I've Seen Lonely Times

Maybe it's me, maybe it's the pose of this model or the look in his eyes, but I found myself thinking about the words to James Taylor's song, Fire and Rain as I drew this drawing recently.

". . . I've seen fire and I've seen rain. I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end.
I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend, but I always thought that I'd see you again."

I think all people experience and struggle with loneliness at times in their lives, a sense of isolation and emptiness . . . a feeling of wanting to be with others, but finding ourselves disconnected, perhaps even alienated or abandoned. 

Some thinkers say this is just part of being human. "We come into the world alone, travel through life as a separate person and ultimately die alone." Others believe we are not meant to be alone -- that we are complete only when we find another person to share our life with.  And still other say we can only fill the hole in our heart when we have a close relationship with God.      

 I've Seen Lonely Times. Mixed media on tinted Strathmore paper. 14 x 18 inches. 2017. 

Drawing of a live model.

Never Look Back

I can't live
If living is without you
I can't live
I can't give anymore
I can't live
If living is without you
I can't give
I can't give anymore
 ~ from lyrics to "Without You" 
as sung by Mariah Carey

 I always knew looking back on my tears would bring me laughter,
but I never knew looking back on my laughter would make me cry.
~ Cat Stevens

Pan Pastel and Graphite on Toned Paper. 9 x 12 inches. 2017.

June 2017 ~~ 
I am continuing to be interested in drawing and painting figures from life in a variety of poses. . . focusing on movement using graceful line and light and dark to express a mood or feeling. 

Can you hear the music? Female figure life drawing. Mixed media (graphite and pan pastel) on Strathmore toned tan drawing paper. 9 x 12 inches. June 2017.

So Far Away

So far away
Doesn't anybody stay in one place any more?
It would be so fine to see your face at my door
It doesn't help to know you're just time away
Long ago I reached for you and there you stood
Holding you again could only do me good
Oh how I wish I could but you're so far away

One more song about moving along the highway
Can't say much of anything that's new
If I could only work this life out my way
I'd rather spend it being close to you

But you're so far away
Doesn't anybody stay in one place any more?
It would be so fine to see your face at my door
It doesn't help to know you're so far away
Yeah yeah so far away

Traveling around sure gets me down and lonely
Nothing else to do but close my mind
I sure hope the road don't come to own me
There's so many dreams I've yet to find

~ Lyrics to So Far Away sung by Carole King

So Far Away. Pan Pastel and Pastel Pencils on Strathmore Drawing Paper. 16 x 22 inches. 2017.

 

 

Pensive. 

Pan Pastel and Colored Pencil on Strathmore Tinted Paper. 18 x 24 inches. 2017.

Sleeping Nude

Pan Pastel on Drawing Paper. 2017.

Survivor

Pan Pastel on Tinted Drawing Paper. 18 x 24 inches. 2017.