Drawing Marathon: Fall 2007

This fall, I participated in Gregory Botts and Eve Ascheim's Drawing Marathon at the New York Studio School. During the first week with Gregory Botts, we drew exclusively from the figure and constructed set-ups, whereas the second week with Eve Ascheim, we took a more conceptual approach, using collage, geometry and combined perspectives in our drawings.

1. Gregory Botts Drawing Marathon (week 1)

Standing Nude 1
36" x 24" compressed charcoal on paper
September 2007

Standing Nude 2
36" x 24" charcoal on paper
September 2007

Standing Nude 3 (Oceana)
36" x 24" charcoal on paper
September 2007

Standing Nude 4 (Oceana with Crown)
36" x 24" charcoal on paper
September 2007

Gesture Drawing (the Stretch)
24" x 36" vine charcoal on newsprint
September 2007

Standing Nude 5
36" x 24" charcoal on paper
September 2007

Standing Nude 6
36" x 24" charcoal on paper
September 2007


At the end of the week with Gregory Botts, we worked on a large piece, combining two separate poses into a single composition. To make it interesting, Gregory created large props such as skulls, flowers and clouds out of foam-core. It was a challenge to create a believable space using two models who were never in the studio at the same time!

Large Figure Composition: Skull and Clouds
apx. 9' x 4' compressed charcoal on paper
September 2007



2. Eve Ascheim Drawing Marathon (week 2)My Influences
18" x 24" charcoal on newsprint
September 2007



A Collection of Shapes and Things
18" x 24" charcoal on paper
September 2007



Collage 1: African Mask
12" x 18" photocopied patterns on paper
September 2007



Collage 2: Wormhole
18" x 24" photocopied images, charcoal on paper
September 2007




Perspective Drawing
24" x 18" charcoal on paper
September 2007


Perspective Drawing 2
24" x 18" charcoal on paper
September 2007




Perspective Drawing 3
12" x 12" charcoal on paper
September 2007



Perspective Drawing 4
12" x 12" charcoal on paper
September 2007



Our final assignment for Eve Ascheim's Marathon was a conceptual piece. I decided to research hypercubes and drawing in the fourth dimension. There are many artists who devote their entire careers to drawing the fourth dimension. Although the idea is intriguing, I'm not sure it is a direction I'll be pursuing...

Thoughts on Hypercubes and the 4th Dimension
18" x 24" ink on paper
September 2007


Hypercube City
24" x 36" ink and charcoal on paper
September 2007




Painting the Hypercubes Requires Concentration



At the end of the week, we had a show for our Drawing Marathon in the Lobby and the front window of our school. My figure drawing got a view of West 8th Street--or rather, West 8th Street got a view of my figure drawing!