Portfolio > Drawing

Ian Crawley Art Drawing
Who shall we be today?(detail)
Graphite on paper
Overall 60" x 60"
1996

Drawing is the foundation of my work. These Head studies were the result of a return to the basics of drawing. Using a mirror and photographs of different facial expressions I explored the use of traditional materials and techniques. I was not interested in likeness. I wanted to develop a language of mark making that got below the skin; to create a type of portrait behind the mask. Much of my inspiration came from the existential writings of authors such as Camus, Sartre, Artaud and Beckett, etc.

Over time I became increasingly interested in the metaphorical associations of a material. I was particularly inspired by the writings of Antonin Artaud whose image of “eating nails” to describe his existential pain and suffering encouraged me to try and “draw” with nails and wire.