|
|
|
ight is a very intriguing phenomenon. It is a fundamental aspect of pastel drawing for me. Reflected and refracted, local color and ambient light all contribute to developing my compositions. Shadow, color, and contrast create form and mood and is present in everything I draw. Sometimes, all I'm interested in is studying light.
|
t other times content is developed from dreams or just my imagination. When dreams are disturbing, I remember them for days.
|
ften political, environmental, and social issues drive my desire to draw. Here is an example of a series called "Technological Baby", where my desire was to communicate the negative aspect of the computer age on children. I drew this while in Graduate School at KU. One woman, a textiles major, exclaimed, "You gotta watch what you do to babies (when your're) in Kansas!". I'm still not sure she got my message.
|
y process of drawing with pastel is to isolate areas as I work, refining them until the piece is complete. Working with dry pastel, as I do, is not considered painting because the medium is not liquid, though the final result may resemble painting. Working with oil pastel would be considered painting because the medium slowly dries out and turpentine can be brought in to dissolve and flow the material. The image on the left has never been finished. Dry pastel on quality paper is so flexible that I could take this image out of a drawer and continue working on it 20 years later just as though I never stopped.
All Images and designs Copyright © Michael McGinnis