From the sketchbook

Last week I sketched Suzanne Valadon. She's an interesting artist. She started as an artist model for such notables as Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Pierre Puvis de Chavannes among others. But she was also observant. She paid attention to how they worked and she started drawing and painting herself.

Her work is easily recognizable by her bold lines. She painted still life, portraits, floral art, and landscapes that are noted for their strong composition and vibrant colors. She was, however, best known for her candid female nudes. A perfectionist, she worked on some of her oil paintings for up to thirteen years, before showing them.

Big Game Hunter

I don't yet have great photos of this assemblage. But I'm diggin' it. The cartoon nature of the bears head is intentional. It's part of the duel message about (1) kids with guns and (2) hunting.

(2) Now I'm not really anti-hunting. I personally don't want to do it. But I understand the consequences if controlled hunting is not allowed. But my commentary on hunting is the attitude where it's forgotten that their prey is a living, breathing creature with thoughts and feelings. Hence the cartoon nature of the bears head. The prey here isn't "real". It's Elmer Fudd huntin' Wabbits!

(1) The photo inside the box is of my grandfather. I've always loved the photo. Also it makes for great composition. And with the child holding a gun, the cartoon bear and the toy, plastic guns attached to the outside of the box, the gun becomes a game. Something not real. How can something not "real" cause so much pain and damage?

So the box is a reminder to myself to understand the consequences to one's actions. While something can seem carefree, casual, even a joke or game, there is always a butterfly effect to everything we do. It's also a reminder to remember to respect all living things. The biggest baddest creature still feels pain, just like the smallest most benign creature does.