Back in My Possession
After 30 Years, Three male nudes from my 1992 Mourning and Rebirth Series
This is one of three drawings. 30x22”, charcoal on Rives BFK, acid-free cotton rag paper. The story is my grandmother died and I felt numb, yet I loved her very much. She gave me the Complete Works of Rembrandt book when I was 12. It was the only time I used art as therapy, asking the models to pose for a theme of loss. The series was 14 figurative drawings. Instead of the light “hitting” them, the concept was the light was coming from their mourning, thoughts and feelings for the loss. The feelings, the light, had no receptor, it just went out into space as loss, and dissipates. You probably can sense the influence of Rembrandt and Michelangelo. They were drawn in 1992, 30 years ago. I think they look incredible. I just got them yesterday and showed this one, because it was the first that I took out of the old frame. They will be refamed with Tru-vue museum non-glare glass, so that all the nuance and dark dimensioning atmosphere doesn’t get lost through reflection.
Michael, Idyllwild, 9/7/2021