Pentimenti, is defined as the presence of earlier images, forms, or strokes that have been changed or painted over. This idea in drawing or painting is usually seen as a means to an end after multiple drafts. For iconic figures like Leonardo and Fra Bartolomeo, the thread which ties them  together is the attention to detail in the sketch and the respect for the medium and mark. By doing the repeated sketches and having a second thought, or a reflection of sorts, a draftsmen could actually find the mark which is inherently his/ her own. In the words of Sir Joshua Reynolds, “The finished work disappoints the expectation that was raised from the sketch,” Meaning one yields more from the process rather than the outcome.

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This concept has close ties to the human desire to reflect. Nostalgia is a force which drives us as humans. It is a human characteristic to consider our wealth of experience and to draw upon its almost endless supply. After a bit of hindsight, the realization that my work is deeply based in the experiences with my family as a child, this was pentimenti at work. Specifically, my grandfather worked extensive hours in his basement workshop repairing and rigging broken odds and ends in the family home. In the depths of my mind, the sights and sounds of his tinkering were enough to establish aspirations to match his utility in every area of my life including my artistic endeavors.

 

Through pentimenti, I gained some perspective that medium is relative to the creator. This is where I discovered that I can connect drawing with my childhood experiences in my grandfather's workshop and elsewhere to create messages which resonate with the viewer. By taking the skills and techniques learned through study of watercolor, acrylic, and oils, and artistic experiences, I made the decision to use shellac as a medium and wood as a substrate. By applying technique learned from almost every traditional medium, I was able to create using a marriage between material and substrate. Through some development, I developed a technique which included scraping, etching, relief and, carving lumber in order to uncover the beauty within the piece.