Drawings

It is unknown whether this drawing depicts an actual scene, or one composed from Castle’s imagination. He often presented objects in unusual or atypical places within the pictorial space of his drawings, e.g. the ladder in the center of the room.

Several visual devices bring the viewer into this drawing. For example, the tabletop in the foreground and the geometric patterns on both the ceiling and floor.

Castle often included small portraits in his text-based works, possibly intending them as authors. Prominently featured in this two-sided drawing, “Blaws” is one of several portraits that made frequent appearances in Castle’s handmade books and drawings.

The purple hue of this monochrome drawing likely came from water-saturated crepe paper, which Castle routinely used as a color source. To ensure the materials absorbed enough color, Castle roughed up the surface before starting his drawing.

This detailed drawing, copied from an advertisement, demonstrates Castle’s line work and ability to copy detailed imagery. The Soldiers and Sailors Monument, depicted in the drawing, is in Indianapolis.

Castle’s colored work is often minimal with imagery reduced to the most elemental of forms.