June Art Exhibit “Drawings”

Artist Gary Surgeon

Glasses” 16” x 20”

Gary Surgeon is our JUNE Artist and his exhibit of “Drawings” will hang through June. You are invited to join us for an artist reception on Tuesday, June 2nd from 5-7pm for Mill Valley First Tuesday Artwork.

ARTIST STATEMENT

This body of work represents my interest in finding beauty,  or intrigue, in common objects or places. I work from  photographs that I’ve taken, then adjust the composition  and sometimes manipulate the elements for my own  amusement. I usually find the subjects during normal  activities like walking the dogs or cooking. The ones that  surprise me get the most of my attention. I’m challenged  by the various textures in each image and rewarded by the  process, getting absorbed in the act of drawing. 

I use Wolff’s carbon pencils. They are made of lampblack  and clay, and feel like a combination of graphite and  charcoal. They are smoother and less dusty than charcoal  and can produce a deep, matte black finish, unlike  graphite which can result in a shiny gray surface. The  paper is Arches 140 lb. hot press. It has a relatively  smooth surface and can stand the abuse of layering and  repeated erasing. 

I was raised in Ohio and came to California in 1981. BFA in painting, Miami University, Ohio. MFA in drawing, University of South Carolina.

Gary Surgeon