“Mapplethorpe Dance” (2021) by Carson Grubaugh

“Mapplethorpe Dance” (2021)
by Carson Grubaugh (1981- )
8.5 x 11 in., ink on paper
Coppola Collection

At the Patreon site organized by Sean Michael Robinson and Carson Grubaugh, which accompanies their collaboration on “Living the Line,” they offer a premium based on Carson’s Google Grab-Bag schtick.

He offers an original straight-to-ink sketch. Here is how that works. You are asked to provide a word or phrase (and obviously you can game this a bit). Carson then searches this word or phrase using Google Images. The first photographic image listed by Google Images will be the source material for the straight-to-ink sketch.

Carson has got a great eye. In fact, it freaks me out. He can use a brush (or pen) on paper with NO underlying outline, lay down lines or brushstrokes all over the page, and in about 20-30 minutes he produces a sketch. And all without the training wheels! He records it live. There are videos of this on YouTube (and at the Patreon site).

The November 2021 Grab-Bag phrase came from me. In fact, all three words that were voted on came from me. Given the things you can put after the name Mapplethorpe, I am a kind devil, so “Mapplethorpe Dance,” “Mapplethorpe Kiss,” and “Mapplethorpe Hug.”

Mapplethorpe Dance was the winner. The picture that Carson worked from is in the additional images.

The Patreon Site:
https://www.patreon.com/livingtheline/posts

The Home Site:
https://www.livingthelinebooks.com