Rhythm

Michael Marsicano
"After I Was Thrown in the River and Before I Drowned." Illustration of a short story by Dave Eggers
14 1/4 x 9 1/2, ink, graphite, digital
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Communication Arts May/June 2016

There is a frantic energy to this piece. The curved lines of fur are being pushed from the right sending them towards the left, as well as the curves of the grass trampled below. The background even seems to be manipulated by the charge, warping as the dog passes. The flying bits of color give in the lines in the air give a high tempo, while the large feet and gaping mouth give a certain weight that implies the repetitive thudding and gasping of a sprinting animal.