Sea Bird Saga IX 1966

Wallace Bradstreet Putnam created this artwork in charcoal, pushing and pulling the medium across the surface of the paper. Look at the tonal range of the charcoal marks. See how Putnam coaxes darks and lights out of the medium, rendering a strange bird. I can only imagine Putnam with his charcoal, staring at the ocean, and feeling the constant push and pull of the tide, as the waves crash against the shore. A solitary bird stands by the sea, facing the elements. I wonder if Putnam was thinking about the relationship between the bird and its environment. He really gets the feeling of the heavy, wet air. Putnam used many different techniques here. He smudged the charcoal in some areas and left it raw in others. This gives the drawing a sense of depth and texture. It makes me want to get my hands dirty in charcoal too. It is as though the piece is constantly shifting, coming into being. He inspires me to think about how a single gesture can communicate so much feeling, and that it is part of a larger conversation with other artists.