Untitled (Abstract Trees), 1965, ink on paper, 15” x 11”

This week’s ink on paper by Dusti Bongé is perhaps the most delicate yet. It is an unequaled work in how it exemplifies her remarkable ability to create an almost gossamer work that nonetheless retains true abstract expressionist qualities. Thus, the marks that Dusti makes in this ink drawing are just as determined and confident as those she makes in her much larger oils. Although very nuanced, they are not at all hesitant.

It is in fact a hallmark throughout Dusti’s career that her mark making, no matter what the subject matter or artistic style, is always confident. In her early works this manifests itself in her many sketchbooks where she would capture a particular image, whether cityscape or still life, with graphite pencil, charcoal or pen, in clear lines or strokes. If she did not quite like the result, she would draw the same thing all over again with equally determined markings, until all the marks would come together just as she intended for her composition.

A monochromatic, abstract work like this one, shows Dusti’s confident mark making at its best. This ink drawing presents a straightforward, yet interesting arrangement of light, long vertical lines intersected by short cross hatches across the left half of the paper, and a much denser but similar combination of verticals and horizontals towards the right edge. These lines could be vaguely associated with trunks and branches of trees, although it is not clear if that was ever Dusti’s intention.

What is clear is that Dusti here masterfully creates a balance between the darker, narrow area of the work and the lighter, wider area just by changing the density of the mark making. The whole makes for a rich composition with the simplest strokes of the pen or brush.