“How raw and fearlessly fearful we are when we first step into the dangerous waters just off the coast of our rules” –Tom Everhart
In the same manner that Schulz started each of his cartoon strips in black and white, Everhart begins each of his fine art paintings in black and white. Although they are usually not intended to be black and white paintings, if Everhart feels that the painted black line drawing that starts the painting can stand alone at large scale rather than a small drawing, it is considered to be a finished work.
“Great art is abandoned, not finished”
For Everhart, when the work is left in black and white is when drawing becomes an act of painting. It is rare for this to occur, so for Everhart they are some of his favorite works, as it references Schulz’s black and white drawings, as well as his other influential footnotes of fusing drawing and painting.
Inspired by abstract expressionism but very much a testament of the contemporary times, Everhart’s work is a mesh of life experiences, endurance and friendship. The large original acrylics or limited edition lithographs are a whirlwind of black and white, a composition that demonstrate the power of a repeated brush stroke.