yesterday i posted 12 drawings made over the past 50 years. here are 10 nore
8/11/25 collage, 12x14” on strathmore bristol
1:21 PM: today i made a new 12x14” collage on strathmore bristol paper. it reached a point about an hour ago where it became far too busy; something that happens often and i should, by this time, be used to. but obviously, i’m not!
so this time when it reached that point, i was inspired to take a piece of 8.5x11 paper and make a drawing of one of my favorite images. it’s one that has appeared in many of my recent works, of a couple seen from behind and slightly above. she’s got her arm around him, with her hand on his neck and his arms are folded behind him.
then i cut out the colored pencil drawing, leaving some white space around the two figures, and collaged it to the center of the piece. i was kind of surprised at how beautifully it integrated and looks like the whole collage was made for this couple!
right now i’m thinking i won’t do any more work, take it over to the house and see how it holds up in the company of the other recent work. i’m feeling that i’m just now discovering my own version of abstract realism that coincides with the nature of my personality as much as with my mark making.
The preparatory marks in black & white and colored ink that i make and then cut into pieces before i start a new collage play a vital role. the variety of marks; some made with bambool pen, others with various size fan brushes, give me an array of possibilities. where and when i collage them is purely a gut feeling, taking into account the entire composition but without plotting and planning.