RJ BLANCHETTE

The Rythm of the Gesture

I draw to remember — not what I see, but what endures.
With graphite and charcoal, I explore the fragile space between presence and absence, where silence becomes narrative and texture becomes truth.

My work follows a tradition of narrative realism: every mark carries a story, every layer preserves the memory of a gesture. The bodies, hands, and faces I draw speak of continuity — of gesture, patience, and human connection.

Based in Switzerland for over thirty years, I work slowly, allowing the image to surface like a memory returning to light.
The rhythm of the gesture has become my way of listening to the world:
for me, drawing is the act of making time visible.

From Wrestling to Horses and Winemakers: Continuing the Living Tradition

The exhibition Swiss Wrestling, More Than a Tradition has come to a close, but the journey continues. Two new cycles are now taking shape in the studio: The Horses of Switzerland, More Than a Tradition— The Winemakers of Switzerland, More Than a Tradition

The Frame as a Narrative Space

A drawing never lives on its own. The black wood Skava Nielsen frames highlight this intimacy without distraction.

The Invisible Language of Drawing

In Swiss Wrestling, More Than a Tradition, what matters is not only what is drawn. Equally important is what remains undrawn. The white of the paper, the pauses, the absences — they carry meaning as strongly as the line itself.