Discussions with Mark Norseth

In my last post, I promised to present one of my favorite little drawings of all time, and here she is.

Pascal Dagnan-Bouveret did this in 1906,  in red, white, and black on a gray-green paper, probably a sketch for a figure in a painting. I don’t know which one.  I found this gem in a sales catalog from one of the big auction houses ages ago, and it’s been in my file of drawings ever since.

It has so much of what I admire in a drawing…character, done with care, but not too much care, motion, and motive. It’s tender, but believably so. It’s just right on the money.  I perhaps read into this more than is there, but I have the feeling that the artist wasn’t conscious of making a great drawing, but because he was after something bigger , he ended up with one.

A 45 minute pose from my figure drawing class this week.

Cont’e and pastel on 9 x 12″ paper, and a good exercise in selection and restraint. How much does it take to say just enough?  I’ve developed a motto that has served well in such instances:  ”Suggest, don’t explain.”

That doesn’t imply that  I wish to  maneuver around the difficulties inherent  in art by rationalizing (aren’t you weary of artists offering the disingenuous  ”less is more” as a justification for an actual weakness in artwork?), but likewise, there is a line one can cross where the display of technical ability, what Hilary Holmes once termed  ”muscle flexing”, will get in the way of poetry and create coldness.  The task of the student and the work of the artist aren’t the same; a point which is becoming more apparent to me.

To that end, in my next post I’ll offer a little drawing from my files that has always been a an ideal of where I’d like to arrive one day.

Here are some very small studies that I’ve done in pastel…handy for working out location and composition ideas.

Painted on 8 x 10″ or 9 x 12″ papers, completed in one or perhaps two sessions that last as long as the light effect does.

Consolidating the subject as simply as possible, I get to “try on” an idea or examine an aspect of nature with a minimal investment.  At some later point if I’m stuck for an inspiration, referring to these  pieces jogs my recollection.

…as well as offering an opportunity to accomplish some important work on days that are otherwise too busy.

Got a running start to the new month at 7:30 this morning, with a new pastel painting in the works.  I was sketching some new locations two days ago, and wandered into this familiar area with a fresh eye and perspective.  Prepared a 20 x 16″ surface last evening, and was ready to go this morning.  This is the setup before the  light, which I’d anticipated, came over the hills behind me.  It’s my favorite time to block in the shapes.