Rey Fallido 2018

Justin Earl Grant made this drawing, Rey Fallido, with pastel and graphite on paper. Look at the tentative yet expressive marks dancing across the surface. You can see the hand of the artist at work, as the drawing emerges through trial, error, and intuition. I wonder, what was Justin thinking as he laid down those initial lines? I'm thinking about the physicality of the medium - the smooth glide of the graphite, the soft crumble of the pastel. Notice how the smudges of grey and the bursts of red create a push-and-pull effect. The overall sense I get is one of searching and questioning. What does it mean to draw a "failed king"? Artists are always in conversation with one another. This piece embraces ambiguity, allowing for multiple interpretations. There are no definitive readings here, just an invitation to feel.