An early proponent of UFO artist Ional Talpazon, Tobler included 'outsiders' like Bill Traylor and Howard Finster alongside Whistler and Ryder in the reference book he edited for Phaidon Press, The American Art Book. Tobler, who died of leukemia at 33, seven days before the opening, was as versed in 'self-taught' art as he was in New York's high-powered art world (as the former director of Barbara Gladstone Gallery). It makes sense that Jay Tobler curated 'House Drawings,' the first exhibition of this relatively unknown 'folk artist' (a term that sounds more pejorative and irrelevant every day). To James Castle, the deaf, mute, reputedly mentally handicapped and illiterate artist, who died in 1977 at the age of 77, drawing was all there was. Without itin whatever form it takesthere might be no art. Drawing makes old thought new and new thought accessible. In ways it's very primitive, very primary, a kind of universal language. The artist's face is often very near the drawing. The nerve endings of the hand listen to the musings of the imagination, which marvels at the movements of the hand. An intimate art about cosmic things, and a cosmic art about intimate things, it happens mostlybut not alwayssensually, physically, from the fingertips. It's a way of seeing and thinking, a way of seeing yourself think. Home Alone - Visual art review from the exhibition at The Drawing Room, New York by Jerry Saltzĭrawing is one of the roots of art. The following article is taken from the Village Voice, April 26 - issue: Luke's Hospital Book-14 pages), date known Installation views of James Castle Drawing, 2019 UNTITLED (lipstick ad / Kraft macaroni and cheese), date unknown UNTITLED (small pictures / Home Dairies vanilla ice cream), date known UNTITLED (red stamp / Certi-fresh chocolate ice cream), date unknown Soot, saliva, and color of unknown origin on found paper UNTITLED (boxers / gold medal flour), date unknown UNTITLED (cobbler / Progress Tailoring Co.), date unknown UNTITLED (attic with friends / graham crackers), date unknown UNTITLED (attic with friends), date unknown

UNTITLED (soldier and family / Gold Medal flour), date unknown UNTITLED (4 friends on wall / Progress Tailoring company), date unknown

UNTITLED (interior/Highway matches), date unknown Soot and color of unknown origin on paper. Here is the finished sketch.UNTITLED (interior with stove / interior with coffee grinder), 20th c. (And a huge thanks to everyone who left a comment on my last article on coloured pencils – every comment is super helpful – thanks!!!)īTW2: this sketch was done as part of my Sketchbook Design course Lesson1… and we had a fun chat about it during Livestream 3 a few weeks ago. I also enjoyed drawing over dark green watercolour with pink coloured pencil.īTW1: this sketch is one of the reasons why I’m suddenly using coloured pencils again. I really love the unexpected layering of colours… I forgot to take a photo before I started drawing, but you get the general idea with this. I was alos playing with some plasterboard (drywall) tape for texture and collage. I decided to start with some loose washes of watercolour that roughly related to the photo.

Every zoom call we sketch a different castle – this time it was Aldourie Castle near Inverness. Another sketch from before my break… this was done during a catchup with Esther.

Castle osketch