Timothy J. Pruitt's Blog, page 104
May 17, 2022
May 16, 2022
Photo Hyacinth Macaw
I took this photo at the Nashville Zoo on Saturday of a Hyacinth Macaw.
May 15, 2022
May 13, 2022
iPainting Another Van Dyke
Did another iPainting of Dick Van Dyke as he looked in the 1990’s.
Art Unboxed History And Art
Almost as long as I’ve loved art, I’ve loved history. It is intriguing how the two are tied so deeply together. Many works of art exist because of, or have survived due to, a connection with history. Some pieces of art are no longer, but their history causes them to be remembered.
From The Ark Of The Covenant, to Solomon’s Temple, they are prominent in our minds, though we never saw them. Other works of art, such as the majority of the portrait galleries of the world’s countries were inspired by, and survived due to their history. Either way, art and history are cousins if not brothers.
Today my focus is on The Lincoln Memorial, it is celebrating it’s centennial this year. I have sketched or painted President Lincoln multiple times, it does not take much for me to do so again. This time I was inspired by a story I was not familiar with. Most of us know of the amazing speech by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, but I did not know about Marian Anderson.
After the daughters of the American Revolution refused for Marian Anderson a contralto, to hold a concert at Constitution Hall in 1939. At his wife’s suggestion, President Roosevelt arranged an Easter Sunday concert on the steps of The Lincoln Memorial. She sang to an audience of 75,000 people who were present, and by radio to the nation.
Very soon after, I knew I had to sketch President Lincoln, Dr. King, and Marian Anderson together. I found one photograph of Dr King standing to the right of President Lincoln’s Statue and a wreath. It was natural to sketch this, and place Marian Anderson on the left. Though a quick sketch, it was inspired by both the history and the art connected to them.
History and art reflect and support each other. Most likely we would not have as much information on Washington and Lincoln were it not for their portraits, statues, and literature. At the same time, we would not have all the portraits, statues, and literature were it not for their history.
It serves as a good reminder, we do not only draw for ourselves, we do so to show others things that are important to us. Things that should continue to be important in years ahead. It also serves as an area of inspiration that may be overlooked in this day of internet access and photo services.
I would encourage you to find an historical piece of art, or an event that inspires you, then to draw, paint, or sculpt it. You may find one day, your art inspires others to make history, or at least helps them to remember something they need to know about it.
May 12, 2022
Sketch Roaring Tiger
It may be cliche, but I love drawing lions, tigers, and bears, oh my. My wife’s a major Wizard Of Oz fan so I had to say it.
May 11, 2022
iPainting Was Not Supposed To Race
I wrote about it yesterday in the sketch, but Rich Strike was not supposed to race on Saturday. A last minute removal of another horse gave him an opportunity to run. He seized that moment, and ran into the history books as the second biggest long shot in that race’s history. Don’t allow others expectations to dictate your pace, go for the goal!
Sketch Lion Illustration
This lion reminded me of the type of happy lion you would see as an illustration in a Children’s book.
May 10, 2022
Sketch Rich Strike Ky Derby 2022
Proverbs 21:31 (ESV)
31 The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the LORD.
This verse was a perfect illustration of what happened this year at the Kentucky Derby leading up to the race. The sketch I did above was of the 2022 Kentucky Derby winning horse Rich Strike. The horse was not supposed to run in the race.
At the last minute, there was a last minute scratch of another horse. The owner was shocked at the last minute call, and even more shocked when the 80 to 1 shot won the derby. It was the second biggest long shot in the race’s history.
It’s a wonderful reminder that our own expectations are not the final word. If we will trust in The Lord, we may start out with the odds stacked against us, at the back of the pack, but we will enter the winner’s circle in the end of it all.
