Trevor Guthrie easily made his way into my list of favorite modern artists. Born in 1964 in Denfermline, Scotland, Guthrie was raised in Canada and has been living and working in Zurich, Switzerland since 1996. Using found photographs and images, Guthrie creates large scale monochromatic charcoal drawings. Each holds true to his style, creating a sublime in the mundane. His use of dramatic light, perspective and heavy medium creates breath-snatching works that I can easily be entranced with for hours.
"Self Portrait on the 67" 2004 Work on Paper
"Michelangelo's Pieta (Cultural Jihad)" 2009, Charcoal on Paper
"Crash"2012, Charcoal on Paper
"Crash" is one of the most impressive pieces by Guthrie. The eye is drawn directly to the front of the car as the focus of the painting, but it does not stop there. the contours of the car and its rounded edges allow the viewer's eyes to move throughout the whole piece without being overwhelmed. The change in lighting towards the front of the car draws the viewer's eye to the central portion of the drawing. The contrast between the background and the light color of the car creates a striking composition. The piece as a whole is one of his best. It captures the changes in textures and surfaces in a difficult medium in a smooth and continuous image.
It's amazing how much depth the "self portrait" painting has. I want to sit on that bus and find out where it is going. I really agree how entrancing his works are.
ReplyDeleteDitto. Awesome stuff! Where can you see his works in person? Is there anywhere in NE, NY, or Quebec?
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately no, he has not had any exhibitions recently around here. His last on was in Holland in 2011 I believe. But if you are interested here is a link to a great interview he gave before that exhibition. http://www.curbsandstoops.com/interviews/trevor-guthrie-interview/
ReplyDelete