Nick Hobbs’ graphite drawings, Umbra and Night Light (2024), delve into the delicate interplay between light and shadow, intimacy and vastness, the terrestrial and the celestial. These works showcase Hobbs’ meticulous approach to pencil drawing, where dense layers of graphite create velvety textures that both absorb and reflect light. Through his masterful gradients and fine details, Hobbs transforms paper into an almost otherworldly surface, inviting viewers into contemplative spaces that blur the boundaries between personal moments and cosmic phenomena.

Night Light evokes a tender, domestic scene cloaked in mystery, its soft interplay of light and shadow capturing a fleeting moment of quiet intimacy. The composition, partially obscured by the glow of a lampshade, suggests the subtle presence of human connection while leaving much to the imagination, reinforcing Hobbs’ interest in the unseen and unspoken.

Hobbs’ practice is deeply informed by his lifelong passion for astronomy and the meditative process of stargazing. These drawings serve as portals into realms both intimate and infinite, inviting viewers to reflect on the dualities of human experience and the enduring wonder of the cosmos. Through Umbra and Night Light, Hobbs connects the poetic and the precise, crafting works that feel at once grounded in reality and adrift in the unknown.