Since the Summer of 2022 I've largely been making drawings. I begin these as direct observations from the coast, estuary, canal or river, but then spend a great deal more time on them in my studio, attempting to extract the bare bones of their construction.
The resulting images are experiments in markmaking, varying the speed and weight of the line to record the spirit in which it is made. A harsher line expresses determination and conviction, while a softer, more tentative line is playful and exploratory. As time goes on these images become drawings of themselves, depicting how they are made and framed.
Image: '3 boats at Manningtree' 2023.
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Instagram: @smaustin12
