[Blazingmonga]

Hey everyone,

Thought I would post a new drawing that I recently completed. This way you can all poke it, visually speaking, with your eyes. Then poke my brains.

The image below was completed last week in order to be entered into a competition organised by the Sue Ryder Care charity. If you are from the UK you may be familiar with the Sue Ryder Charity shops. This drawing is to be entered into their "Art Liberating Lives" competition and if I am lucky I will be one of 50 people from Scotland selected to have their piece exhibited in the Mall Galleries in London during December.

http://www.suerydercare.org/getinvolved ... _Lives.asp
http://www.mallgalleries.org.uk/calendar.html

All the artworks donated will be sold by silent auction, with all money going towards Sue Ryder Care fundraising. As I have just this week lost a good friend to a particularly brutal cancer and it is also this week that I submitted the drawing below, this whole project has become especially very important to me.

All contributed works to the Art Liberating Lives exhibition were to be set to the theme of "Liberation", and so this is what I thought of when I read that word:

"The Balance of Freedom"


Not surprisingly it was completed in black biro on A4 card. Due to the time constraints of having a deadline I went from first sketch to final image in a total of 3 weeks, which is record breaking time for me. The last drawing I did took nearer a year! This image is a lot simpler than I would prefer, but I had to limit myself if it was to be completed in time.

Anyway, enough spraff. Please tell me what you think. Or tell me anything you like. Or not.

-David

I've been absorbing this for awhile now... I find it quite enjoyable as a piece of art. I notice that if I look at the background as a kind of tunnel (I saw it as a huge semi-domed chamber with glass paneling on the roof/walls, and a wind tunnel-ish fan at the back), the tree, frame, and characters all seem to be leaning or 'falling' towards me. Very cool effect, intentional or not!

I also like those little pods/seeds in the soil beneath the tree, attached to the roots. They sort of remind me of little spotlights of some sort (though now that I look closer, they sort of look like they've got big sharp teeth on the front).

As usual, the brushed metal-style effect is spectacular, I still have no idea how you do that with a pen.

Anyhow, yes... I really like this piece. It feels very interconnected and harmonious... I can't say I get a concrete meaning from it, but I very much enjoy the feeling it does give me-- and that's what art is all about, isn't it?

~Josiah

[JuZ]

First, I'm sorry to hear about your loss. I know what an absolute bastard cancer is. Best of luck with the competition.

How the hell do you manage that with a pen? You must have the patience of a... well, a tree! Beautifully done, and I particularly like the figures and how they blend into the branches of the tree. Also like the way the blank spaces create a sense of light.

[Blazingmonga]

I've been absorbing this for awhile now... I find it quite enjoyable as a piece of art. I notice that if I look at the background as a kind of tunnel (I saw it as a huge semi-domed chamber with glass paneling on the roof/walls, and a wind tunnel-ish fan at the back), the tree, frame, and characters all seem to be leaning or 'falling' towards me. Very cool effect, intentional or not!

Perspective is something I struggle to understand. I can get my head around bringing things 'forward' or 'back' but more in the sense of separation rather than a realistic POV. The effect you describe was partly intentional, but its not something I have a full grasp of so I dont think I can take credit for it. Thanks though!

I also like those little pods/seeds in the soil beneath the tree, attached to the roots. They sort of remind me of little spotlights of some sort (though now that I look closer, they sort of look like they've got big sharp teeth on the front).

They do have teeth, yup. They are also directed in the same way that a spotlight would be, so you are not wrong there either.

As usual, the brushed metal-style effect is spectacular, I still have no idea how you do that with a pen.

Thanks dude! As to how I do it, well lets just say that the planets must be alignment before I can begin and that I must have on my special hat. While listening to the ceremonial Celine Dion album I must also hold one mango under each armpit for the duration of the piece.

Anyhow, yes... I really like this piece. It feels very interconnected and harmonious... I can't say I get a concrete meaning from it, but I very much enjoy the feeling it does give me-- and that's what art is all about, isn't it?

~Josiah

Interconnected and harmonious...thats a really nice thing to hear because that is what I am really trying to achieve with all my drawings. I dont expect people to be able to instantly realise what it was I was thinking when I decided to draw it the way I did, but if it looks like it all fits together on the paper then that is just as important. Maybe with more time and more experience I will be able to generate more specific feelings from my drawings. That would be a great challenge!

First, I'm sorry to hear about your loss. I know what an absolute bastard cancer is. Best of luck with the competition.

Thanks Juz. I know that if I was selected to go to London that I would be doing it for my friend. His death has given me an extra layer of dedication.

How the hell do you manage that with a pen? You must have the patience of a... well, a tree! Beautifully done, and I particularly like the figures and how they blend into the branches of the tree. Also like the way the blank spaces create a sense of light.

Thanks! The way I do this with a pen is simply to spend a loooooooooong time on it, so yes, I do have the patience of a tree. I am glad that the blank spaces create a sense of light! With more time I would have added more detail to the background and tied everything together better, but I thought I could take a shortcut and just go for a light option.

As far as the meaning of this piece, all I can say is that when I read the word 'Liberation' I thought of a tree growing as a symbol of life. It starts as a seed underground and in the dark but then grows upward through the soil and into the light. It is in the nature of a tree to break free from its oppressive and dark beginnings and reach up in to its liberated and light future. However, it stays connected to this soil and will eventually be pulled back into it. It is this balance of liberation/oppression that I feel we all have to deal with in our daily lives and if we are lucky we can shift that balance as far towards liberation as is possible.

Thank you both for your wonderful comments! This is why I currently only show my drawings here on HDF, because I know people will take the time to really look at them. I really, really appreciate that.

Right, I really better run though as I have a kilt fitting in 15 minutes. Aaah!

-David

[Blazingmonga]

PS:

If you want a giggle, here is me holding the framed contribution. I was interviewed by a lovely lady from Sue Ryder Care for a press release for them, so she took lots of photos. Anyway, I think I look daft.



Bear in mind this is in the freezing cold, standing outside a coffee shop getting funny looks from a load of folk waiting for a bus.

Hehe.

0 minutes till kilt fitting...

pardon my simple comment, but all i can say is holy shite.

it is awesome.

That drawing is indeed tasty. It reminds me of something you'd see on a Dredg album cover.

[Blazingmonga]

I'm going to London! Yaaaaaaaaay! I think so anyway.

Very nice piece of art, it has a peaceful vibe to it that I really like.

[Keeker]

It's really beautiful work!

'Balance' is certainly achieved. I spent a long time looking at it, eyes following the links and patterns. Very absorbing!

Looking at the patterned background, for me, looked almost like the tree was growing in a glass arboretum. I thought maybe you'd been in the Edinburgh Botanics.

Again though, it is lovely. Congratulations!

[Keeker]

Oh, PS, 'A kilt fitting!'

My favourite spectator sport!!

[Blazingmonga]

Oh, PS, 'A kilt fitting!'

My favourite spectator sport!!

Oi! Perv! Hehee.

Though if you have seen my knobbly knees you will probably be reaching for the spoon with which to gouge your eyes...

And thanks, everyone!

[Blazingmonga]

I'm going to London! Yaaaaaaaaay! I think so anyway.

Sadly it looks like the trip will be too expensive in the end. Even to travel down for just one night will cost me about £300. Arses!

However, if anybody from London happens to read this, please go and see my drawing!!! It will be in the Mall Galleries from the 13th to the 21st of December. Entrance to the exhibition (Art Liberating Lives) is free, so if you are in the area then pop along.

http://www.mallgalleries.org.uk/
http://www.mallgalleries.org.uk/calendar.html

[Blazingmonga]

It sold! For £70!

Thats really neat. That is like just giving £70 to a charity. Neat!

And it also means that somebody out there liked my drawing. Even neater!

[Keeker]

It sold! For £70!

Thats really neat. That is like just giving £70 to a charity. Neat!

And it also means that somebody out there liked my drawing. Even neater!

Wooo! That must be a really nice feeling!