Another figure based on Greek mythology, specifically The Odyssey. This is the Cyclops Polyphemus, he who shamelessly breaks the sacred xenial laws and feasts upon men. Each morning he awakens with the stale taste of human flesh still in his throat and clotted gore on his hands. And he vows to himself in anguish that this new day will be different and he will no longer be a monster. Then each evening upon retiring, with the taste of fresh human flesh on his tongue and sticky blood steaming on his hands, he vows to himself tomorrow will be different. But nothing changes. For can a monster, or anyone, ever overcome its very nature? And so the cycle of the Cyclopes goes miserably on and on and on.
Archive for August, 2010
Greek Myths #4: “Polyphemus”
Saturday, August 28th, 2010Roger Ebert Tweets About ‘The Birds’ by Jason Young
Thursday, August 26th, 2010As many of you know, OK Panic is a Web site art project by Wheeler Hall and his cohorts (me, Jason Young, Eric Shonborn, and Pat Kain). What many of you don’t know (and what I’m announcing here) is that Roger Ebert, the film critic, recently became aware of our Web site and tweeted about it to all of his followers online. He specifically mentioned Jason’s piece ‘The Birds’ which was drawn for the theme ‘If Poe Wrote Pogo.’ Needless to say, all of Panic and its fans are in a tizzy over the news. If you’re a little late on the uptake, you can read Mr. Ebert’s tweet (hosted at the Chicago Sun-Times blog) here: http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/if-looney-tunes-remade-hitchco.html
Enjoy!
Portrait of Lady Helen Vincent
Friday, August 13th, 2010Here’s an oddity. This was a commissioned piece, an oil on canvas, and it was one of the largest works I’ve attempted. It’s based on a John Singer Sargent. If I remember correctly, the requester wanted a copy but we’re talking about SARGENT, for pity’s sake, and I’m just me so the work is merely a crudely amateurish, prosaic, unreasonable facsimile. In my defense, I dimly remember working from a small picture in a book so there were times I was only guessing at what I was trying to translate. Sargent’s work is always so fluid and facile and confident and amazing. Lacking those and countless other attributes, I trudged along, not achieving anything to withstand the ravages of time but learning a lot at the knee of a master.
To see Singer’s original, click here: http://art.jerryandmartha.com/2008/11/he-never-fails-to-amaze.html