(in class)
(at home)
graphite on paper - 18 x 24
I drew the nude in class, approx 45min. The assigment was to take the drawing home and add a background. She was sitting in a very comfortable and slouching pose, so I thought natural elements in the background felt appropriate. I also wanted to add texture to an otherwise smooth drawing.
October 15th, 2007 - 12:21 am
this illustrates to me how important context is during evaluation. it’s difference is not just that of the additional background. the additional background changes the original conceptually without touching it’s physical substance.
for some reason, this drawing makes me think. it makes me think about the criteria of judgement and the necessity of the drawings relation to reality.
how complex and accurate drawings exploit the human feeling of realness, when it’s just a 2d pencil on paper.
eve needs her adam.
October 15th, 2007 - 12:26 pm
I’m glad that the background you decided to add is limited in scope. Had the background elements encompassed the entire page, the feel would have been different. When I look at this piece, I also don’t get the feeling that you started it as a class assignment.
October 23rd, 2007 - 7:18 pm
I love this piece. It’s very well done, with importance placed on the subject so as not to distract the viewer to the background. I think Mike’s assessment of it as depicting Eve was close to my first thought too, but it actually takes me to a more present time, when viewed longer than the initial glance. The mushrooms and necklace don’t strike me as present in the times of creation, but in it’s own regard, the subject is Eve, the pioneering female of a journey of whose conclusion even she seems unaware. It speaks to me, in a way, of the struggle of a woman and her Life, and one fading away quite possibly due to drugs or natural/herbal substitutes used to take away the pain she feels. Her gaze into the distance is as though she is stuck in the memories of her past, and yet she sits naked, almost longing to be stripped of her burdens and freed from her torment, in a place of solace. Her only true love sits next to her heart, enclosed and embraced in a diamond-shaped brass locket around her neck; the fleeting love of a lost beloved still beats within her breast. Yet she sits, rather hopeful yet alone in her personal imprisonment of bliss, content and happy. Yes, I see more than the graphite conceals, but it’s beauty speaks volumes to me, and while I may be thinking too deep for my own good, I don’t know why, but this girl just seems to be speaking in a body language so well captured on this media. Some might suggest adding color, but I highly stress that the monochrome look of it only adds to it’s mystery, and to change that would permanently change it’s mood. As I’ve talked too much already, I’ll just say that your talent is more than I had ever known, and I really like this piece.