Saturday, February 25, 2012

Charles Darwin

Portrait of Darwin by Gwen Buchanan


 Because of Charles Darwin's intense studies and lifetime dedication to his work...  we understand EVOLUTION.



Ape Skull by Gwen Buchanan



...below... an excerpt from Charles Darwin's....  "Origin of Species"

""As many more individuals of each species are born than can possibly survive, and as consequently there is a frequently recurring struggle for existence, it follows that any being, if it vary in any manner profitable to itself, under the complex and sometimes varying conditions of life, will have a better chance of survival and thus be naturally selected. From the strong principle of inheritance, any selected variety will tend to propagate its new and modified form.""



Charles Robert Darwin... Born 1809... died at 73 years in 1882

to learn almost everything about his life,  go HERE ...

I especially like this excerpt from his examination of
 "The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals"  



Portrait of Darwin ...........   approx. 11" x 12",  charcoal, conte on brown paper
Ape Skull..............   approx. 8 1/2" x 11" charcoal, conte on colored cardstock
....... both kinds of paper have a great tooth for holding these drawing mediums.


19 comments:

Valerianna said...

Love his intensity you capture so well here! I imagine he was!!!

Owen said...

Your drawings are out of this world, an exceptional level of energy emanating from them, energy in proportion to the profound importance of his work. Amazing and incredible that some groups vilify him and try to ban his books. We live in a strange world.

Guillaume said...

It is a great portrait of a most admirable man. Darwin didn't only change the world, he made us discover it, understand it better and redefined human species. No small feast.

Carol Steel said...

It has always amazed me how the world vilifies those who speak the truth, before that truth has become common knowledge. We live in a strange world...

Your drawings are energetic and powerful, as usual.

Thank you for all you give to ohers (and me) through your art and gifts and insight.

Gwen Buchanan said...

Owen, Valerianna, Guillaume, and Carol... Thank you so much... I'm glad sane sensible people come to visit here... I just came across this amusing photograph relating to this post... here is the link...

http://seetsirbas.com/?p=217

You will get a chuckle.

Lord Wellbourne said...

Galileo, Da Vinci, Darwin, Gandhi etc...all men of insight, intuition, and intellect. Greatly misunderstood and reviled in their own times and beyond.. Time and experience have proven them right...at least to those who are not swayed by superstition nor afraid of the truth.

Beautiful rendering--I'm especially moved by the delicate shading.

Priya Sebastian said...

These are strong superb images. Very different from your sensitive watercolours but equally good :)
Thank you for the link to Darwin's website and also for the link to something I chuckled over.

Gwen Buchanan said...

Lord W, you're right, Superstition does play a huge part in what people tend to believe.. then we have the result of brainwashing and people failing to honestly think for themselves...

Priya, it's a exciting challenge to work in different medias.. especially ones we avoid... I also love seeing how one creative experience gives influence in another field..

Tracy said...

Beautiful delicacy in your rendering of Darwin, Gwen... Ironically I saw a HUGE biography of his at the library last week. I must go back for it! ;o)

pauline said...

oh Gwen, this is magnificent!! Your portrait of Darwin if fabulous and i so love the shading in the ape skull... I am blown away by your skill.
i love both the man and the message.
Thanks for sharing this with the world. xoxo

Gwen Buchanan said...

Hi Tracy,Thanks so much,... Yes that is ironic... What a wonderful opportunity for you. Wish I was there!!

Hi Pauline, I love your enthusiasm... Thank you,... Can you imagine the endless hours of research he did... and then coming to the conclusions he did... it must have been hard for him to have meaningful conversations with very many people.. but none the less he persisted and his knowledge is with us today...

Lynne with an e said...

Sooo enjoyable to witness you going ape over Darwin and his enlightening theories.

Falcondawn said...

As at the end of my blog is written: admit, realize, accept and recognize weakness: it is (r) evolutionary. really.

instead of taking all for granted. presenting strong, unstoppable, godlike, whatever let you fail or be vulnerable. so not too bad that some question his theory?

taking his works for ultimate truth is dangerous.

it made me wonder some time ago, when I heard here that in some regions of north america evolution-theories are forbidden to be taught in schools... now I can imagine a bit.

yours appreciatively, admiringly, sincerely and friendly :-D

O. Klastat

www.no-extremes.de

extremists are no fundamentalists ;-)

I like you Gwen :-)

Susan said...

Hi Gwen,

These drawings are beautiful. Thank you for your (always) kind comments over at 29 Black Street - coming from you they mean so much. Hope we will meet maybe one day this summer, we are after all practically neighbours. I've never been to your area but have always wanted to.

much love, xo Susan & les Gang

Saw a wonderful movie not long ago about the life of Darwin & his relationship with his wife & children - he seemed like an incredibly kind & sensitive man.

Gwen Buchanan said...

Louciao, you always make me laugh..

Gwen Buchanan said...

Hi O.K., You're right it is evolutionary! I wonder what we will all become in another few thousand years.. if we survive.... or which of the mammals will become the next dominant species.

Gwen Buchanan said...

Hi Susan, I would love to meet you too.. For sure if you and your gang are ever up this way please come by... The teapot is always ready...

Sharmon Davidson said...

Your portrait of Darwin is wonderful; his thoughtful intensity is evident on his face. He's one of my personal heroes, and you've drawn more than just his physical appearance. Beautiful job!

Gwen Buchanan said...

Sharmon, in almost all of the later images of Darwin I saw he appeared so concerned and deep in thought and slightly worried.. he must have had a turmoil going on in his head with all his new discoveries.