I have been working on this drawing on and off for months. It goes on the wall, into that flat files, and comes out again. This is a ritual for this piece. But this week I was showing it to artist Amy Ralston during a studio visit and what I need to do next became clear. The drawing is on the wall and we'll have a conversation later today that I think may end our ritual.

Yellow seems to be the color this month. I also have started a line drawing on Yupo that i'm really starting to embrace.

head on

Starting a new series called 18 lines.

Each of these drawings will only have 18 lines. I began a test on a synthetic paper with graphite yesterday. The quality of the lines are what I was looking for, but the visual experience from a distance is not.

These are repetitive, meditative pieces a response to the sounding series.

Like little polished circles.

Another horizontal graphite piece.

I don't believe it's real. I have four days in my studio when I don't have to think about anything but making art. Today I went into the studio for the first day of my of my art retreat.

I have been working on these drawings for ages. They are 6 x 6  how much trouble could they be? Well, first they started out as pencil drawings. I laid down a grid and began working with a grid of directional lines, In some places you can see the intricate herringbone marks peeking through. The work hung on the wall for weeks. I couldn't see where it was going. I took it down and put it away.

The truth of drawing is the meditation; the utter loss of self — becoming an instrument of rhythm and mark.

I've begun a new series of drawings that are based on drawing 18 lines.

I draw 18 lines with the same grade of graphite without resharpening. While drawing I can't think of anything but the line and what number it is in the set of the marks.

Everything is about the line.

It I lose track of the line things happen.

These are large drawings for me. 30 x 40 inch Rives BFK white.

I've begun a new series of drawings. Again on synthetic paper. It's really the smoothness of the paper that motivates the most recent work. Everything sits on the surface.

The snows have been keeping me from the studio. But I'm going no matter what end of this week. This is a detail of one of the drawings waiting for me. And there are several others just aching to get out.The paper is already torn and ready to go.

This is a smaller series on Rives BFK. The surface loves the graphite and hangs on to just enough pastel.