This picture seems to me to point the way to where I would like to take my work generally, whether in charcoal, pastel, or paint.
I’m interested in the tension between the medium on the one hand -- in this case charcoal and pastel on paper -- and the representational image on the other; so here the fading of the image into mere paper on the right side, or the seemingly capricious patch of red at the bottom, or the minimal treatment of the feet in contrast with the more developed arm and slip; all emphasize the tension between the kneeling figure and the colours, textures and lines that give her form. It’s as if this figure might dissolve at any moment into its constituent elements, and that, to me, is a fascinating and effective metaphor for a corresponding tension between being and non-being, our central spiritual issue as mature human beings.
Having said all that, I have to add simply that I love arrangements of lines, colours, textures and so on for their own expressive sake, and would spend time looking at them and making them even if they didn’t (as they often don’t in wonderful pieces by other artists) add up to a recognizable representation of something.
To view Bill's website, please click here.
To view Bill's website, please click here.
Bill writes and speaks as thoughtfully as he draws and paints. Always good to hear or read him elucidate! Always good to see his drawing and painting.
ReplyDelete