It had become a shiny, dark, silvery grey from the burnishing. Picking up the jar of graphite powder, I noticed that the label warned, "This product contains a chemical known to the State of California to cause cancer". After that, I used a chamois to rub the graphite powder into the surface. It took a full day or two to get the graphite out of my skin. As I finished working on "Graphite Drawing 1", I knew it was a rare and special artwork. One that may end up in my top three when all is said and done. I had taken it where I wanted it to go. Or maybe it had taken me where it wanted to go.

Drawing:Graphite on Paper

Original:One-of-a-kind Artwork

Size:41 W x 51 H x 1 D in

Delivery Time:Typically 5-7 business days for domestic shipments, 10-14 business days for international shipments.