December 9, 2011

Eraser head: David Lynch’s sketches – in pictures

Publisher Steidl has collated a book, Works on Paper, featuring more than 500 of the director's drawings dating from the 1960s onwards

David Lynch: Works on Paper by David Lynch — So hot right now … but will Lynch set the art world alight with Post-it note efforts such as the one above? Photograph: Steidl/Fondation Cartier

David Lynch: Works on Paper by David Lynch — This tiny but painstakingly coloured piece recalls Rothko's window-like creations Photograph: Steidl/Fondation Cartier

David Lynch: Works on Paper by David Lynch — Lynch's doodles appear on anything he had to hand. Cinematographer Frederick Elmes was the director of photography on Blue Velvet, so it's possible this drawing was completed during its filming Photograph: Steidl/Fondation Cartier

David Lynch: Works on Paper by David Lynch — A surrealistic landscape, complete with doppelganger trees and raining shadows Photograph: Steidl/Fondation Cartier

David Lynch: Works on Paper by David Lynch — Two works that form a kind of mini-suite are drawn on a matchbox. Is the long central shape in the lower one a cave opening or a towering beast? Photograph: Steidl/Fondation Cartier

David Lynch: Works on Paper by David Lynch — A piece drawn on a napkin during the filming of Dune, which was released in 1984 Photograph: Steidl/Fondation Cartier

David Lynch: Works on Paper by David Lynch — An assortment of random shapes showcases a practised shading technique Photograph: Steidl/Fondation Cartier

David Lynch: Works on Paper by David Lynch — A whirlwind of scribbled thoughts, images and conversational fragments, possibly from Lynch's desk or beside his phone Photograph: Steidl/Fondation Cartier

David Lynch: Works on Paper by David Lynch — Another mindbending landscape, this one drawn on a notepad and reminiscent of Dalí Photograph: Steidl/Fondation Cartier

David Lynch: Works on Paper by David Lynch — The top image, again on a Post-it, looks like a twisted kind of musical notation Photograph: Steidl/Fondation Cartier

David Lynch: Works on Paper by David Lynch — A horse-like contraption fitted with what could be hinges – or hidden eyes Photograph: Steidl/Fondation Cartier

David Lynch: Works on Paper by David Lynch — Finally, the director captures perfectly the likeness of a 'Brunsing pig'. Or maybe that's 'Brunoing'. If you haven't seen either, they both look like this Photograph: Steidl/Fondation Cartier

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