Jeffrey Hurlbut

I was born and raised along the coast of southern California. I have been drawing and painting from the human form for over 50 years. The main body of my work presently consists of what I refer to as ‘continuous line poses.’ My most recent work exemplifies the use of minimalist constructs to represent the balance of weight and proportion of the human form. Within each drawing, there is just enough information provided within the line; inviting the viewer to fill in the negative spaces to complete the pose. This technique is the most difficult and significant undertaking I have encountered while on the search for capturing each pose within a very brief moment in time. There is admittedly little room for error or misstep when employing the use of a near-continuous line of ink. The average pose is of very short duration: typically from 5-10 minutes in length. After many long sessions, I can usually determine the success of the session by how full the wastebasket is. Each drawing must be precise with nothing added, and conversely, if one line is removed, the pose collapses.

I retain literally thousands of continuous line sketches within my personal archive constructed from live models over the course of nearly 50 years. The drawings have never been exhibited or sold until now. Each drawing selected represents the success achieved in meeting a particular challenge formulated by me. Whether it be a difficult perspective, challenging foreshortening, or a complex weight shift, these minimalist forms are chosen from hundreds of sessions throughout the years. The selected ink originals are transferred to a silk-screen and hand printed on 100% Cotton Rag, Handmade Paper. This heavyweight, 8 1/2” x 11” deckle-edged paper, (4 sided deckle) is acid-free. Each impression is a limited edition print with a maximum run of 250 impressions; each piece is hand-signed and numbered. All work is hand-inspected for flaws in both line continuity as well as paper quality.