Untitled c. 1930

This drawing by Willard Ayer Nash is made with ink on paper, and it’s all about the energy of the line. Look at how the marks build up to create form and depth, it’s like watching the process of thinking unfold right before your eyes. The texture of this work is all in the hatching and cross-hatching. These quick, confident marks create a sense of movement. See how the ink is dense and dark in some areas, then light and sparse in others? It almost feels sculptural. I love the little burst of marks near the top – they add such a dynamic, almost explosive quality to the piece. Nash reminds me a bit of someone like Cy Twombly, who also wasn’t afraid to let the process show. With both artists, you get this feeling that the work is never really finished, but always in a state of becoming. Isn't art just the most wonderful conversation?