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.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas! Happy New Year! And I wish I knew how to reproduce color images so they wouldn't look so awful! Alas, the original's colors may not be anything to brag about, but they're better than the above colors, especially the flesh tones. Ah well! I guess that's a small price to pay for being utterly computer illiterate. But enough complaining. The important thing, again, is that you have a most merry Christmas, followed by a happy New Year!

The Bad Actor

"All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players: they have their exits and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts..."

--  William Shakespeare, "As You Like It," Act II, Scene VII

Study of a Man

He has made everything beautiful in its time; also He has put eternity into man's mind... (Ecclesiastes 3:11).

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.