Artwork & Words © Richard Ewing all rights reserved

Artwork & Words © Richard Ewing all rights reserved

Monday, March 21, 2011

IF ...cultivate

The father of American literature cultivated his education, his characters, his persona, his attitude towards hair, and even his pen name, Mark Twain. Soon he would also cultivate followers, imitators and a standing as the seminal figure of the American novel.

© Richard Ewing all rights reserved

© Richard Ewing all rights reserved

© Richard Ewing all rights reserved

© Richard Ewing all rights reserved

© Richard Ewing all rights reserved
Thank you and enjoy.

17 comments:

  1. Hi Richard! your mark twain is stunning.

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  2. i love mark twain, and your illo too.

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  3. Excellent! You kept the energy of the original sketch very well.

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  4. Great hair (top and middle)and use of depth/space.

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  5. Indeed, a cultivator, love the hair.

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  6. You've captured Twain's essence and eccentricities really well, Richard. I love what you've done with his hair – all of it. His eyebrows and mustache are 'over the top' amusing. Also, I like how they contrast with the planes & strong angles in his face. Bravo!

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  7. Fabulously unique and well done!

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  8. exceptional work, Rick. dig the strong contrast, it really makes the image even more dynamic than what it already is with the explosion of movement through out. great planes and composition.

    you keep upping the game, my friend.

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  9. Ah Twain or Twang...I can hear the accent. I enjoy the energy of the composition, especially the letters flowing out through the picture plane. Strong form, lovely defined planes and a subtle radiating gradient in the background.

    I am going to show my ignorance here...but what is that around the mid section?

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  10. Hey Richard, well you've captured the persona right from the start, the flying letters add that wonderful bit of extra aura - and what a coincidence Jack has his pic with your man

    can't wait to read his autobiography (Jacks , not Samuels)

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  11. Alice, that would be what I might call a seed pouch. Being a 'seminal' figure in American literature, I have Sam there with his seed pouch full of letters, and he's cultivating away by scatter sowing the alphabet.
    ~~if you're referring instead to the midsection under his coat and vest... that would be his beer belly.
    no one likes to talk about that...

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  12. Richard, I'm so glad you stopped by my blog, so that I found yours in turn. I must confess that I haven't always explored the "cartoon" category on IF, but that has definitely changed, as I've seen several this week, including yours, that are quite remarkable. And I love the literary connection to done of your pieces. To me, this is a very sophisticated caricature; I'll look forward to coming back!

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  13. Excellent! You've captured Twain beautifully. I enjoy seeing who you're going to do next. Seems like you have a knack for picking my favorites :)

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  14. Hey Richard. That IS quite a coincedence that I just had lunch with Sam... er I mean Mark last week :o)You really nailed him with your wonderful style! Great pick this week Richard and .... as usual... great work !

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  15. Great rendition of Twain! I love your expressive nature to your pieces!

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