Ontwerp voor een ring 1874 - 1932

Mathieu Lauweriks made this ring design with graphite on paper, and you can see he had a couple of goes at it, trying out different shapes and forms. I like how simple it is, just a humble pencil sketch, a moment of pure possibility as the idea emerges. You can feel him thinking through the design as he draws, circling and refining the form. Those radiating lines inside the larger ring – are they structural, or just a way of shading? They bring a real sense of depth and intrigue to the design, I think. The way he renders the little nub on the ring is kind of cute. It’s like he's coaxing the idea into being, one careful line at a time. It makes me wonder about all the other artists and designers who have sat down with a pencil and paper, wrestling with their own ideas. Each sketch is a small step in a long conversation across time and space, which is then passed on, inspiring all kinds of creativity.