Nebuchadnezzar

There's quite a bit of vanity at play for one such as I to post his little doodles. So, to rein in my vanity, all I need do is recall William Blake's monotype on the same subject as this piece. It's one of those images that once seen is never forgotten. But then, that can be said about almost all of Mr. Blake's oeuvre. 

The Quiet

Every "hello" inevitably gives rise to "goodbye." There are very few things more obvious in this life. Yet it seems a general rule that those happy memories of each hello that embrace one in quiet moments more than counterbalance the sorrow of all the goodbyes. And that's the way of this world.

Under Redon's Wing

I once borrowed a book that contained quite a few of Odilon Redon's art, and I dimly recall seeing a small image that is the inspiration for this piece. Since I no longer have the book, I assume the image was a lithograph, but it might have been a charcoal drawing. I'm certain it could not have been a painting since no publisher would be so heartless as to reproduce Redon's marvelous colors in black and white. Another inspiration I wasn't aware of until after the fact was the great Giuseppe Arcimboldo, specifically his "Study of a Featherless Three-Footed Chick," which, despite its sad subject, is a wonderful display of craftsmanship. But I'm going off on tangents. Sorry about that. I didn't mean to be so flighty. 

A Xeric Land Changing with Travelers

This is another piece where I should have just let the pencil roam where it pleased instead of trying to control it. The drawing isn't really anything and I doubt I would have posted it if its theme, the important idea behind it (at least important to me), wasn't such a happy one.

Leavings

Even at its peak it was never much of a circus. The clowns were clumsy and whenever they made someone laugh it was always by accident. Gradually, one by one, all the roustabouts and performers drifted away, leaving only the ringmaster to carry on. And so this night, like all the countless previous nights, he rhythmically shouts to the empty tiers, extolling the breathtaking wonders of the one-of-a-kind act now taking place in the empty center ring. Then, as usual, he gets swept away by his own hyperbole, and pretends his labored breaths at the end of his speech are a thrilled audience's wild applause. Finally, as the echoes of his breath fade into the lonely void, he sways, uncertain and confused, with an unconscious sad smile on his lips and a painful longing and slightly frightened look in his eyes, before striking the tent and heading for the next small, fading town.

Zeugma on the Bias

Moderation is a good thing, provided one doesn't overdo it. Still, I wish I had used more moderation in drawing this piece. The problem was that I was trying to control the pencil instead of just letting it roam where it would. Ah well. Someday I'll have to learn where to draw the line when I'm with a pencil.

Kept Lessons

The first image posted on this site, back in 2017, was that of a young satyr. Thus it seems appropriate that the possible last image should be that of an old one. I say "possible" since I may still occasionally post something: I'm just doubtful that I'll be posting on a regular basis. But in case this does turn out to be the last one, I want to say I hope you had as much fun visiting this site as I did in adding things to it. So, until we meet again, if we meet again, God bless, try to smile once a day and thank you for visiting.