In the 1990s I made a series of graphite drawings on sheets of plywood.

Here’s from a catalog from 1992:

“The close relationship between subject and materials is featured in Straw’s work. She uses the natural grain of plywood figuratively, as water or air, to envelop the classical figures. Using graphite so as not to dominate the wood grain, she can either “bath” or “drown” the figure depending on scale and placement. She plays the sensuality of bathing off the tactility of the wood, the erotic amusement of weightlessness against the anger of lack of control and the fear of drowning. She invokes personal associations and cultural metaphors within the mythology of the figure. Issues of power, ego, beauty, humor and failure in precarious interplay.”

This image ‘Marie de’ Medici Takes a Bath’. The title refers to my time as an artist in residence at the Beaux Artes de Paris, where I would spend a lot of time at the Louvre. The Medici Cycle there is a huge room filled with 25 enormous juicy paintings by Rubens all of different scenes from her life, and how really strange that is.

Graphite on plywood, 48″ x 32″ private collection

Sorry for the bad photos, and scans of slides, but it was 30 years ago after all.

“Bath Study 1″, graphite on plywood, 48″ x 96”, private collection