THE DRAWING OF GHOSTS

Eric Prendergast

There are ways to approach the drawing of ghosts.

You can begin with a multidimensional sketch of the paths of hands through air

in a gesture's search for the means to body.

Flesh comes in outlines tanned pale by fluorescence.

Don't let the lines bounding the space of a specter

tremble. There is no room for error.

Shading may pose a dilemma, as shadows cast poorly

when substance is pressed to the wall.

Tracing over pencil in pen lends a certain finality to your line work.

Erase where the lead went astray.

As with all human forms, a talent is needed to get this figure breathing on paper.

Thus the art is most often left to those with a lively touch.

Copyright 2005 © Eric Prendergast   All rights reserved.