Daily Drawing , 24th March 2023
Category: Daily Drawings
Epiphany 2023
2023
colored pencil, graphite, gouache on toned paper
9 by 12 inches
Today’s drawing , just in time for the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord. Hectic few days and I feared I wouldn’t finish in time . 
”To offer gold is to proclaim Christ’s Kingship, to offer incense is to adore his Godhead, and to offer myrrh is to acknowledge his mortality “ Saint Odilo of Cluny. I offer this drawing .
🌟Wishing a joyous Epiphany🌟
2023
colored pencil, graphite, gouache on toned paper
9 by 12 inches
Evergreen, Tempus fugit & happy 2023
Happy new year, I send out wishes for a year of renewal,optimism and rebirth.
I start the new year with a new drawing that I spontaneously called Evergreen. I had hoped for it to be the last drawing of 2022 but there are so many hours in a day. I finished up moments ago, so happy 2023.
2023
colored pencil, graphite and gouache on toned paper
24 by 18 inches
It is a continued exploration of otherworld, underworlds, pointy forms, death and rebirth, renewal and fir trees ( a friend pointed the fir tree forms out , aware of my fondness for Hans Christian Andersen’s Little Fir Tree ).
This affinity for renewal isn’t new of course but does add a hint of optimism to my usual obsession over memento mori- the serpent devouring its own tale, a well known allegorical symbol , sprouts new growth .
Another recurrent theme is that of pointed forms, be they vaguely Gothic or conifer.
Even millinery is nearly always pointed:
The other day one of my drawings started incorporating this pointed fir tree / hermitage theme which I plan on exploring further.
2022
colored pencil and gouache on toned paper
11 by 8 inches
No great revelations , nothing terribly profound, but a pause before the busying of a new beginning and the ever present reminder of the passage of sand. At the moment my sweet old lady pug Viola is suffering from some sort of cough, an appointment scheduled but poor creature needs my attention .
With that,
Happy New Year
💀🌱
Tempus fugit
Epiphany 2022
2022
Pencil and gouache on toned paper
9 by 11 inches
Michaelmas 2021
A reading from
the Book of the Apocalypse 12:7-12ab
Now war broke out in heaven, when Michael with his angels attacked the dragon. The dragon fought back with his angels, but they were defeated and driven out of heaven. The great dragon, the primeval serpent, known as the devil or Satan, who had deceived all the world, was hurled down to the earth and his angels were hurled down with him. Then I heard a voice shout from heaven,
“Victory and power and empire for ever have been won by our God, and all authority for his Christ, now that the persecutor, who accused our brothers day and night before our God, has been brought down. They have triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the witness of their martyrdom, because even in the face of death they would not cling to life. Let the heavens rejoice and all who live there.”
The word of the Lord.
Daily Drawing : 30th September 2020
I am going to try to be more consistent in posting on this site, even if only one of my daily drawings . I’m trying to avoid Facebook for a number of reasons , most particularly because it frequently leaves me feeling depleted and depressed.
So this is the first of what I hope to be an alternative studio routine :
Backstory to the drawing is that my membership card to the Museum of Witchcraft & Magic in far off Cornwall arrived the other day . I’d love to visit , dearly wish to see that land of Arthur and that rugged coast , but with travel restrictions firmly in place for the foreseeable future , and frankly budget concerns, that isn’t likely anytime soon. So for now , this dedication drawing .
The Convoluted Way
In my ongoing examination of sacred work, an extension of my own feet-in the-ground-butt-in-the-pew spiritual experimentations , during the past Holy Week I spent my studio time with the Way of the Cross. I have resisted attending Catholic Mass for decades, I’ve attended Episcopal services off and on for years, and while I have felt welcome, I personally felt ill at ease, a nagging longing that something was missing-no matter how High the service. So I did experiment, I attended Good Friday services at a pretty little church in Eagle Rock, and it was sweet to see the devout earnestly visiting each Station, uttering by rote their own passionate pleas. But the service itself, a public forum , where congregants, in the manner of our Protesting brothers and sisters were proclaiming their own gospels. It was too much for me to bear, and shamefacedly, halfway through, I slithered out of my pew and back to my studio. I haven’t given up yet, but in many ways my studio is my temple. The following drawing is my own fervent desire to Walk the Way of the Cross; on my own path.
2019
Sanguine and white charcoal highlights on toned paper
18 by 24 inches
In this synoptic composition, from left to right, I have depicted our Lord as the Ecce Homo, the terrible mocking rabble, Pontius Pilate, the Holy Fool Lazarus, the Fishermen’s boat, the Blessed Mother as the Dolorosa, the Baptist, the Crucified Lamb and Veronica with her Veil.
Relating to this theme is a recently recieved image of The Anchorite’s Cross , part of my Embodied: St. Anthony & the Desert of Tears installation.
2019
Mixed media: acrylic painted canvas, recycled fiber, beads, bells, embroidery floss, poly-fil, vintage furniture and metal work, vintage fabric.
Cross 60 by 32 by 10 inches approximately; total installation variable upon site.
The Stations of the Cross are rarely out of sight, for decades this Victorian Station, Station V, with Simon willingly or begrudgingly helping the staggering Lord, has hung over every drawing desk since meeting David 26 years ago. This is how it looks today.
2019
In addition to Christian themes, I have tackled classical themes such as my well explored affair with Herakles, like Christ, I find him irresistible.
2019
Sanguine with white charcoal highlights, on toned paper
Diptych, total 24 by 36 inches
Orpheus another tragic hero that inspires me.
2018
Sanguine and colored pencil on toned paper
18 by 24 inches
And of descending into the Underworld, Christ’s own Harrowing of Hell.
2018
Sanguine, white chalk highlights on toned paper
24 by 18 inches
I’m actually supposed to be drawing instead of posting so I must complete this post but the view from my new studio is distracting me delightfully.
Back to the drawing board.
Fairyland ABC
My ongoing body of work Fairyland I am beginning to see has its roots and inspiration in the nursery. I find myself harkening back to my childhood. We hadn’t a nursery, or day care, in fact, due to my mother’s mental illnesses my childhood was spent in self care and self nurturance. I raised myself best as I could. One of the delights of my solitary childhood was stumbling upon the Victorian and Edwardian library of my maternal grandmother’s own (isolated) childhood nursery. One such delight was Walter Crane’s enchanting Absurd ABC. I spent many quiet hours poring over Crane’s vivid and complex drawings, imagining better worlds. I owe a huge debt to Crane.
“Absurd ABC”
With that alphabetic primer in mind, I turned the focus of my daily drawing practice to the ABC’s; each day producing a primer that would have suited that little boy (and the fellow I am now). Later in life I discovered other primers and have experienced inspiration in ornamental alphabets such as this medieval ( neo-medieval?) illuminated primer.
With that information in mind, my Alphabetic Primer of Fairyland:
This isn’t my first alphabet, back in 2012 I went to task working on my Primer of New Spain ( see side bar for link ). However I lost steam and interest, as interesting as Mesoamerican art and culture is, it isn’t MY story. From now on I am focusing on what is true to me, Fairyland is home.
The following is “D is for Dog” from the above mentioned Primer of New Spain.
Dogs are always “true” to me.
2012
from “Primer of New Spain”
Link:
https://boondocksbabylon.com/2012/11/30/d-is-for-dogs/
With that, I close this post. For the record all of the images are 8 by 10″, on toned grey paper, sanguine (mostly) pencil and white charcoal highlights. I continue my daily drawing practice, starting most studio days with at least one decent drawing. I imagine revisiting the ABC’s once again.
Playing with Paperdolls (& other works on paper)
I am preparing my annual entries to a works on paper show here in LA and in so doing focusing my studio time with that more ephemeral medium. In particular, paper dolls, which have long held an interest, harkening back to my fussy sissy boyhood. Fond , forbidden moments snipping away ; this drove my father to fury and violence ,so now, in revisiting this artform, I do so with emotion and gratitude.
My studio complex is an industrial space, and in the recycling bin can be found beautiful clean , rather low grade sheets of cardboard; all for the taking. And taking I have been doing. Large scale paper dolls, and larger planned, have occupied my work table. One of the problems I and others have encountered in working with paper-dolls , is a sense of durability. Inherently ephemeral, how does one strengthen such fragile material. This low grade cardboard (yet free!) has an unsightly edge that I find distracting and unfinished. My solution, perhaps unsurprisingly, is to employ yet another sissy art ( and equally infuriating to Pater) , stitchwork. By a simple stitch of embroidery floss , I strengthen and add an exciting line of color. I confess a certain pride in this, and stitching cardboard is immensely gratifying, not unlike popping those addictive sheets of packing bubbles. I recommend trying it to relieve stress.
My latest trio of paper-dolls are completed but more are planned, this grouping, the largest figure about 36 inches tall, is called The Siren & the Machiavels.
“The Siren & the Machiavels”
2018
Acrylic paint, cardboard, embroidery floss, feathers.
detail shots:
In addition to my paper-doll making , I continue my daily drawing practice. In the same spirit of the nursery, like paper-dolls, another staple of childhood, the ornamental and instructive alphabet:
I will continue through with this alphabet and post upon its completion. For today, as it Sunday, household, not studio duties beckon.
Wishes for a good and creative week.
Lenten Indulgences
“He has Risen.”
(source: http://damascenegallery.com/shop/image-subject/icons-christ/the-resurrection-of-christ/)
Those were the words I heard every Easter, fervently claiming them myself. Now, I am less certain of what I believe. It feels more complicated, more fraught ;one day the Old Gods have all the answers, the next Jesus Christ. I take the truth from where I can.
That said I feel more attuned to what has been called by the Irish as the “thin places”, the space between the world of man and the world of the spirit. This lenten season, instead of forgoing any particular vice, hindrance or pleasure, I simply drew. With a pencil in hand, promising to whoever listens to my private thoughts, that no matter what, each studio day I will produce at the least, a decent enough drawing. No promises of masterworks, just a commitment of time and energy before I began my studio day.
I once studied under a Russian Orthodox monk and iconographer Vladislav Andrejev, he, through the translation of his sweet wife Olga, told me that art making must be considered a prayer to the Divine.
That I believe in.
The following is a result of my Lenten Indulgences ( a little nod to dear old Luther) :
Jezebel and Ahab
untitled
untitled, neomedieval study
Ecce Homo
Betty Brown
Mummer
Perseus
Young Anchorite
Faun
Arlequino
Studies
Centaur
Folly
Polyphemus
Birdboy, marginalia study
Womba (Ivanhoe series)
The Fair Rowena (Ivanhoe series)
Bauble study
Frontispiece design
Proserpina & Cerberus
Hades
Underworld mummer
Eurydice
Night terror, dream memory
Orpheus
Mummer
The Jewess Rebecca (Ivanhoe series)
Leprechaun
Winter
Spring Awakening/Cernunnos
Rape of Europa
Pilgrim’s Journey
Lavinia
Abraham and Isaac
Jonah and the Leviathan
Job
The Tree of Judas
La Dolorosa
And that is it.
Happy Easter and happy All Fool’s Day!
Boondocks Babylon 