IV. Death by Water
Image Description
In this pastel drawing on black paper a male-presenting figure in black jeans, a biker jacket, and Doc Marten boots is shown perpendicular, arms outstretched, slowly sinking into a body of water.
Below them some pond weeds or seaweed is visible, indicating that they are near the bottom of the water. Air bubbles are escaping from their mouth.
Artist’s Notes
Firstly let me quash the idea that this is any sort of suicidal ideation (because the figure in the drawing is a self-portrait). The reading of IV. Death by Water should be more akin to what I understand is the meaning of the “Death” tarot card: a transformation (I’m no expert in the tarot, so please feel free to correct me if I’m wrong).
IV. Death by Water is my latest exploration of the medium of pastels. I’m slowly getting to grips with them, particularly with the use of colour.
This is probably also the first in another transformation triptych. I have plans for the second (tentatively titled Wake), but nothing planned for the third as yet, although I’ve recently been wondering if The Sexton in the Necropolis is actually a part of this triptych.
The title references the shortest section of T.S. Eliot’s The Wasteland.