Recent Work By Myron Gilbert

Again, from that sketchbook I recently unearthed and opened. These are two models who are rendered in different media and different styles. The intention is to show not only a difference in appearance but also a difference in personality. #28 was not quite as ample size-wise as she is drawing but her personality was certainly ample; brusque and forceful are adjectives that come to mind. I drew her in compressed charcoal and conté stick. #31 was quite self-conscious about posing so I put clothes on her and drew her with a 4B graphite pencil, a medium that is quite sensitive. Both are on 11 x 14 archival, Aquabee paper.

Again, from that sketchbook I recently unearthed and opened. These are drawings of one female model who sat so patiently and who was much at home, or so it seemed with her bulk. Personally, I find drawing what they call “full figure” people over drawing muscular or skinny people. Somehow it is more interesting. On the other hand, their weight-related current or potential health issues is always something on the back of my mind. The style is my usual semi-abstract expressionism. #24, #25, and #26 are crayon drawings. #27 is in compressed and soft charcoal with white chalk highlights. All are on 11 x 14 archival, Aquabee paper.

Again, from that sketchbook I recently unearthed and opened. This one is a drawing of a male model, more or less like a statue in semi-abstract style. You may note that there was no regard for proper proportion or perspective. The focus was on the overall design of the page. Black and blue crayon. Like all the other drawings in this series, these two are drawn on 11 x 14 archival, Aquabee paper.

Again, from that sketchbook I recently unearthed and opened. There are a whole series of nudes in this sketchbook so I am posting two or three at a time as collages. I got into the habit of drawing nudes from life from studying at the Art Students League in New York City. It is a good habit. Good models make good poses and good poses generate ideas about drawing them. Right now, there is an exhibit at the League called “On The Front Lines,” by artists who either taught or studied at the League and who are also WWII vets (June 19 to July 29). Two of them, Terry Coyle and Peter Golfinopolous, taught me much. Like all the other drawings in this series, these two are drawn on 11 x 14 archival, Aquabee paper.

Again, from that sketchbook I recently unearthed and opened. There are a whole series of nudes in this sketchbook so I am posting two or three at a time as collages. I have repeated been asked to classify myself as an artist: a figurative artist, an abstractionist. An impressionist, an expressionist, a cartoonist? I have never known quite what to say. I know that I have been influenced by the German Expressionists and that somehow this was true even before I knew what the German Expressionist movement, let alone Neue Sachlichkeit was. The first time I saw a Max Beckmann I knew what was driving my ideas. I was reminded of that in an article about the current Lucien Freud drawings show at Acquavella by Thomas Michelli of the Hyperallergic blog (GALLERIES • WEEKEND). Based on that article, I guess you could stick me in surreal expressionism category. I’ll take it. Like all the other drawings in this series these are drawn on 11 x 14 archival, Aquabee paper.

Again, from that sketchbook I recently unearthed and opened. There are a whole series of nudes in this sketchbook. When working from life, I try to draw the model as many ways as I can, especially as he or she moves from pose to pose. Working fast means making snap judgments and loose drawings, all the better to have fun with. With luck I can get two or three rough drawings for each 15 or 20 minute pose. Then, later on, I go back and do things to each drawing, hiding faux pas and creating nuance. Since there are so many drawings of nudes in this book and since so many of them are black and white, I decided to collage two or three of them together. Here, #14 is ink and wash over pencil; #15 is graphite and #16 is ink and wash over graphite. All the same woman, a saint-like creature who blessed me with her great patience. Like all the other drawings in this series these are drawn on 11 x 14 archival, Aquabee paper.

Again, from that sketchbook I recently unearthed and opened. This one is in litho crayon. I don’t recall this guy except that he was fairly well-built and looked like he had a rough time in his life. His face was weathered and he seemed a bit ascetic. But who knows? People are not always what they appear. That’s the fun of drawing them and imbuing them with qualities that they may or may not have. Like all the other drawings in this series it is drawn on 11 x 14 archival, Aquabee paper.