Pen & Ink on Strathmore 80 lb natural white drawing paper

On the day before Christmas, it was very quiet in my world and I started drawing these very small (4 x 6 inch) pen & inks. Some ask whether art is my hobby. Well, no, it’s the job. But, the hobby is drawing these little ones. They connect me with some of my drawing heroes. These include: Odelon Redon, Alfred Kubin and Edward Gorey. I should throw Charles Addams and Seurat in too, I suppose. They all drew a lot of black and white stuff, usually in ink or as prints. And, they were a bit macabre in taste and subject matter. And, I seem comfortable in that company when I am drawing that which most truly hits home with me. Why do I draw little macabre creatures? I am not sure. But, I spend time marveling at works by the folks mentioned above whenever the opportunity permits. Kubin is now up, for instance, at Neue Galerie. Do I copy them? No. Picasso explained it this way: “Good artists copy; great artists steal.” I am I great? Nah, but nonetheless, I still steal. Ideas. Approaches. Subjects.