My next collaboration with the Old Stile Press took off in 2010 when Nicolas McDowall saw a suite of old (1950s) ink drawings I had posted on my blog. He was enthused and, of course, I was super-enthused when he said: let’s do a book with these. What I wrote in that post became part of the Afterword in the Old Stile Press book Scenes from the Life of Jesus published in 2011.
I was an art student in New York City when I dipped a brush in Indian
ink and these drawings emerged in quick succession. What I remember most
clearly about that period is a sense of freedom and excitement.
Abstract Expressionism was in the air and I was for a while studying
with Jack Tworkov, one of its leading practitioners, in his studio next
door to De Kooning. I’m not sure if these painters’intense commitment
to the spontaneous gesture was an influence but I did show my set of
drawings to Tworkov and was very proud when he praised them
unconditionally (he wasn’t the type to praise anything unconditionally)
even though the subject matter was not the sort of thing which would
appeal to anyone in that bohemian milieu.
I should explain where I stand in relation to the G-word (God) and the R-word (Religion). I believe in the mystery that is G. I don’t believe the human mind is equipped to define G.
I don’t trust any of the definitions/explanations for or against G that are given by religions, theologies, mythologies, psychologies, occult theories etc. Why should I trust them? All human thinking, including mine of course, is fallible and influenced by all the agendas that we are heir to. When an individual or whole armies of individuals, commit atrocious actions in the belief that “God told us to do it” it is proof of the twisted turns the human brain can take. It doesn't disprove or prove the reality of the G mystery.
Do I think that the G mystery is real because, as many disbelievers insist, I need a crutch to lean on, a tranquiliser against the fear of death? Is it because I’ve been brainwashed? None of those apply. The G mystery is real to me as presence, rather than belief. I have no need to prove it. It's enough for me to play with it, in art or comics or writing. It's inspiration.
Below are only a few of the images. In the book, short lines of text face each drawing.
I should explain where I stand in relation to the G-word (God) and the R-word (Religion). I believe in the mystery that is G. I don’t believe the human mind is equipped to define G.
I don’t trust any of the definitions/explanations for or against G that are given by religions, theologies, mythologies, psychologies, occult theories etc. Why should I trust them? All human thinking, including mine of course, is fallible and influenced by all the agendas that we are heir to. When an individual or whole armies of individuals, commit atrocious actions in the belief that “God told us to do it” it is proof of the twisted turns the human brain can take. It doesn't disprove or prove the reality of the G mystery.
Do I think that the G mystery is real because, as many disbelievers insist, I need a crutch to lean on, a tranquiliser against the fear of death? Is it because I’ve been brainwashed? None of those apply. The G mystery is real to me as presence, rather than belief. I have no need to prove it. It's enough for me to play with it, in art or comics or writing. It's inspiration.
Below are only a few of the images. In the book, short lines of text face each drawing.
4 comments:
A truly beautiful post, and one which I will treasure. If I needed anything to confirm my return to blogging it was possibly this. Thank you my friend.
Tom, thank you very much. It's wonderful to hear that you're contemplating..or actually, right now?...returning to blogging! When? Where?
The artist/critic was not wrong. Your brushwork is superb.
Thank you Bruce!
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