A charcoal study of a statue I did at the Milwaukee Art Museum soon after I began drawing again after an 18 year hiatus. I soon had a small crowd gather around me which included one of the senior curators of the museum. She encouraged me with her words and even suggested that I should consider teaching art. The statue was called the “Last of the Spartans” and carved for the World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893.

The statue is mythic in character depicting a young warrior who has fallen in battle from a wound in his side. You can see in his eyes a look of disbelief that his end is near. He is an apt symbol of Everyone who has known the experience of bitter defeat during a courageous battle.

Pen illustration drawing of a medieval king sleeping with his sword.

Pen drawing of the head of a Satyr based on an architectural decoration found on a building.

The Satyr was a figure from Classical Greek and Roman figure which was one of a class of woodland deities. He was attendant to Bacchus and was represented as part human, part horse — or , as in this case, part goat — was and noted for engaging in riotousness and socially inappropriate behavior.

Pen drawing of the mythic figure of Old Man Winter blowing his chill upon the earth. Digital color and highlights added on my iPad.

Pen drawing of a gargoyle.

Gargoyles were commonly used in medieval times as decorations on cathedrals.. Their two main purposes were to scare off evil, and to divert rainwater (which would come out of the creature’s mouth to drain water from the roof). The word "Gargoyle" originates from the old French word "Gargouille" meaning "throat" but which also describes the gurgling sound of water as it is coming down the downspout.

A pen and brush ink sketch of an aboriginal shaman. A shaman is a person regarded as having access to, and influence in, the world of good and evil, and is thus a spiritual leader. Typically such people enter a trance state during a ritual, and practice divination and healing.