1993 - 13.85" x 9.75" - Graphite Pencil, Strathmore drawing paper
During a botanical art class at the Morton Arboretum in Lisle, IL, I chose a crinoidal limestone fossil rock to draw. Crinoids look like plants, but are actually marine animals. They are also know as sea lilies or feather stars. In cross-section, parts of the crinoid fossils reminded me of ancient, stone Cheerios. That was probably my only chuckle while drawing. This rock was so filled with fossils, that it was difficult to keep my place as I worked, and it became quite frustrating.
As I worked, our instructor came by and remarked that the “look” of it, with all its detail, reminded her of paintings by the early Netherlandish painter Hieronymus Bosch (c. 1450-1516). It reminded her of the right panel of his triptych The Garden of Earthly Delights, which depicted tiny, tortured figures in various punishments as sinners in Hell. I thought that quite appropriate, as the drawing was hellish to complete!
I started this drawing in 1991 and finished in 1993.