Distinctly Montana Magazine
Issue link: https://digital.distinctlymontana.com/i/797637
D I S T I N C T LY M O N TA N A • S P R I N G 2 0 1 7 52 YOUR CHOICE OF GRAPHITE AS A MEDIUM FOR YOUR ART SEEMS TO RESONATE STRONGLY WITH YOUR CAREER AS AN ARCHITECT. HOW DOES 30 YEARS AS AN ARCHITECT IMPACT YOUR ARTISTIC EXPRESSION? Sketching with graphite is a medium I've always felt comfortable in. roughout my architectural career I have always had a pencil in my hand so when rediscovering my passion for drawing as an art form it seemed natural to explore black and white, shade and shadow using a pencil. Although, I am continually intrigued with color!! WE HAVE READ ELSEWHERE THAT YOUR ARTWORK IS A BIT OF A SUB-CONSCIOUS EXTEN- SION OF YOUR DOODLING DURING COMMON, EVERYDAY TASKS. HOW, EXACTLY, DOES THAT WORK? Doodling is correct... for years I have sketched/doodled while talking on the phone with clients. My office note pads sitting on my desk are made up of quarter- inch grids; it isn't hard to draw a parallel between my art pieces and my years of doodling. TELL US ABOUT YOUR BLOCK DRAWING PROCESS, AND HOW YOU SEEM TO VIEW ART AS A BIT OF A PUZZLE. Focusing my eye on figurative subjects and wildlife, I render large-scale images to depict the beauty of the human form or the inspiring intricacy of nature. Utilizing blocks to focus the viewer's eye on a central point, I let an intricate puzzle unfold subtly within the frame of each block. e technique isolates complex details in a larger scene, at once simplifying an image for the viewer, yet deepening its interpre- tation. I dissect the minutia of each subject, letting each image unfold with 1,000 tiny drawings. I begin with a photograph, map out the blocks, select a focal point for the composition and dissect the image with microscopic detail to portray what individually appear as abstract shapes into a broader, compelling figurative scene that teems with life, movement, and intention. is approach allows the viewer to rediscover the subject within each block, or the composition as a whole. "Architecture is Art! My drawings are based on the same principles, using proportion, shade and shadow to redirect the eye bringing images to life in a new and exciting way." - Jerry Locati Garden Walk Catch and Release