The image of her asleep was new and interesting to me. For close to 30 years of my life, no one woke up next to me on a regular basis. Now this very personal image is one I see every day. I believe this intimate image has great meaning, since it is very familiar to many people. I choose to approach the depiction of the sleeping person with large-scale drawings to present this very personal experience.
Drawings are by their nature a very immediate and intimate depiction of form.
The drawings rely on direct observation and are built up with layers of gesso, charcoal, and acrylic. I did not use brushes or other tools to apply the gesso and acrylic, rather I used my hands. This method of working infers the close connection between the subject matter and myself. The images are a visual response to the emotional attachment I feel to my wife as she sleeps. I recently had an opportunity to meet Jim Dine.