Overlay and Repetition

Recently I have been experimenting with the overlay and layering of images. These drawings were all captured digitally with a VisTablet (VT-Muse) making it much easier and faster to experiment with certain compositions and layers. I printed the image twice, one on tracing paper, and then mirrored on normal white stock printer paper. Both pages were combined creating a mirrored and mimicked pair of the images layered one top of one another.The intersecting and overlap of lines create a very chaotic composition, both image layers trying to fight for visual dominance. I first drew the images with the tablet in hopes of loosening my hand giving things I drew a more free flowing and organic feel without wasting real materials that I own. When combined and layered the image details act differently and are seen as visual texture. Through the physical layering and the visual traits of mirrored images these layer drawings reference a sort of Rorschach image test.

More to come.

Overlay and Repetition: Rorschach 01

Hp printer ink on tracing paper and printing paper 8.5x11

Overlay and Repetition: Rorschach 02

Hp printer ink on tracing paper and printing paper 8.5x11

Seismographic Drawings: Amtrak

For the past few weeks I have been traveling back and forth between San Luis Obispo, Sacramento and San Jose visiting friends and eating good food. I did a few experimental drawings on the train ride up from SLO to San Jose. Lately I've been inspired by the work of William Anastasi, in particular his subway drawings. On the train I sat in a straight upright position making sure my back was not touching the seat back. With my sketchbook on my lap I held a pencil in my right hand resting gently on the paper and as the train moved its movements would be recorded though the pencil. This created a sort of seismographic scribble drawing, a visualization of a distance traveled. I did each drawing from station to station. I tried this process with my left hand as well as both hands at the same time. Each drawing was a continuous contour line composition of scribbled marks going left and right, these horizontal lines are all of the turns the train makes, the more condensed and darker areas records when the train is traveling straight. the long vertical lines are of the train stopping as it arrives at a destination. I like the idea of creating drawings with random and instantaneous methods. for me it gives the art more of an honest interpretation of what that art should look like, negating any artists style that may jeopardize or change the marks being made. Through this experiment I made the artist become the instrument, I felt this practice removed all stlye and skill from the artist a sort of a cleansing feeling. More to come.

Amtrak Drawings: Santa Clara to Fremont

(right-handed) graphite on paper

Amtrak Drawings: Fremont to Haward

(left-handed) graphite on paper

Amtrak Drawings: Hayward to Oakland

(both right and left hands) graphite and pen on paper

Amtrak Drawings: Oakland Airport to Jack London Square

(both right and left hands) pen and graphite on paper

(right side) Amtrak Drawings: Oakland to Emeryville

(right-handed) pen on paper

(left side) Amtrak Drawings: Emeryville to Berkeley to Richmond to Martinez

(left-handed) graphite on paper