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Drawings at Elm Court

2024


Having been given access to the extraordinary grounds of the Elm Court estate in Stockbridge, MA, I walked the grounds, observed carefully, and took numerous reference photographs. Based on memory and the reference photographs, I started drawing.

Click on images to see a higher resolution version of each.


11/13/24. Charcoal, pastel. 17" x 6"

11/12/24. First sketchbook sketch. Ink, charcoal, pastel. 7" x 1.5"

11/19/24. Ink, graphite, pastel. 11" x 7"

11/16/24. Pastel, charcoal, graphite. 24" x 9"

11/09/24

11/30/24. Pastel, charcoal. 48" x 19"

The first set of drawings was derived from a cropping of the photograph above. I eventually focused on only the color and three-dimensional density of the shrubbery, eliminating the shrubbery itself. To the right is my final drawing. Below that are several preliminary drawings.

After a first visit to Elm Court, I conceived and sketched the composition seen above. The intended drawing would be large and imposing, approximately 9'-10' tall. At the same time, however, because it would be done on paper with charcoal and pastel, it would also be extremely fragile. To the right are some first versions.


12/6/24. Charcoal. 19"x24"

12/22/24. Pastel, charcoal. 32" x 42"

Winter, first snow, December.


12/19/24. Charcoal, pastel, pencil. 14"x 23"

...and a selection of photos.


12/27/24. Ink, charcoal. 7"x 7"

12/24/24. Ink. 8"x 8"

12/28/24. Ink on paper. 21" x 24"

12/30/24. Print from ink drawing. 42" x 24"

12/29/24. Preliminary study, pencil. 5"x 3.5"