CONTEMPORARY INK PAINTING
Evocative. Sensuous. Tranquil. Spontaneous. For centuries critics have used these words to describe the Japanese aesthetic that underlies much of its art from ceramic vessels to painted scrolls. These words are particularly apt when describing the exquisite medium of Japanese ink drawings. Mastering the ancient tradition of marking rich paper with seemingly spontaneous lines takes time, talent, and commitment. Shirli Marcantel’s recent brush drawings, steeped in the style, show that she has learned well.
Shirli’s attraction to ink drawings came naturally as a similar desire to capture lyricism and serenity is apparent in her garden designs. During her decades-long career as a garden and horticulture specialist, Marcantel strove to create tranquil, harmonious spaces. The goal was to juxtapose carefully selected plant material to create environments that looked like they had always been there with each object serenely nestled in its right place.
Among the most expressive of Marcantel’s drawings are those in which she allows the ink to pool into deep black recesses while drawing other lines with an almost dry brush that trails sketchy, parallel tracks. The visual results suggest something akin to floral forms with variegated coloration and dark veining or maybe even overripe pomegranates bursting with seeds. Who can say if these “Rorschach” interpretations are correct? What is certain is that image’s final form could not have been predicted at the start.
Arriving at this medium after working as an interdisciplinary artist in photography, collage, painting and ceramic sculpture, Marcantel realizes that the art form demands complete artistic discipline. As she notes, this artistic journey has left her with a tremendous respect for lines on paper. “Marking paper is an ancient art. It is timeless, contemplative, spiritual. The more I study the masters, the more I appreciate the tremendous effort it takes to mentally let go and let the brush lead.”
by Kahren Arbitman Ph.D
