Matthew Mullins
Roots, 2018
Graphite on juniper
23 x 15 x 15 in.
Matthew Mullins, Roots, 2018
$ 3,600.00
'Roots is a found wood and graphite sculpture, made from an ancient root ball that I found in the desert near Abiquiu, New Mexico. It is part of a series...
"Roots is a found wood and graphite sculpture, made from an ancient root ball that I found in the desert near Abiquiu, New Mexico. It is part of a series of very simple, but time-intensive, graphite and wood sculptures. To make this work, I use pencils and graphite sticks to vigorously apply the graphite into the fibers of the wood. The force and friction of the pencils burnishes the wood, creating a smooth and reflective surface that amplifies the undulations and details of the wood. I thought of this idea during a time when I was making paintings of tree silhouettes using graphite paint. I became curious about how actual trees and pieces of wood would look like if they were made of polished graphite. This piece took over a year to create." -Matthew Mullins