Toe-nal landscape

Graphite on paper
42cm x 59.4cm

Looking at my left foot…
Strange sights emerge…
Crevices like caves and skin like a rock-face! 
It’s time to sit with the magnifying glass in one hand, and my graphite stick in the other…

This drawing is the outcome of a micro/macro exercise. It has great tonal variation which can create a sense of immense depth and space on a macro scale; the cracks and crevices are random and interesting, and very suggestive of a rock-face or mountainous landscape with caves and openings and deep cracks – with a lot of surface variation and undulations which add interest; and finally, it features those feral toe hairs which I emphasised by darkening them on my drawing, so that they’re even more noticeable and gross!

I became very conscious as I drew that I have a tendency (when it’s a demanding drawing) to get to a point of desperation, where I think the drawing is heading nowhere – or worse still – downhill, and I’m tempted to give up and start over. But, at this point, if I just press on, I overcome the barrier, things open up, I see a way forward towards the finish line, and the thrill of drawing rises up in me once again.

I am astounded at what the end result is here – I’m ecstatic! Filled with disgust – but really happy with the drawing!  I NEVER in a million years would’ve thought I’d be able to draw like this!