after the dance

Winter

Spring

Summer

Fall

After the Dance is a series of studies of the female legs. These quick watercolor sketches came from a recent inspiration. I come up with visions that must be captured on paper or canvas. Lately, I have been interested in pursuing more of an illustrative approach to my compositions.

At my old dance studio, there was a cluster of pictures and drawings of dance-related things on the wall. There was a certain drawing that always caught my attention before I began my sache across the floor. It was the beautiful head of a woman attached to her perched arm, as if it were the foot of a crow. It always gave me a strange and uncomfortable feeling, but I could never stop looking at it.

That is what I love about art. However a piece strikes you, whether in amazement, inquisition or disgust, there is always a reason we are attracted to it. We may not know how or why, but the intent of the artist is to create emotion and wonder for the viewer.

Above, in Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall, I chose to crop out the rest of the body to invoke weight and position to the ground. The body is resting amongst, perhaps a fine evening gown, a costume or linens. A feminine, carefree and airy quality is portrayed through the chosen color and skillful brushstrokes.

Watercolor and pencil, 6x9 inches on paper.

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