April 2023

A Distinctive Mark

I was reminded this month of one of the first drawing exercises I did in my first college art class that got some praise. I had drawn a chair in a still-life setup. And I was sloppy about it. I scribbling hard, just to get clarity and because I was too lazy to use my eraser. In critique, my work looked very different from the other students. My professor spent some time talking about it. To my surprise, the scribbling to achieve definition, added energy and that made my work “successful.”

We each have our own distinctive mark. And yet, as a full-time artist, I am still surprised by mine when I recognize it. This letter is about that and I sent you a drawing pencil, with dark and buttery 6B lead, so you can scribble some of your uniqueness down and look back at it too.

This month’s print is an August 2022 abstract piece called Undertow. It is a favorite of mine from my last body of abstract work, and it is helping me inform some new work. I also sent you a quick photocopy of that old drawing, so you peep at some of my earliest art practice.

Spring is bringing sun and the leaves are exploding in my neighborhood. I didn’t know how much I needed the change of season until it arrived. I’m grateful, and painting quite a bit.

Perhaps I’ll have something brand new for you in May.

-Liz