One of the things people ought to do when cleaning out closets and storage spaces is a kind of triage. A friend of mine begins by throwing out everything that's obvious trash, from ticket stubs to a 1971 Neil Diamond concert to pay stubs from her first job--anything clearly useless. Next she winnows the remainder by sorting into separate piles--No, Maybe, and Keep. That way, she reasons, some items that seem doubtful have a second chance. So that's been my approach, too, during that last Spring Cleaning posted a while back. Below are a few odds and ends that made it into the Keep pile.
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| Life Study, 29x22, 2005 |
This is a figure in acrylic from a life painting group that I joined at the local art center. Unlike many she was excellent at holding her pose. She was our model for a considerable time, and a pleasure to work with.
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| "Mail Boxes," ink on paper, 2005 |
This pen and ink drawing is another piece saved from the burn pile. It was done using an old-style, flexible nib in a holder. Those kinds of metal nibs respond to pressure by producing a variable line that can be very pleasing when done in an artful way. This was also done on a hand-made art paper that seemed useful for ink because it has enough surface finish to keep the ink from being absorbed.
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| Study for Portrait of JM, 2009 |
And here's a charcoal study for a portrait. Sometimes a candid shot is awfully useful for character studies because it's more likely to capture an unguarded side of a personality. This sitter has a vivacious, open personality and it shows in the expression.
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