Jamison Harper

Jamison Harper

Drawing [Bessemer, AL]

I once read an article discussing Jasper Johns' application of Formalism in his paintings.  The article suggested that his reoccurring use of targets, or stencils, simply acted as a guide, allowing him to concentrate on the formal application of paint on a particular surface.  I feel this sentiment resonates through my portraits as well.  I scale an image into a premeasured area and freehand the details within that area to create my stencil.  Then I begin the application of the medium -- the building and layering, crosshatching, smoothing, reworking and finishing.

My graphite pieces begin with a 3H or 2H pencil and are built by gradually layering in all gradients up to 6B.  There are about fourteen different pencils that I regularly use on any given piece. Each pencil has its own purpose, whether it is to capture a tone or shadow or to create a different texture.

The conte pieces are explorations in light and dark.  They also represent a contrasting approach to the graphite drawings.  I enjoy the excessive weight of the line in conte and will usually work from the dark, saturated lines, blending them out into the lightest areas.