The Obsession of the Peculiar Masons and their Family Name
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"There is nothing wrong with your [computer screen]. Do not attempt to adjust the picture..."*
...or so goes the intro to The Outer Limits. If you've not seen that classic old TV show, it's much like the original Twilight Zone. That rather unsettling kind of feeling is what I wanted to portray here, not just with the subject matter but employing off-kilter angles and spacing, perspective, etc. This piece began Monday as a stream of consciousness type drawing with no particular end plan other than to show the strange Jar Collector's collection of other jar collectors' photos.
Time now to sign up and enter the world of creative license...
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"You are moving into a land of both shadow and substance, of things and ideas. You're [about to] cross over into... [Scribble Picnic]."**
* Excerpt from "The Outer Limits" TV series' 1961 intro.
** Excerpt from "The Twilgiht Zone" TV series' 1959 intro.
Michael,
ReplyDeleteWhat an imagination! I learn more from you every week. It would be create if you could create a webinar or course on imagination in sketching. I didn't have time this week to work on anything new for jars but pulled a few jars from my library of paintings.
I love this painting. His face is perfect. The frown. The tightly held jar. I could do a devotional on this for sure. What things do we hold on to - our idols? Why are they precious? Should they be?
Blessings and have a wonderful day,
Janis
That's funny, Janice. Yes, he is definitely obsessed. What does that say about his pysche or family perhaps too? Hah.
DeleteThat is an interesting idea doing a webinar/course of imagination in sketching. Lov eit but not sure how I coudl really make it value added for the signee? If you have idea, let me know! :) Alex always says I should have been a professor of design as I love to teach others and am very others oriented too (well, as long as they don't smoke around me, that is!). Ha.
Such a fun and creative interpretation Michael, well done you set the scene perfectly!
ReplyDeleteOH, what a clever take on the theme, Michael! Love it! I remember The Outer Limits and The Twilight Zone from when I was a kid. My imagination wasn't very cooperative this week...other things going on in this mind of mine so I did a sketch of a jar from the pantry.
ReplyDeleteP.S. - I commented on your post last week with details on my parents' time in Malaya. I hope you received it okay.
Enjoy the rest of your week. :)
OK, wil go back and read this. I guess I must have missed it! Thank you for telling me, Serena. I suspect, btw, you saw reruns of the shows as the originals were early 60's and late 50's, before our time! :)
DeleteSerena, I saw that one comment and replied but don't see another. Was there one lost?
DeleteOh my, your creative imagination and talent to put it on paper amazing. This is so incredible...I want to hear the story behind each family member.... we never missed Twilight Zone...And is this handsome old man...a reflection of you???? Love it Michael.
ReplyDeletePS I love the jacket...I can just feel the wool....
Deletehaha, Wanda, no it is not me! Lol. My facial hair grows like mushrooms--only in the shade! I am def not a hairy guy (thank god, for Alex, as she would say). With that said, however, I was actually thinking of someone I only know through the blog who is someone's husband of sorts. Same sort of look -- no idea on personalilty, of course.
DeleteRead my reply to Jennifer (below) to see what some of the jars contain...maybe that gives a bit of the story behind each person. I did think of little scenarios for each whilst drawing them. Thank you for you thoughtful, encouraging comment, as always! :)
Yes, a wool sports jacket--one of those super itchy ones. Just kind of adds to the overall slightly off "feeling" of this piece, I was thinking. Super glad you noticed! :)
DeleteI like this odd family & their jars, I especially like the blue of the jars. & the cat with the jar. & the little terrier in the corner. what a great take on the theme.
ReplyDeletehave a lovely day.
Well, Lissa, you super detailed stories within a story pieces truly inspired me for this, I hope you know that! Thank you.
Deletereally? I'm happy to inspire.
Deletejust read your reply to Jennifer about the jars & that's interesting, that the jars held these people's passion or perhaps inner passion?
have a lovely day.
this goes really well of the oddness of the show :) so many questions. whats in the jars? (fish for the cat it seems lol)
ReplyDeleteFish indeed. The Indian guy has hearts, the tattooed muscle man has carrots (a gardener too perhaps?) and the main professor type has either gumballs or marbles, I was thinking. :) the rest if up to one's imagination. Thank you Jennifer, and great to have you here!
DeleteYou are too funny. The Mason's and their obsessions! What an imagination. I zoomed in to see those collections. Quite fun!
ReplyDeleteLove what you have depicted here Michael - and you would be great at designing art installations by look of it - walls and what to hang where are such a traumatic part of interior design.
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the recent comments - you are so amazing when you catch up with so many posts all at once, leaving me in your dust!
Happy upcoming weekend to you and Alex.
Mary x
You're welcome! Hope you enjoyed. Now, Mary, if you weren't so prolific, it wouldn't require so many! :)
DeleteMichael, I'm no tech wizard obviously. Please can you tell me how I can leave comments on the posts of Hanna and Andrea who seem to have Instagram accounts, not blogs? I don't have an Instagram (and don't want another media thing to be bothered with - I'm too old!)
ReplyDeleteI don't want them to think I'm ignoring their lovely art!
Thanks - Mary
I'm afraid you can't actually. I added them so others could see but no one expects cross pollination as it were. Thank you though. Next time they post to their blog, you could always tell them then how much you enjoyed these. Thank you so much for checking though as I am sure you are not the only one wondering. Good question!
DeleteMichael,
ReplyDeleteI love your whacky piece. Such a creative idea for jars. So fun to look at each picture on the wall. Wow.
I started a piece, but summer has it's ways of being busy. Just had a new floor put in the wee cabin and between moving out, floor installation and starting to move back in.... I didn't finish the piece I started in time. But so good to see yours!
Haven't popped in for a while but have to say I love this one so much!
ReplyDeleteClever, imaginative, whimsical... reminds me a bit of the curiosity stores of old.
It's like we get almost two dozen sketches for the price of one here! And our minds get a workout deciding what's in all the jars!
ReplyDelete