About
The most wonderful thing about my line drawings, is that I can look at a drawing in my sketchbook from years ago, and I can still feel the wind, remember the smells, and feel the essence of that place, on that particular day. For some reason, the process of what I call plein air line drawing, where the drawing is created right then and there, in the moment, seems to really capture that special sense of place. I think the process and the focus of creating that drawing in the moment, so profoundly captures that feeling of place within me, that it is always with me, and hopefully comes across in the drawing for you to enjoy also.
I always travel with my sketchbook, because you never know when you are going to see something that inspires or delights you. I find that I will be walking through a meadow, through ancient ruins, or simple sitting at a table in a café in a strange city, when all of a sudden it just feels right, and I need to capture that moment, that place, and time seems to stop for me. I find myself completely immersed in the setting and focused on my subject. My pen seems to have a mind of its own, and the drawing slowly emerges on the paper. The pen follows my eye as it moves over the subject in seemingly continuous unbroken lines, feeling the forms, shapes, and shadows and capturing just the essential lines to tell the story of that place, and that moment.
Sitting on stone walls surrounded by sheep, drawing castles on the north sea of Scotland; hiking through the forests of Bhutan and leaning against an enormous banyan tree to draw ancient ruins; or sipping coffee at a table on the street when the light is just right and that person sipping a glass of wine looks interesting; they all become part of my experience, and a page in my sketch book. When I return home, I copy the original on to fine paper to create a hand drawn copy of the original sketch from my sketch book, which is then sold or exhibited.
I hope you enjoy my line drawings, and can feel the beauty and drama of dining at the Jules Verne restaurant in the Eiffel Tower overlooking Paris, and the enjoyment I felt when this image first appeared at the tip of my pen.
Cheers,
Michael Paul McKay
