Uncut

A snapshot of beginnings, and process- The raw scan of Unfailing, with the undeveloped surroundings cropped from the finished drawing. Click on the jpeg for an enlargement.

Engines Of Dream

Engines Of Dream
Charcoal, Graphite; 5 1/8” x 5 1/8”
$900.

Every now and then, I need to do something like this. Let’s see what happens if, and then, and then. Good days, everything you try seems to work.

When that momentum slows, I’ll find myself overthinking: Deciding some aspect of the drawing doesn’t really make sense, work as well as I’d initially thought with its context, or whatever. Good time to stop, usually. Tomorrow I’ll see more clearly what’s worthwhile.

Fallen

A hard winter on Fall Creek: The path along the south shore of Beebe Lake is torn up, and downstream, the old Hydraulics Lab has finally fallen. Startling to look down from the Thurston Avenue bridge and find it gone. A little sad, too. Before and afters, from the Cornell Sun and Ithaca Journal.

Not far from the bridge, someone's Post-it note, detailing their own hard winter:

I’ve slipped & fallen 5 times
1) black ice 7AM Weill Research
2) down backstairs of Baker Hall coming out of my 1st chem review session
3) in wet, slick, mushy snow on my way to Risley
4) powdery snow & deer to Risley Hall
5) missed a step going down Hollister (math)

Three new drawings- Loch Traignarry Light, Rorrach’s Glen, and Unfailing- will be available at the upcoming exhibition at West End Gallery. Featured artists are Brian Keeler, James Ramsdell, Wilson Ong, and Marc G. Rubin. Opening reception: Friday, March 20, 5:00-7:30; the show runs through April 24. For more, visit westendgallery.net

Unfailing

Unfailing
Graphite and Charcoal
2 1/4" x 4 1/4"
$350.

This drawing is the first of a new series, Beacons. Like most of my recent work, Unfailing was begun with charcoal dust, charcoal pencil; but by the time I'd decided what this drawing might best become, then finished bringing the elements into line- thinning shadow, softening light, smoothing mist- little was left of those charcoal beginnings. Nothing new, that. Often, beginnings are just that: A place to start. And if they don't lead anywhere unexpected, what fun would that be.

Tools include Dixon Ticonderoga pencils, grades 1-4; Staedtler Mars Lumograph pencils, 6H; kneaded erasers. The drawing measures 2 1/4" x 4 1/4", and is mounted in a white mat and matte black wood frame; framed size is 8" x 10". The jpeg should load at about actual size in most browsers.

Unfailing is available through West End Gallery, Corning, NY. If you're interested, call Lin or Hedy at 607.936.2011.

Rorrach's Glen

Rorrach's Glen
Charcoal, Graphite; 5" x 6 7/8"