Line, Pt. 8

A storm system moved in to the Eastern Sierras today. By the time I was walking the dog this afternoon along the canal, the clouds were a dense purple and grey edged in silver, and the mountains behind them were thick and white with a vein of gold. Barren trees and brush receded from red to grey, until they became ghostly thickets of smoke. Where had I seen this before? I kept wondering. Then I remembered.

These are large drawings by Anthony Goicolea, in which he uses semi-opaque mylar overlays to soften and obscure his otherwise strident mark-making. I think I know now how he came upon this imagery.

Bee Keeper Girl, 2003

I saw this drawing in a gallery in Culver City about 3 years ago. The artist, Anthony Goicolea, is a photographer who began drawing to further explore some of the strange scenarios he deliberately composed for the camera. The ghostly effect is achieved with a semi-opaque mylar overlay. As I recall, the drawing was nearly life-size, and impressed me enough that I purchased the $50 companion book of prints, which I cherish.