Monday, December 31, 2007

Drawing, Profile Portrait of Leadbelly


A few years ago I came across a dog dictionary at a tag sale. I bought the book and took it to my studio where I proceeded to draw several of the dogs in the book. Of several hundred images I did a dozen dogs. Later I went to the library and got images of a dozen famous men to juxtapose with the dogs. I called the series “Dogs and Men”, all of those images but three are sold now but I still have a bull terrier, and the image that went with it, the musician, “Leadbelly”.

This image is drawn from a mug shot taken at a time in his life when he had been arrested for murder. I am very fond of this drawing, especially the way it captures his pensive but proud look.

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