Surprised, and grateful for so many responses to my "early sketch" of a Pot, I thought I should followup with my EARLIEST Artistic WORK ever recorded (and salvaged), on the back of the envelope containing my 2nd grade report card, circa' 1946.
Imagine me sitting one Sunday in church between Mom and Pop, bored, swinging my legs and fidgeting; my 5 year old sister, positioned on the other side of Mom to keep her safe from my poking her and stirring up an commotion. I imagine Mom retrieved from her bottomless purse my report card which she intended to return Monday, signed to prove she had reviewed my grades. To avoid meltdown she shoved the envelope and pencil into my lap praying I might entertain myself through the sermon. 80 years later, I find my very first artistic rendering .. maybe titled Portrait of a Preacher in a Pulpit or View from the Pew ... complete with all the background detail I perceived then from that little church in Akron Ohio. PS ... I was a straight "B" student in the 2nd grade. 'Teacher's comment said nothing about my artistic potential....
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Rearranging pictures hanging in my studio, I came across my sketch of a pot at the end of a driveway in Fernandina Beach. Dated March 2008, I recall sitting alone in my car in a driveway with sketch pad leaning against the steering wheel, waiting for a shower to pass.
At the time, I was taking an "Introduction to Drawing" class at KSU and found myself awakened by my newly discovered talent - suddenly seeing things, everything, with a different sensitivity - a new sensibility. With the sound of rain on the roof, and my pencil in hand, I did not realize I was creating my first "plain air" drawing. (only later did I learn the proper way to spell and pronounce this new term) I also, encountered a mild form of intoxication, relaxation induced by my focus upon capturing the calming scene on a piece of paper. Little did I know where this little exercise would take my "life after retirement". Thought it worth sharing some "pot" this wintery morn. Another year, and a time to take stock of what has been accomplished and what to plan next.
This year-end, it's obvious I didn't keep my promise to add regularly to my website. Not that I didn't have lots to add. I simply find little joy sitting in front of a computer screen. So, publishing new posts became an ever diminishing priority for me ... Until one day, out of the blue, an inquiry drops into my inbox from someone from South Africa who stumbled across what I had once written or drawn, and I find my website has potential to enlighten or inspire after all! In 2023, we traveled (South America and Japan), engaged people representing diverse history and priorities, joined loved ones to confront health and life issues, have been touched by scenes witnessed and some sketched, and have been reminded of my debt to the spiritual core around which my life (sometimes as on solid rock and sometimes as on jello) has been built. So, sharing this visual metaphor, let us dive into a new year with a Christmas gift to my brother-in-law who served aboard the USS Remey. Here I'm practicing a drawing technique from a Japanese master Hokusai who specialized in "the wave". I wish you all a Happy 2024! |
AuthorBill Needs Archives
January 2024
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