Striped Circles 6

graphite on paper, 8.5" x 11"

Striped Circles 5

graphite on paper, 8.5" x 11"

Striped Circles 4

graphite on paper, 8.5" x 11"

Striped Circles 3

Here is another experiment with gestural lines inside overlapping circles.


graphite on paper, 8.5" x 11"

Circle Madness

ink on paper, 8.5" x 11"

Spots on Rocks

graphite on paper, 8.5" x 11"

Tangled Coins

graphite on paper, 8.5" x 11"

Dot Density

Previously I made a graphite drawing in which I varied the darkness of my dots. I called it Shades of Gray. For this sketch I used a Sharpie Fine Point to create dots of different sizes. I varied the distance between the dots.

Originally I set out to make the letters spelling "dotartdude" into a graffiti image. Along the way I broke up the letters into a grid; plus I added some large dots.

graphite on paper, 8.5" x 11"

Striped Circles 2

graphite on paper, 8.5" x 11"

Swarming Striped Circles

This one took forever for me to finish. There were areas that had me indecisive. Well, now it's done and I can move on to other work.


graphite on paper, 8.5" x 11"

Shades of Gray

Since I was still trying to figure out how to continue my current series of dot paintings, I decided to experiment with drawing dots. I played with size and darkness of my dots. There is no image to find. If you do find one, well, it is unintentional.


graphite on paper, 8.5" x 11"

Hidden Circles

graphite on paper, 8.5" x 11"

Striped Circles

Since I haven't made any progress with new dot paintings, I figured I post this drawing I recently completed. Given the “oohs” and “ahs” from folks watching me draw this sketch, I will probably pursue more drawings like this one.


graphite on paper, 8.5" x 11"

Just Add Circles

Recently I was forced to put aside my current series of acrylic paintings to complete some other works for a show that hangs in August. It took me a while to generate ideas for my new pieces. In general they all have to do with my current experiences online. Since one of them included dots, I thought I would share it here on this blog.


graphite on paper

The title “Just Add Circles” is my reaction to a recent online design trend that includes groupings of concentric circles as a pattern. Anyway, I played with circles inside circles, but I made it my own. Also, I drew vertical lines to break up my shapes as a positive/negative space game – if you will. I rendered the piece with graphite on Reeves BFK paper. It is a rag paper that can take a lot of abuse.

Circles Shaded

This week I've been experimenting in my sketchbook. I wanted to do something with overlapping circles. Once in a while I work this way: drawing, erasing and drawing again.


graphite on paper, 8.5" x 11"

Change Random Color

Here is a random color color pencil version of "Change."


graphite on paper, 8.5" x 11"

Change Shaded

Lately I’ve been bringing along my sketchbook to draw in while I wait in line for free movie screenings. Usually I have to arrive two hours before the show starts to be certain I make it in to see the show. The die-hards have their chairs and are usually in line way before I arrive.

I was working on this drawing when one regular teased me that he dreamt about circles and knew what it meant when he saw me sketching. At a preview this week, I found out that he was pulling my leg. Anyway, that’s a little tidbit concerning this sketch. I previously painted a watercolor similar to this.


graphite on paper, 8.5" x 11"

Bubble In

It was the last school day of the 2004 - 2005 Year. Actually, it wasn’t even a whole day. The last morning of the school year is set aside for recognizing teacher years of service, retirements and accomplishments. Homeroom teachers stuff envelopes with report cards. Lastly is checkout. That means having all the different departments sign off that keys were turned in, paperwork turned in, etc.

While waiting for all activities to conclude I sketched this. It is also in keeping with the testing bubble sheet theme - see previous post. I drew the circles. Then some I filled in and some I erased. One of my fellow teachers glanced over and expressed disappointment that I wasn’t doing something pretty. I’m just glad I had my sketchbook handy for drawing.


graphite on paper, 5.5" x 8.5"

Organic Grid

This sketch was completed just before the next piece I'm about to post. It was rendered with a set of Staedtler color pencils. I wanted to compare it to a Prismacolor set of colored pencils. A Prismacolor set is more on the waxy side.

Even though there are no dots, the experimentation with a grid anticipates some of the things that happened in my next finished piece. It was a trial sketch, if you will. It also harkens back to a series of works in which I played with positive and negative spaces. That goes back twenty years. Once in a while I revisit the idea.


colored pencil on paper, 5.5" x 8.5"