It's always an interesting experience when I make one of something. My mode of operation is to create a series of drawings and watch what happens in the repetition as I move from one drawing to the next. I do this to get deep into a space where I let the marks reveal themselves by the physical gesture that dominates at that time.

This was one of the books I was trying to get ready for the show at 110 CHURCH. Most of my work is a ritual. Rhythmic mark-making made in the silence of my studio. I can hear the rhythm of my drawings as I make them. The strike of a pencil, pen, charcoal or other medium makes a distinct sound and so drives the next mark. 

With this book I decided to experience drawing without looking. I made each mark by dragging my hand a percieved distance and then pierced the paper with an awl. I did this point by point, row by row, column by column.

I spent a full 8 hour day in my studio yesterday. I jumped from one project to another hoping to land on using these new tools. These three marking devices are made of felt. I've been thinking of making some like this for some time. My plan was to buy industrial felt or maybe using chalk erasers to build pens and stamping devices or large pens.

Imagine my surprise when making a studio visit with Justin Bursk he pulls out these as a gift for me.

These three pieces took a trip to their new home in Hoboken last week. We're so happy they have found a home. Each is pastel on board : 8" x 8" : 2007

spring 1

It was a long day in the studio. I spent a considerable amount of time experimenting with new materials for a series of works on paper. I have been cutting pages of text from a number of exceptional design magazines to use in these works. The quality of these magazines means there is a great deal of care that had been taken in setting the type. That kind of care creates a color and rhythm over paragraphs.

I used one such page to create these test sketches.

All of that reassessment, organization, and letting things go — also known as the month of June — is over. Now I'm on an art holiday and will have four glorious days to spend in my studio making work.

New month new energy. Summer temperatures are baking my brain and it seems that I am finally ready to make some new work. The temperatures also make drawing with oil pastels glorious. It's like drawing with butter.

Took out the giant pastels they are inspiring in every way.

ARTIST RECEPTION
Friday May 22 : 5 - 7 PM
EXHIBIT
May 12 - June 30, 2009

LOCATION
Bridge Club of Center City
1616 Walnut Street, Sixth Floor
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania