The Japanese word "haiku" describes an unrhymed lyric poem that is made up of only three lines. I have adopted this name to describe an old favorite drawing style of mine, because of its striking resemblance to the concept of haiku poetry: spontaneous drawings that "say a lot" with just a few lines.

When I lived in New York, I found that using a pen to draw subjects in brief, transient situations -- like people riding in a subway car -- was a great way to sharpen my drawing skills. It was both demanding and fun. The result is a collection of perceptive, quick impressions of "a people," rather than specific portraits of individuals. It was only when I reviewed them years later, that I could see how sensitive and alive they are, and yet they were created with so few lines. This inspired me to resume the activity in San Francisco.

The haiku drawings here were drawn from life, without any direction or interference from me. The same idea has applied to animals, landscapes, buildings and anything else I want to be spontaneous with. The conditions described above help give the drawing its spontaneity, because it requires me to draw quickly, trusting years of intuition and skill. Each mark that is made is a commitment that cannot be reversed, which is a basic rule of the game.

Prints of these drawings are available for purchase. For information  CLICK HERE