Charcoal And Graphite Still Life Sketch Of Chairs By Debbi Van Wormer Appraisal

Charcoal and Graphite Still Life Sketch of Chairs by Debbi van Wormer

This is an original charcoal and graphite drawing on paper, dated 1981 and attributed to artist Debbi van Wormer. The artwork depicts a complex still life composition of various chairs arranged in an interior setting. Physically, the piece is executed on a rectangular sheet of light-toned drawing paper featuring broad, expressive charcoal strokes and finer graphite lines. The composition showcases multiple chair silhouettes, including ladder-back and curved-frame styles, rendered with a focus on geometric form and shadow. Notable features include the heavy use of dark gestural shading in the background and foreground to define negative space. The condition of the piece shows signs of age and wear appropriate for its 40-plus year history; there are significant reddish-brown water stains or foxing spots along the left and lower margins, as well as some minor creasing at the corners. The style is characteristic of late 20th-century academic or student studio art, emphasizing structural analysis and spatial relationship studies. The craftsmanship reflects a confident, energetic hand with varied line weights and intentional smudging to create depth. There are no visible signatures on the front of the image, but the provided provenance links it to a 1981 creation period.