Celebrating Artistry
My artistic practice centers on capturing the ephemeral energy of live jazz performances. Each drawing is made in real time, often from a cafe table in the dim glow of a venue, where I am completely immersed in the music. The tools I use, Caran d’Ache wax crayons on suede board or scratchboard, allow me to move quickly and intuitively, matching the rhythm and spontaneity of the music. I begin each piece with loose gestures, gradually tightening the marks as the set continues, then loosening again as the night draws to a close. The constraints of a nightclub, its limited lighting and tight seating, directly shape my process.
The palette is minimal and always high contrast. I typically create 6 to 7 drawings during a single performance. As the final song approaches, I feel a kind of urgency. I work faster, organizing what I've made while still listening, already thinking about which pieces I’ll ask the performers to sign. Still, I always try to pause for that last song, to sit back and take it all in because I’m in a nightclub, and it’s cool.
This work is as much about presence as it is about performance. Many of the artists I draw have since passed away. Their signatures on my drawings feel like a shared acknowledgment of the moment we experienced together. It becomes a kind of living archive. When I refine a drawing later or create a giclée print from it, I am giving the moment a new dimension, not altering it, but letting it breathe in a new context. This ritual brings me joy, and it brings joy to others. It doesn’t get much better than that.
Art Gallery Showcase
Textures
A series of continuing portraits created spontaneously during live jazz performances. The collection celebrates fleeting moments of connection, both visual and sonic.
Each piece begins with instinct. I draw quickly, responding to the environment and the music, letting my hand follow what I hear. As the night progresses, the marks grow more intentional, then freer again. At the end of each set, I often feel a sense of urgency to complete and understand what I have drawn.
Ambiance
The performers give off different energy and attitudes, which I am working on capturing. At the end of each set, I hustle to get the work signed affirming the shared space between artist and subject. On the back of each drawing is a historical document of all the information I need and want.
Over time, these works have become a kind of archive; not just of music, but of place, presence, and recollection.
Artistry in Motion
500 US dollars
1,000 US dollars