Exposition
This piece came about shortly after starting my commercial art career. It’s a tribute to the rapid-o-graph pen (used heavily in graphic arts) and includes a reflection of my disordered (but “somewhat” disciplined) young man’s brain. The work shares free hand with drafting tool aided drawing techniques.
The composition started with a schematic of the graphic arts pen, then was embellished with imaginative and symbolic neural elements.
The piece is decorated with images of my emotional thoughts along with some elements from the 1969 movie 2001: A Space Odyssey. (movie was great – book was better)
1975 – Acrylic and ink on illustration board
The following are some artwork details with further explanations:
Detail A – This symbolizes a dragon hanging off the ear of “me” in my flying saucer. The dragon appears as a symbol for Satan and my disordered brain. The flying saucer is my extra exploratory vehicle that enables me to breathe in the “outer space” of my mind. Many times the Devil wanted me dead but my imaginary saucer’s shield enabled me to survive.
Detail B – The purple shape is the dark spirit of Satan morphing in and out of its physical and spiritual form. Just below is a green and red tropical bird inspired from the album cover, “Flowers of Evil” from Leslie West and Mountain, circa 1971.
Detail C – Moving just south and east of the bird is a “Donald Duck” symbol that is inspired by Disney’s rejection of my application for employment. Oh well, “nobody’s perfect”… case in point!
Detail D – The work in the lower right corner is significant. My initials are next to the green symbol (me) with a red inner creature that represents my disordered brain’s deformation. My “savior” at the time was my first wife. She is symbolized by the light green figure to my left. The pattern flowing from her to my brain was the music of love’s songs and inspirations that we shared.
Detail E – The green dragon at the bottom left corner is my alter ego that occasionally struts his stuff to himself with perishable accomplishments like this drawing. This symbol illustrates a bit of narcissism inside my cranial core for a “feel good” about myself kinda feeling. Kind of a God given safety valve to relieve the disordered loathing stemming from the tormenting stress of not being perfect.
Detail F – The red dragon near the center just east of “Discovery’s” antenna is a symbol for the creative artist (me) behind the engineering of the artwork. The multicolored “ball” being sewn together just below “Discovery” symbolizes the artwork itself.
The remaining stars and diagonal lines and circles are for compositional cohesion… an attempt to tie everything together.
Like I’m now attempting to do on a larger scale with Ed’s Art Net.
Summary
I knew there was something wrong with me but didn’t know what, until 2003.
I found God, as real, after my second major mental breakdown. God is restoring me with love through my family and friends including the helpers who support my healing. I’m progressively adjusting to being “okay with myself” – mental health wise. The sneaky red creature still lurks in my head but is well controlled.
I’m still not perfect but I’m a long way from manic depressive… for a good many years now. I even feel comfortable sharing many of my deepest thoughts on the web.
God helps everyone, especially those who are listening. 😎❤️
