Extremophile—a work in progress

Currently in the studio I am working on a large drawing called EXTREMOPHILE. According to Wikipedia an extremophile is an organism that is able to live in extreme environments with conditions approaching or stretching the limits of what known life can adapt to. By that definition, one might argue taking on a 22″ x 30″ drawing stippled drawing with a 0.18 nib would make the artist an extremophile. For me though, it is an opportunity to create a tableau of beings that exist on the threshold of my subconscious—and a robot.

What excites me about this work is the interplay of elements from the natural world—a common theme in my work. I like taking bits of nature and remixing them into creatures with their own stories and then of course designing a world for them to exist within.

EXTREMOPHILE is a background summer project, which I’m hoping to exhibit in a group show I’ve been invited to later in the year. For today though, I thought I’d share a few process shots.

Finally, if you are in a shopping mood, I invite you to give my webstore a visit. Now, onto the pictures.

What is missing from this drawing is an aura that will surround the figure on the central axis, and a background, which will give the piece greater depth. At present, I am focused on the foreground. I will leave the background for the end.