In this collection, you will find drawings and paintings I have created depicting major cultural figures in history - past and present - that have interested me, and who have left their mark in the world in their respective fields - be it in literature, music, science, the arts, politics, philosophy or religion.
Pen portrait drawing of Polish artist and writer Bruno Schultz. After completing my pen drawing, I imported my drawing into my iPad and digitally added a background.
Pen portrait sketch with washes of American philosopher Eric Hoffer, author of “The True Believer” in which he analyzed the psycho-social dynamics in mass movements.
Pen and pen brush portrait drawing of avant-garde composer and pianist Phillip Glass.
Pen and brush pen portrait drawing of singer / songwriter and record producer Iggy Pop who is known as the “Godfather of Punk.”.
Pen and brush pen portrait sketch of British philosopher Bertrand Russell. He is considered to be one of the founders of modern analytic philosophy. In his later life, he was involved as an antiwar and anti-nuclear activist.
Charcoal portrait drawing of the Romantic poet Alfred Lord Tennyson. His poem Crossing the Bar always meant a lot to me. The final stanza of that poem is:
For tho-from out our bourne of Time and Place / The flood may bear me far, / I hope to see my Pilot face to face / When I have crossed the bar.
Pen portrait drawing of Danish filmmaker Carl Theodor Dryer. His 1928 movie The Passion of Joan of Arc is considered to be one of the greatest films ever made.
Portrait drawing of poet W. H. Auden.
I used to teach a course on death and dying and would show the movie “Tuesdays with Morrie” where Jack Lemmon’s character quoted this saying by W. H. Auden which always meant a lot to me: “All I have is a voice - to undo the folded lie - the lie of authority - whose buildings grope the sky. No one exists alone. Hunger allows no choice to the citizen or police. We must love one another…or die.” (emphasis mine)
Pen portrait drawing of Russian-born Igor Stravinsky, conductor and composer, known most famously for his ballets The Firebird and The Rite of Spring, both of which are personal favorite classical pieces.
Charcoal portrait of a young Lauren Bacall, the American actress famous not only for her beauty but also for her sultry voice..
These are three variations of a digital drawing I did on my iPad of John Lennon.
Digital Drawing of Jimi Hendrix based on my original pen drawing of him.
Digital Drawing of Jimi Hendrix based on my original pen drawing of him.
Pen drawn I did of the famed bluesman B.B. King playing his guitar “Lucille”.
Sketch of singer-songwriter Tom Waits sitting outside. Drawn with pen and brush pen.
Pen portrait drawing of Russian author, spiritual philosopher and pacifist, Leo Tolstoy. His spiritual writings and writings on Christian pacifism have been very important to me personally. Leo Tolstoy also influenced the non-violent philosophy and practice of both Gandhi and Dr. Marty Luther King .