Early Life Drawings is a series of works on paper created by Brian Clarke between 1969 and 1980, spanning the formative years of his artistic career. Drawn from life, the works depict human figures in a range of poses, reflecting Clarke’s early exploration of the human body. Among these, Liz 19 is an early portrait of Clarke’s wife, Liz, whom he married in 1972. Executed primarily in pencil on paper, the series also incorporates works that combine watercolour, gouache and collage elements.

Speaking with Bettina von Hase in 2011 about drawing from life and the expressive potential of the line, Brian Clarke explained:

"Let's say you're drawing from life, from the jaw bone down to the neck, sometimes it's possible to change direction in a very subtle way. When the line frees itself from the need to render figuration, you can convey something else that is more sublime than illustration. A great deal can be conveyed in a line and a mark, in the way cave paintings do."