drawing nr508

“Drawing nr508”. Stokmarknes 14.07.19

I began drawing nr508 yesterday in a positive morning state of mind. For a month the thought has been to somehow abandon the methodic drawings in favor of other works. I dream of approaching the other ideas for larger perhaps more ambitious works. Then it became clear to me that I need the drawings like one would need
meditation. But it may be possible to be completely relaxed about it and place the tension in the other works.

“Drawing nr508” is based on the conclusion made in “drawing nr504”. A larger field than normal although still modest in size. The framing will be equally modest. I do want to make larger works to inflate my ego but it is necessary to develop a different form for those. So I use a ruler and a fountain pen on heavy sanded hot pressed paper. I use blue, red and yellowish ink by an American master.

In nr508 I simplified the idea in nr504 and introduced the diagonal to the format. From the top, I make horizontal blue lines. From the bottom left corner, I make diagonal red lines. From the bottom right corner, I make diagonal yellowish lines. Maybe the yellowish should have been to the left. For each layer of lines I administer a single drop of ink to the pen. As I progress the ink is exhausted. This may have a symbolic significance to the way I have been working but I don’t want to speculate into that right now. I’m at 6 layers and I will take it as far as necessary not giving any regard to the next drawing. To learn to draw as if it was the last thing I’ll ever do perhaps. The lifelong lesson in learning not to think perhaps.

I signed the drawing on the 27.07.2019. That was yesterday. As usual, I am not quite satisfied and moved on mentally before I finished. Was it necessary? Maybe not. It takes me too long to finish and I get ideas that interest me more. I guess it is a good round off for the tricolor drawings. In a geometric sense, I think it is interesting to look at. How the 3 colors and lines are administered. I am happy that I am getting comfortable with the format. Still compact but more substantial. At a fundamental level, these drawings have occurred out of a need to simplify. The need now is to look beyond, to look outside, to grab hold of some of the elements that pass across my attention. To simplify further and not to overthink if I am able. It is not a decision. Decisions do not work so well for me. It is more like hopeful thinking and an optimistic observation of my evolution.

​I will be framing nr504 and nr508 in the new oak frames. I hope I will stick to that and not be carried away by some new ideas. Looking at nr508 I think it is a right decision. Perhaps out of some respect towards who I was when I did them. There is a longing for something simple and eternal when the impression is complexity and playfulness in the world. It is the drawings of a hermit although I’m not. It is a beautiful summer these days but I am dreaming of escape from dogma and to return afresh.

Sent to collector in Milano, 22