Two Figures Seated on Rocks 1943

Milton Avery made this pen and ink drawing called 'Two Figures Seated on Rocks' directly onto the page of a sketchbook. The marks in this piece are so free, aren't they? Look at how Avery’s been pushing and pulling, making marks that suggest rather than define, and it all comes to life. It's not about getting every detail right; it's more about the sensation, the feeling of two figures finding their place in a landscape. I love the squiggles near the bottom, a kind of shorthand for foliage, it's so playful. This approach reminds me of work by Forrest Bess. Like Bess, Avery seems interested in the raw process of image-making, revelling in the energy of the moment and using art as a way to explore and express something deeply personal. In the end, it's this openness and willingness to embrace the process that makes this piece so engaging, don't you think?