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Pen & Ink Blog

Art Exhibit - Smyrna Library

6/22/2019

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I've been asked to exhibit some of my art in the Library at Smyrna, GA.  It goes up  July 1 and remains on exhibit for 2 months, until September 1.  

Since it's a library, I decided it would be nice to display one of my ink drawings of early "book making".  This was inspired when touring the Czech Republic and subsequent researching the history of the Moravian Church. This pre-reformation church has continually stressed educating the general population. Their mass-printing and distribution network promoted literacy and fed knowledge and understanding (temporal and spiritual) to middle and lower classes, a luxury previously reserved for the wealthy or powerful. The rest, so to speak, is "history".

Printing and distributing books rapidly became a "social media" phenomenon of the 15th Century to spark the Protestant Reformation, much the same way using iPhones and computers is sparking reformative thinking and movements today.   

If you are in the area, I invite you to stop by and browse the second floor gallery of Smyrna Library while my art is exhibited.



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The Reluctant Picador

6/15/2019

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I was moved by a promotional photo seen in a shop window in Ronda, Spain. This scene of an aging picador in full uniform standing in front of his horse also wearing the traditional (often inadequate) armor and padding, probably during opening ceremonies.  I never attended a bullfight and have no desire.  But subjects in this scene  capture not only a pageantry and tradition (and supporting commerce) in Spain, but also a melancholy mood, perhaps for a tradition which is falling out of favor with modern sensibilities - possibly hastened by EU homogenizing of cultures.  Each viewer will devise their own interpretation. Conversation can follow.

This is my first finished drawing from our trip , not a sketch from my sketchbook. Other sketches will probably emerge over time into drawings as my mood and research-driven motivation dictate.  

Hopefully, this series from my sketchbook gives an idea of why I sketch while traveling - to capture not only the scene (a photograph can do that) but also a story, the mood, the music, the cool breeze or warm sun or dramatic shadow, and  amplify them artistically to appeal to each viewer.  

'Hope you enjoyed my sharing the impact of these memories with you.  
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All we, like sheep ...

6/14/2019

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I stopped while bicycling by this herd of sheep grazing under Portugal's cork trees. A soothing pastoral scene.  We think of sheep as creatures who meander or mindlessly follow a leader - whoever seems to be in front of the pack.  Why do they do that, I wonder.

So, I get back on my bike and silently wonder if the sheep watch us as we pass by with the same curiosity; a long line of strangely clad creatures sitting on a narrow uncomfortable chair atop a 2 wheel contraption, mindlessly peddling and sweating away, following our obvious leader clad in spandex (I'm conspicuous in my cotton cargo shorts), to a destination yet unknown.  Why do they do that, they wonder. 

Oh well, enough philosophical speculation.  Suck it up.  Only 15 more miles to go to my next destination and a beer.


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Seville, Cordoba - cultural centers for synergy

6/12/2019

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History of migration, invasion and conquest assumes many faces, not always destruction and death. There are times when a face of assimilation, cooperation and advancement emerges, attributed I think to  human reason and faith.  Europe has seen it's share of both.

This impression was driven home by the our visit to Seville, but especially to Cordoba and the magnificent architecture which once witnessed nearly 700 year peace filled coexistence of Islam, Christian, and Hebrew traditions. Everyone profited, God was honored, and social order thrived.   

I was dumbstruck when touring Cordoba's 8th century Mezquita Mosque which surrounds the more recent (16th century) Gothic Christian church, designed to be built this way by King Charles V, champion of the Roman Catholic counter-reformation. The Jewish quarter and Synagogue are just around the corner.  All this would change during the turmoil of inquisition politics. Our tour guide humbly described facts of this unique time of peace, and hinted at it's significance as part of the soul of Spain.

I was unable make a drawing which captures the harmonious synergy of that time - maybe later as it sinks in and as I do more research.  For now, my sketch of Seville will have to do.  
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Flamenco

6/10/2019

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​I asked the toreador if there was any relationship in the moves of bullfighting to the moves in the dance of flamenco. "Of course not", he said.  I think he was insulted. 





​

I didn't mean to insult. But only two days earlier we ate at a local restaurant in Ubeda which was also hosting a wedding party. Our tour leader invited three charming little girls, high from the festivities and wedding cake, to join us. There was singing and dancing at the party, Our tour leader asked "do you do Flamenco?"  "Of course" was the response of one precocious 10 year old, followed by a spontaneous demonstration quickly choreographed between adult and child ('could be mother and daughter) showing steps obviously common in a Spanish beginning dance school.

It was sweet, and so unexpected that no one captured the scene on camera. Now only a memory; the posturing, the graceful moves with a cape or shaw, the use of staccato rhythm to excite the mood, made me assume there must be some coincidental relationship to the bullfight. My bad.  But I'm not convinced either...'something quintessential-Spanish in both of these aesthetic and athletic displays.

We ended our trip with a planned dinner-time visit by professional Flamenco dancers.  This sketch captures that scene, reminiscent of the wedding party.

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Toro

6/9/2019

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Sara pointed out a shop near the bullfight ring in Ronda, I think, that sold original etchings. The strokes of the artist were accurate and inspiring, charged with emotion. Of course, I was not allowed to take a photo of his work but I did get permission to stand there and try to capture, in my sketchbook, one of his pieces with my pen.

After 15 minutes I decided to buy that piece to complement a purchase Sara was making. Back home I'll attempt to imitate this artist's style and energy. In the meantime, here's the sketch I began, with permission, while shopping.  

The day before, we had the opportunity to tour a farm which breeds bulls, and offers the more aggressive ones for competition.  There we learned about the business as well as the pageantry of this fading "sport" from the  toreador - rock star himself.  (Curiously, on our return flight home, I found the airline offered the cartoon movie "Ferdinand" and found myself pleasantly reviewing our tour of Spain while Sara slumbered.)
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Pasteis de Nata

6/7/2019

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sI've received so many nice comments about my vacation sketches I decided I should add more. So expect a flurry of sketches to follow ... some very preliminary  and some more refined based upon my free time and mood during our trip.

Brunch in this historic square of Lisbon offers Paseis de Nata (a delicious cream filled pastry) and espresso to help us overcome jet lag.  I find it mind-boggling to consider Christopher Columbus or Vasco de Gama could have passed by or even sat here next to me across from  Portuguese government buildings, when negotiating exploration contracts.

Think about it.  From this part of world, wooden ships were designed based upon seafaring craft from Phoenicia, built using techniques of the Vikings, then launched to search for trade routes using navigational tools and calculation skills from Persians, to sail around Africa to India, or west to the Americas.  

Think of Spain and you think of bull fights and siestas.  Think of Portugal and, well, nothing special comes to mind.  This trip makes me think (as it should) that we in the "West" don't give enough credit to those, from this Iberian appendage to Europe, for their technical and cultural contribution to the world.  More about this impression later.

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Storks of Iberia

6/5/2019

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Storks are a protected bird in Portugal and Spain. They build their huge nests now on towers of high power lines, telephone poles, and free standing platforms erected by the state. Biking past these structures we paused to marvel at the engineering that has gone into the homes of this creature - some weighing over a ton. Storks mate for life. They don't migrate anymore; simply add more material to the nest year after year. This time of year we had the opportunity to see the adult tending to chicks while the mate was searching for food from fields and streams.

​This picture is one of the last from my sketchbook record of our Iberian vacation, about 12 sketches in all.  
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