The water seeping from the sandstone cliffs in Zion National Park is 400 years old. Looking into the thermal pools at Yellowstone is like looking back in time at organisms just now reaching the Earth’s surface.
I find more of nature’s drama in canyons, lava tubes, and in basalt pillars. How did they form that way? What forces caused their shapes? As an artist, I am intrigued by their sculptural forms.
I have added my own drama and artistic voice to this rendition of basalt pillars. These panels are 40 inches tall. Each ‘pillar’ was created separately, then the three were combined into a single piece for hanging. I had fun with this one.
Drawing on archival museum board (mat board) affords me the opportunity to shape each panel. The light fast / non-fading color pencils lend themselves to infinite blending of color. Texture was added by showing the strokes, the mark of the artist’s hand, with each pencil mark. Pieces this large use quite a few pencils, quite a few strokes. There is a calming meditative feeling while working on something this large, with thousands of strokes. The studio is quiet, calm and full of color. This piece has sold.
“Basalt” 40” high by 36” wide, colored pencil on museum board
