Waiting for the Cue

 I'm going through a moldering pile of drawings I have hidden away. This came from that stack. It was done in 2002. I'm not enthusiastic about it and, as always, earnestly hope I can do better than that now. Like so many other pieces on this site, the reason I'm posting it is that I recall Kathy saying she liked it. And now it's back to the moldering pile for this picture.

Odysseus

I recently disinterred this drawing and was surprised to find I drew it almost a quarter of a century ago. It certainly doesn't feel that long ago. Well, as the saying goes, time flies! And that's the reason I'm posting it now: because one of the ideas behind this piece happens to be the passing of time, alluded to here by the twenty years it took Odysseus to return to his native shore. Although I doubt I'd draw an image similar to this today, its haunting theme of the irretrievable passing of cascading time, be it twenty adventurous years away from home or almost twenty-five years of a quiet life, still occasionally whispers from more recent drawings. Or maybe drawings such as this one only goes to show that, as my overworked friendly neighborhood horologist used to say, I have way too much time on my hands.

A Wanderer Grown Old

I casually tipped my cap to him as we passed each other on the narrow path in the woods. He smiled and whispered, "When I was young I explored mountains. Now that I am old I explore my soul. And I have discovered, after so many years, that they are, each in their own way, among the most mysterious and most majestic of all God's works." Then, without another word, he went on his way. I watched him until the path turned and he disappeared into the forest, and I, more respectfully than before, tipped my cap to him again.

Dancer of the Roar (Ahab)

This is an old drawing, done in 2003. Kathy and I recently had an occasion to look at some of my old pieces and she mentioned she liked this one. So, for no other reason than that, I thought I'd post it. I recall this was inspired by Herman Melville's Moby-Dick, but I've long forgotten the details as to the piece's origin and exact meaning.

The Foreigner

"By a route obscure and lonely,

Haunted by ill angels only,

Where an Eidolon, named NIGHT,

On a black throne reigns upright, 

I have wandered home but newly

From this ultimate dim Thule."

-- Edgar A. Poe, "Dream-land"

There's nothing much to this piece, nothing really worth mentioning. It's just a stranger nearing the end of his travels. As I mentioned before, I'm doubtful I'll continue adding images to this site. I may still have one or two more drawings in me, so this sketch may not be the end of the journey. But just in case it is, then I must say that this little blogsite afforded me a happy walkabout. I'm glad I rambled through it and I hope you also found your roaming through it amusing. Now, just in case this is the end of the journey, I want to take this occasion to thank a certain individual from France who, since 2018 and more often than not, faithfully accompanied me through this site's thick brambles and muddy paths. It means a lot to me that someone from France, where, I imagine, all roads lead to great art, made a point to stroll through my humble, little sketches. So, to that person and to everyone else who chanced upon this little byway in their wanderings, I just want to say a heartfelt merci and a possible adieu. Thanks for walking with me through these strange woods!

After the Rain

"To look at a star by glances -- to view it in a side-long way, by turning toward it the exterior portions of the retina (more susceptible of feeble impressions of light than the interior), is to behold the star distinctly -- is to have the best appreciation of its luster -- a luster which grows dim just in proportion as we turn our vision fully upon it."  (Edgar A. Poe)

Don't you think it remarkable that what is often so true of the stars is also often so true of ourselves?

Broken Bridges

"No wise man ever wished to be younger." -- Jonathan Swift

Once upon a time there was a little boy who, after many and many a misadventure, achieved his dream. He found himself as free to roam as a dried leaf in the wind, unencumbered by memory, responsibility and regret. And he lived happily ever after.