Sandra Oelschläger 2015

Editor: This is "Sandra Oelschlager," a pencil drawing done in 2015 by Gazmend Freitag. There is a raw, unfinished quality, and I find it particularly compelling because it displays the artist's process so openly. What formal elements strike you? Curator: The artist's commitment to line is immediately apparent. Consider how each stroke contributes to the overall form. The hatching technique used to define shadows on the face gives it a feeling of volume, of structure. The layering creates areas of darker value which serve to make other regions appear to be lighter and catch the viewer's eyes. What do you make of the negative space? Editor: It appears to be intentionally left untouched to emphasize the contours of the face and upper body. How much does this contrast in style change how we percieve the finished art piece? Curator: The untouched space emphasizes flatness. Yet the strategic arrangement of these flat planes juxtaposed with textured elements creates an inherent tension. The overall composition becomes a dynamic interplay between form and void, texture and the bare essence of the paper. We begin to consider the picture plane not just as background, but as an active component within the work itself. The effect on the observer is undeniable. Do you notice any structural connections between the values, planes, and colors in this work? Editor: The artist seems to relate value to texture, employing darker lines in the shaded areas which emphasizes their feeling of depth. It looks as if light and shadow dictates a wide variety of elements. It shows a dedication to capturing how one small piece effects the other and so on. It displays how art comes from one cohesive plan. Curator: Precisely. The sum ends up being much more than the parts when all elements can relate.