Royal Commission
This series of work was Rabel’s first exploration of the pattern work seen in Assyrian artifacts. These drawings were inspired by songs his uncle Shlimon Betshmuel sang: tales of love and heartache, death and despair, triumph and achievement. He discovered his love of pattern while studying Studio Art and Visual Communication at Loyola University. Realizing that a pencil could leave indentations in watercolor paper was an enormous, visceral breakthrough. The effect reminded him of ancient Assyrian bas-reliefs he had seen at the University of Chicago’s Oriental Institute, and saw a path to creating two-dimensional work that carries depth and texture. It was a revelation of the inventiveness and discovery which he always pursues throughout his art.
Pencil on watercolor paper