Monday, September 23, 2013

Drawing of Saul Bellow

 Saul Bellow lived from 1915 to 2005... Writer, won the Pulitzer Prize and the Nobel Prize for Literature
He was compassionate and intelligent with an especially dry sense of humor. 

A quote of Saul's that sums everything up:
" We are all such accidents. We do not make up history and culture. We simply appear, not by our own choice. We make what we can of our condition with the means available. We must accept the mixture as we find it — the impurity of it, the tragedy of it, the hope of it."

8 1/2" x 11"  in charcoal, I worked from an image I believe was from the late 1950's.

20 comments:

Linda H said...

Wonderful drawing. I admire your talent and skill with a pen/brush/charcoal...

Valerianna said...

Great drawing, Gwen. I was just speaking in class the other day about how the artist transforms the material into 'stuff" - a kind of magical alchemy. You do this beautifully here as charcoal magically transforms into skin, hair, cloth... and character.

Lynne with an e said...

What a great quote! It really does sum up everything, as you say. Wonderful life, expression and proportion in your drawing. It brims with energy.

Penny said...

Lovely drawing.

Steven Cain said...

Wonderful likeness, Gwen. Great quote.

simply blue said...

Seriously talented here....

Guillaume said...

Beautiful quote and portrait. I need to read him.

rachel said...

Wonderful - portrait and quotation both.

pauline said...

Gwen, this portrait is stunning! You are one talented and wise woman. i love the Saul Bellow quote too. You have a very rare talent. xox

Priya Sebastian said...

That is one lovely drawing Gwen.How well you've gotten all the different textures.

Gwen Buchanan said...

You are all too kind.. Thank you for your wonderful encouragement... and for even taking the time to come on over. I'm so glad you are all out there!!

Sharmon Davidson said...

He's very good with sums, I think! I also think your drawing of him catches some of that attitude and personality; great job of "summing him up"!

Tracy said...

EXCELLENT sketch, Gwen! Wow... he could just jump off that paper! And I really love this part of the quote, "We must accept the mixture as we find it — the impurity of it, the tragedy of it, the hope of it." Facing some difficult days lately, trying to accept the mix of it all...whew... not easy, but keeping on, keeping on... :o) Happy Days ((HUGS))

Gwen Buchanan said...

Thank you girls, if we try to keep our mind focused on "the Hope of it" it gives us energy for tomorrow.

sandy said...

what a great drawing Gwen love it.

Arija said...

. . . and the wonder and beauty of it. Life is what it is all we need to do is to make the best of it. You obviously are doing just that.

Jane said...

A gorgeous portrait, great expression. Love the quote !

Ruth said...

I should post this where I can see it every day, especially the days when all feels hopeless.

The portrait is clear and beautiful. I love your charcoal work.

Gwen Buchanan said...

Thank you Sandy!

Arija, it is a mystery isn't it? We are all Explorers.

Jane, Thank you, I admire the conclusions we come to when we look back over our lives.

Thank you so much Ruth. We believe we are carving out a path for ourselves but possibly we are just finding a spot to place our feet.

sandy said...

wow, great piece of art!