February 11, 2016
Draft Three
Overall, the untitled graphite drawing appears to be representational in nature as opposed to strictly realistic. Within the confines of a solid white border marked only by a small signature in the lower right corner, the piece unfolds in two halves.
The leftmost half depicts a white boat, clearly constructed of panels, possibly wooden, with two masts, each hoisting a white, patched sail. The sharp contrast between the pearl white in the foreground and the onyx black background casts the boat in an ethereal luminosity. Although such a dark sky could simply reflect a nocturnal setting, the unfurled sails and jagged wave-lines of the water suggest the strong winds commonly associated with storms at sea.
A large obsidian handprint dominates the white space to the right, hatched and crosshatched to create the texture of creases on a palm. Surrounding the hand, a series of quick fluid lines connect to the energy present in the previous scene. Do they represent raindrops? Below, centered on the page, a sketch of a man in formal attire stares into the unknown regions beyond the rightmost border of the piece.
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Draft Two
Upon looking at this piece, the eye is
Instantly
Drawn to the contrast—
Black set against white
In sharp juxtaposition,
Straight lines accentuating curves.
Divided along a central vertical axis,
The piece becomes an inverted mirror of value.
On the left
Wrestles a boat
In a violent sea,
Its crew of
A half dozen
Struggling to prevent
Its unfurled sails
From succumbing to the raging tempest.
The boat and sails
Are a starched white
Against the dark and stormy background.
To the right
Is a large
Black handprint,
Stylized
More than
Strict realism
Yet more
Than a mere
Impression.
Its crosshatched shading
Ties in the quick
Linear elements surrounding it.
Below,
A sketch of a man
In formal attire
Stares with an unbroken gaze at something I cannot see.
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Draft One
Upon looking at this piece, the eye is instantly drawn to the contrast—black set against white in sharp juxtaposition, straight lines accentuating curves. Divided along a central vertical axis, the piece becomes an inverted mirror of value.
On the left wrestles a boat in a violent sea, its crew of a half dozen struggling to prevent its unfurled sails from succumbing to the raging tempest. The boat and sails are a starched white against the dark and stormy background.
To the right is a large black handprint, stylized more than strict realism, yet more than a mere impression. Its crosshatched shading ties in the quick linear elements surrounding it.
Below, a sketch of a man in formal attire stares with an unbroken gaze at something I cannot see.