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Notes from the Studio

The Basis of Flight

Welcome to the interpretive section of the website, detailing my creative process. Check back in for perspective drawings, geometry, media experiments, sketches, etc.

Artist Statement

wash drawing

Geometry and Composition

I often compose my finished studio paintings based on principles of dynamic symmetry. In planning the Painting “Alpine Storm” I spent some time doing small inkwashes from my plein-air studies. Initially there was no grid, no schema, only the proportions of the desired format. In this case I was working in the ratio 1:1.237, which is basically two golden section rectangles (1:1.618) standing on end. I intuitively arrived at an arrangement of light and dark which "felt right", then used the underlying geometry of the format to perfect the arrangement.
Click on the image for more details.

Charcoal Drawing Demonstration

drawing demo1demo2demo3demo4demo5

The evolution of a charcoal drawing in five stages. Made in preparation for the Painting “Man in a Gale”






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