I Run Into the Most Interesting People 1948

Gil Elvgren made "I Run Into the Most Interesting People" using pencil on paper. Look at the swift strokes that define the car's interior and the woman's figure, confident marks that suggest the artist wasn’t afraid to commit to the process. The materiality of this drawing is really brought to the fore by Elvgren's use of shading. See how he uses it to create depth and volume, giving the figures and objects a tangible presence. The texture of the paper itself adds another layer, a subtle roughness that contrasts with the smoothness of the rendered forms. Notice the way the light catches the curve of her leg, the delicate gradations that suggest the shape beneath. It’s like a conversation between the artist, the model, and the paper itself. Elvgren's work reminds me a bit of Norman Rockwell. Both artists had a knack for capturing these slices of American life with a wink and a nod.