12x8" Mixed Media on Paper
Medium & Style
A compelling mixed-media work combining ink drawing, paint, and collage on Archival Paper. The neutral, textured ground of the work plays an active role in the composition, lending an earthy, timeworn quality.
The Figure
A tall, imposing bearded man stands at center — broad-shouldered, weathered, and dignified. He wears layered working clothes: a heavy coat, apron, and boots. His arms are crossed or gathered at his chest, and his expression is stoic and introspective — a man of labor and quiet authority. A small bandage-like slip of paper on his arm reads "be Good," an intimate, almost tender detail amid his rugged presence.
The Net
He holds a large fishing or catching net that trails to the lower right, rendered in loose ink linework. The net appears to have caught something — Fish wiggle — suggesting themes of entrapment, harvesting, or perhaps rescue.
Collage Elements
Torn paper fragments are woven throughout — along the left side, the ground, and integrated into the figure's clothing. Visible text fragments include "treasure" and "today," embedding narrative hints within the texture of the piece. The lower portion features a mosaic-like collaged floor in blues, grays, and ochres.
Overall Reading
"Catchery" evokes the archetype of a fisherman, gatherer, or shepherd — someone whose life is defined by what they collect, catch, or carry. The quiet instruction "be Good" worn on his body transforms him into something almost parable-like: a figure of moral weight navigating a world of scattered fragments and captured lives.