Two- and Three-part Inventions

The title is meant as a reference to the compositions of the same name written 300 years ago by J. S. Bach. In those short pieces, there are two or three contrapuntal melodic voices that intermingle and relate to one-another to make complex harmonies. In these drawings, one part of each still-life is a paper object, and the other part is a flat, geometric diagram placed under the object. The diagrams always relate to their paper objects in some way – either the object is a three-dimensional projection of the design, or the diagram has a structural or geometric relationship to the object. Many of the object/diagram relationships have a thematic component, referencing geometry, esoterica, or astrology. In some cases the light, in the form of highlighting in white gouache or the shadow cast by the object, adds a third element to the Inventions. These works are chiaroscuro metalpoint drawings, made of silver, copper, gold, palladium, and sometimes other metals,  worked on top of toned casein ground, with white highlights added in gouache to enhance the lighting subtleties and increase dimensionality. 

Three-part Invention No. 25 (Oculus), 2023, metalpoint with white gouache on prepared paper, 10 1/2  x 13 inches. Private collection

Three-part Invention No. 24 (Lapis Exilis), 2023, metalpoint with white gouache on prepared paper, 10 1/2  x 12 1/2 inches

Three-part Invention No. 23 (Omphalos), 2023, metalpoint with white gouache on prepared paper, 10 3/4  x 12 1/2 inches

Three-part Invention No. 22 (Hollow Moon), 2023, metalpoint with white gouache on prepared paper, 11  x 12 1/8 inches. Private collection

Three-part Invention No. 21 (Crystal Skull), 2023, metalpoint with white gouache on prepared paper, 10 3/4  x 12 1/2 inches

Three-part Invention No. 17 (Squaring the Sphere), 2022, silverpoint and palladiumpoint with white gouache on prepared paper, 10  x 12 inches

Three-part Invention No. 16 (Pentatetrahemihexahedron) , 2022, silverpoint and palladiumpoint with white gouache on prepared paper, 10 7/8 x 13 inches

Three-part Invention No. 20 (Crop Circles), 2022, silverpoint and palladiumpoint with white gouache on prepared paper, 11 x 13 inches. Private collection

Three-part Invention No. 14 (Geodetic), 2023, silverpoint and palladiumpoint with white gouache on prepared paper, 10 7/8 x 13 1/4 inches

Three-Part Invention No. 12 (Platonic Compound), 2022, silverpoint, goldpoint, palladiumpoint, and white gouache  on prepared paper, 10 1/2 x 12 inches. Private collection

Three-Part Invention No. 10 (Crystalline Entity), 2022, silverpoint, palladiumpoint, and goldpoint with white gouache on prepared paper, 12 3/4  x 14 1/4 inches

Three-part Invention No. 4 (Sliced Sphere), 2022, silverpoint and palladiumpoint with white gouache on prepared paper, 11 x 15 inches

Three-part Invention No. 2 (Conic Section), 2023, silverpoint and palladiumpoint with white gouache on prepared paper, 12 1/4  x 10 1/2 inches