Silverpoint Still-lifes

At first I drew single objects floating on a light surround. After a suggestion by one of my early collectors, I began considering a way to compose multiple objects into a single drawing. I feel that a contemporary still-life should break with the tradition of cluttered compositions in favor of an ordered, controlled arrangement of similar objects more like what I experience at a modern market.

I frequently work in series, producing variations on a theme for a year or so before new ideas hit me. Three series divide these still-lifes, Fruits, which are single drawings of mostly pears and apples, Groups, in which I arrange multiples of the same object and manipulate spacing, and Roots, where I concentrate on the interesting surface textures of ordinary potatoes, turnips, and other root vegetables.

In both the Fruits and Roots series I sometimes cut and carve the surfaces to increase activity of light and dark, and to suggest form.

In addition to these three series, I occasionally draw other simple objects like shells, insects, and objects wrapped up in paper. While not part of a concentrated series, these works are more than sketches, and sometimes lead to new ideas.

All of these drawings are done in silverpoint, a medieval drawing medium that predates graphite drawing and uses soft metals to make marks on specially prepared papers.

Read more about silverpoint.

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