Prudhoe

Comment

Comment by Resident Curator on July 21, 2013 at 3:31pm

Curator’s Comments:  

 

Prudhoe is an arresting image, enhanced by technique and scale to create a psychologically powerful form.  The mass of the animal’s bulk is somewhat hazy, as if the modulation of the fur is being poured or forcibly expelled from within its organic contour. I think the image is strengthened by the ambiguity- more distinct features would bring the bear into a naturalistic realm, rather than the stuff of memory or dreams. I also appreciate the written explanation of your drawing process, which builds up thin sketchy marks and wash to create the substantial woolly texture.  The drawing of the wolf shares a similar process minded quality that brings life to the image through movement and raw sensory emotion rather than articulated illustration or description.  I personally prefer the primacy of the marks in these over the more focused and identifiable images, though they also employ nuanced expression. But whereas Wolf creates an extreme and threatening gesture, the Prudhoe bear emits an even more immediate and direct awareness of a sentient being.  The substantial scale of the drawing and the proportion of positive space the animal fills offers the viewer the understanding of being in the presence of something immense and potent, but for which there are no words.  It may come closest to the experience you describe. Realizing they were posted a while back, I hope you add more current work to the site.