Pit Crew Amanda Raisthel Analysis

When pencil and paper are brought together, the result can be a magnificent black and white masterpiece. Across the vast expanse of white paper, the lead of the pencil creates varying shades of gray and black. Each stroke of the pencil creating the next line of a story in this work of art. This story is known to all show stockmen on show day. This work of art was brought to life by Amanda Raithel in 2011. As it is titled Pit Crew, it refers to the fitters hard at work on the cattle on show day in this piece, just like pit crew working on a car at a race. The moment captured within this drawing, encapsulates the organized chaos of the show day rush. Each show calf in the drawing is tied up high on tube gates. The lights of the barn cast shadows down the sides of each calf, with darker and darker strokes of the lead. The smooth clean lines of the freshly fit cattle and the people around them holding clippers or hair sprays to get the calves looking their best. Each calf and person cast the lead shadows that dance beneath them onto the ridges of the straw bedding. …show more content…
A leather halter dangles from one of her hands, a show stick held loosely in the other, and a harness on her back. She’s ready for the show to begin. She waits anxiously for her class to be called, while the others scramble around to get the calves ready,like a pit crew working on their car at a pit stop, changing tires and filling the car with fuel. In their button ups and boots, some trim the calf’s legs with clippers, and others hold cans of adhesive. Each fitter intensely focused on their task at hand, determined to do their best and beat the