On The Beach & Other Drawings

1. On The Beach                              

2. Lunch Break                               

3. Lunch Break # 2                           

4. James Baldwin                              

5. Ringleader                                      

6. Portrait Of A Man With Receding Hair

7. Good Eatin'                                                        

8. Man Masturbating                       

9. Man Masturbating # 2                

1. " On The Beach ", has three different versions. One, in colored pencil, on a 14 x 17 inch size of paper. And another version, with the micron pens. This version, was drawn on mat board, and I used a brush, to draw the lines. Like the other pieces done with this method, my enthusiasm was limited. I returned to relying on pen lines, for my favorite effect. I like the little sand castle, and the row of a small wave, crashing over the shore, in this piece.

2. " Lunch Break ", was fun to create. I am still realizing how stylized my work can be. It is very distinctive, and I am grateful for this, but it also challenges my perspective, when compared to my more current drawings. But I appreciate the idea of this piece! It was inspired by another period of sexual frustration, while I was dealing with being at work.

3. " Lunch Break # 2 ", satisfied me with the overall results. The washes blended very well. I like the look, in the bottoms eyes. He seems so inviting, and very willing to give himself. His expression seems to suggest, " take it ". It also appears, that the values between light and dark were relevant to me more, than they were with previous drawings. I began to focus on including the range, on the value scale, more appropriately.

4. " James Baldwin ", was created after I read one of the books on James Baldwin, entitled " Vintage Baldwin". This drawing was adapted from the photograph, on the cover. My sister introduced me to Baldwin. He is one of her favorite writers. She too is a writer, and she has offered a lot of information, about great individuals in history, that could inspire me. She lent me a documentary entitled " The Price of The Ticket ", about Baldwin's life and career. I wrote a poem about the experience, after watching it, and read it to her over the phone. There is a scene in the beginning of the documentary, of his funeral. I told her, how much I loved that African drummers led the casket through the church, as they sang and chanted. I loved the sound and meaning of it all. We were watching it together then. She said she would do the same thing for me, if I had a funeral.

5. " Ringleader ", was inspired by someone who lived in my apartment complex, years ago. He was very popular, and often had a lot of company, day and night. There would be noise and music, late at night, disturbing my sleep. I would see gatherings, outside of the building in which he lived in. It had such an impact on the area, that I decided to draw a picture of him, from my own perspective.

6. " Portrait Of A Man With Receding Hair ( First version ) ", was done in my typical ballpoint pen, and ink wash. I decided to redraw it using the Micron pens, at a later date, in which has been posted, much earlier in one of my past entries, with the same title.