February Cross Pollination #1, 2010, by Fred Hatt
Drawing with ink and brush has a fluidity that captures the energy of motion. The brush is sensitive to the slightest variations in pressure, rendering lines that have varying weight and dimension. I have long favored this medium for movement drawing, where there is no time to develop the image through shading, color and details. That spontaneous moving brush line is both expressive and efficient.
I’ve previously posted my sketches from Cross Pollination events at Green Space Studio in Queens here, as well as here and here. At these casual sessions, musicians, dancers and artists come together to inspire each other. Often, musicians and artists dance, dancers paint or play music. For an artist, there’s a lot of energy and rhythm to draw upon. For an artist with a figure drawing background, it’s challenging because there’s little stillness. My experimentation has led me to an approach that’s basically abstraction built on figurative forms and fragments.
February Cross Pollination #2, 2010, by Fred Hatt
The above sketch shows various elements of the scene: the long dreadlocks of the saxophonist Sabir, the seated flutist Lori, and Theresa with her sketchbook on her knees. Most of the other forms here are fragments of the moving dancers, glimpsed in a passing instant.
February Cross Pollination #3, 2010, by Fred Hatt
Here I went completely abstract with an octopoid shape. You can’t tell it, but the lines here are also based on the bodies and movements of the dancers and musicians.
February Cross Pollination #4, 2010, by Fred Hatt
Attitudes and bearing inform the one above.
February Cross Pollination #5, 2010, by Fred Hatt
And here the dancers get a little wilder and freer, driven by the saxophone and drum you can see at the center of the composition.
All of these drawings are 18″ x 24″ (46 x 61 cm), sumi ink on paper, using brushes.
