This was a long LONG process. Large drawings like this always take a long time, but this one took about a month of more or less continuous drawing. Aerialist, Elena Sherman, daughter of my friend, Cori Sherman North, agreed to model. I particularly liked this image of her and made a small drawing in addition to this one which is slightly larger than life. I drew layer after layer on this drawing, re-calculating and re-generating the spirals between layers – more white, more black, more red, more blue – the drawing was too red or too dark or too something. I kept at it, layer after layer until I felt satisfied with this final state.
Initially as I programmed drawings and paintings, I may have been more of a “purist.” I established a set of rules and procedures to produce marks to communicate image and I then executed that plan. In this drawing, each layer of marks strictly followed my program, but I modified the approach with each layer in an effort to produce a more satisfying image. So there was more than usual interaction between my mind, my eye, and my “hand” (the machine).
I find the mix of larger and smaller spirals pretty appealing, especially around the perimeter of the figure. I also really love the way fine details of the figure, her eye, ear, lips, the wrinkled plaid of her shirt all seem to actually exist at a distance while up close its all a riot of strictly horizontal and vertical lines.
Exhibited:
- 2019 Jan 11 – Mar 16 “Drawn” at George A SPIVA Center for the Arts, Joplin, MO (1st Prize)
- 2019 Apr 1 – 30 “Mike Lyon: Post-Digital Drawing and Painting” at Weinberger Drawing Room, Kansas City, MO