artwalk submission

i'm submitting to artwalk for the first time ever. i'm even going to make the early deadline!

here are the pieces i'm submitting. two graphite pieces...



and one piece in conte.


here is the "artist statement" --

I once read an article discussing Jasper Johns' application of Formalism in his paintings. The article suggested that his reoccurring use of targets, or stencils, simply acted as a guide, allowing him to concentrate on the formal application of paint on a particular surface. I feel this sentiment resonates through my portraits as well. I scale an image into a premeasured area and freehand the details within that area to create my stencil. Then I begin the application of the medium -- the building and layering, crosshatching, smoothing, reworking and finishing.

My graphite pieces begin with a 3H or 2H pencil and are built by gradually layering in all gradients up to 6B. There are about fourteen different pencils that I regularly use on any given piece. Each pencil has its own purpose, whether it is to capture a tone or shadow or to create a different texture.

The conte pieces are explorations in light and dark. They also represent a contrasting approach to the graphite drawings. I enjoy the excessive weight of the line in conte and will usually work from the dark, saturated lines, blending them out into the lightest areas.

more to come when i have some more time...