Monday, July 2, 2012

Grotesque tributes

Most drawings of famous people, sometimes created as a tribute or an expression of adoration are scary and disturbing to me.  They are not very well done for the most part, and tend to be grotesque caricatures.
I try drawing well known people because it lets me know how well I have done in creating a proportionate reproduction. It's just a millimeter here or there, and this could be Bill Murray or Bob Hoskins.  It still might, but it was Phil Collins that I had in mind.   Caricatures are actually easier, the distortions typically used to emphasize the distinguishing characteristic ( Phil's forelock for instance here) take away the expectation to see a true likeness.  Not dissing that art form, but its not what I intended to do here.  I'll find "Abacab" and listen to it today.

Gym Cycle Generator


In  old Pune city this is an old temple dedicated to Ganapati ( or Ganesh).  Since the city of Pune has so many temples dedicated to Ganesh, the temples are referred to by their location. This one is called Kasaba Peth Ganapati.  This temple is a few hundred years old.
In the back courtyyard I found this stationary excercise bike that has been adapted by the local electrical/electronics  industry as a human powered generator.  Pune has numerous and unpredictable power outages.
As I drew this, a person who worked in the temple, came and looked at my drawing. On his cell phone, he showed me a picture of Ganesh he had painted.  He seemed to feel both sorry for me, and superior, as he asked me if I was limited to my sketch book and one black pen.  All his paintings are large and  in color. Oils. Winsor-Newton (a famous English paint manufacturer).  He then told me he was a "hard" man but his anger and rage issues have been calmed by this Ganesh in particular.    It was very uncomfortable looking into his dark glasses as he shared this.  Big vermillion mark on his forehead framed by long greasy hair.   I said it looked like rain and left hastily.