Life and Death In Ink part 3

 Life and Death in Ink ...


 

  Death in this title is not as morbid as it may sound:- ) these sketches are my observations as a spectator of the rituals at funerals, home going services, memorial services, reflections of life, whatever people choose to call these occasions.
 When I first started sketching at these evens I felt a little self conscience, after all they are somewhat somber gatherings, with a tear shed and often times laughter as the full array of emotions are on display.
 My self awareness was eased somewhat as I thought of some of the published photos of funeral services that came to mind: Emmett Till's open casket that helped launch the civil rights movement, Moneta Sleet, Jr.'s iconic photo of a weeping Coretta Scott King and family, to the televised services of some 'pop' celebrity and my own observations of family, friends and loved ones with camera/smart phones snapping away or making a video of the services.

 So, why not me...after all I'm not trying to instigate something or create some memorable piece of art. Just do what I've always done, carry a sketch book at all times and record body language and the emotions associated with them on paper in an entertaining, eye appealing way.

 My equipment in hand...sketchbook and pen.
Funerals being what I consider a 'special' occasion (weddings, anniversaries, birthday's, party's in general fit this description) require better looking sketchbooks.
My regular sketchbooks get pretty ragged and as LaVonne would say "tacky" looking after a week or two of use from my pen.
I carry better looking sketchbooks to match my attire and the event being sketched.
(See Quick Sketching with Ron Husband or the Revised and Expanded version page 333.)

The tacky, well worn sketchbook (below) after a couple of weeks of my pen. 
                                               

The 'good stuff' in sketchbooks...

 (left) Wrap party gift from time spent animating on Disney's Atlantis:The Lost Empire (2001), 9 1/4" x  5 3/4" jacket which holds a sketchbook...















10" x 7 1/2"  (below) gift from Willie Williams formerly of the animation department at Sam Houston State University when I gave a workshop/lecture there a few years ago.

Lets begin...
As always, sketchbook in hand while most others sit quietly, whisper softly or look at their watches waiting for the service to begin, I am observing (first law of a quick sketcher) the people in my line of view.


Getting the casket there...

 Outdoor service (above) as the attendants were short handed and got the services of a grounds worker (hard hat) to help them carry the casket to the location.
 Added bonus, a lady nearby clears a grave marker of debris on a somewhat warm afternoon.





 Inside service the casket is rolled in (right).

 At the casket...
 Funeral attendants make sure everything is just right (right and below).

                                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                              
Once in place, the flowers  are placed on the casket (below)...
 
 a lady sitting beside the casket (below)...

There are words of encouragement and sometimes a dash of humor (below)...

The view...
 Most interesting to me is the attendees viewing of the inhabitant of the casket.
The body language of the viewer, a tilt of the head combined with a long or sometimes short parting look is observed.

Capturing that somber moment in pen is the challenge...can you put text to the body language?



Some walk past with a slight glance...




others stop and stare (right)...


















 as if summoning up every pleasant memory of the loved one (below)......
                                                               

a closer look perhaps (below)...

 











 the support of others (below)...

  body language for a more contemplative look (right and below).

To capture that unique moment is why I always carry a sketchbook:- )

At the end of a indoor military service (below) there is the folding of the stars and stripes to be presented to the family.

There is a lot more that could be said or should I say "penned" (you should see what was left out), so I'll leave off here...


Until next time...

Life and Death in Ink Part 2

Life...

08/12/19...
Decades ago I started the practice of dating my sketches. This gives me a good idea of when and sometimes where I was on a particular day in the past. Looking at these sketches is like looking through an old photo album. Bringing back  pleasant memories and flooding the memory gates of my mind with images of the day and time over a decade ago. 

So, I invite you to take a stroll with me down memory lane. These sketches speak for themselves and as the saying goes, "one picture is worth a thousand words."

Sketch dated 6/15/03...
In a hospital in Encino, CA my wife LaVonne keeping our daughter Melissa company awaiting the birth of grand child Reese.

( (above) LaVonne playing Othello with daughter Melissa)

 My sketch book is a 'poor man's camera', capturing a moment in time in line. This being my newborn grand daughter, Reese. (left)

 11/17/03 (right)

 Some images are in pencil.
Newborns as you know sleep a lot, the graphite allows me to get a little more detail in the drawing.

 01/02/03 brings a little lifting of the head (left) and a good sleep (below).

 12/27/03 mom gets creative with headbands,'binkies' and cute little dresses join in the sketch party.

11/21/03 more nap time (right and bottom).




                       

 02/15/04 (below).

 

04/24/04 Facial features starting to be noticeable to my pencil (below). I'm starting to see a personality forming around the eyes, the window to the soul. 

You can see some of the edges are pages torn from my sketch book. I do not set out to sketch any particular being, just whomever is in eyesight, thus some of the images of my infants may also contain others.

01/17/04 and 02/07/04 (below) ...lifting head and scooting along.

05/22/04 and 10/22/04 Attempting to sit up and a highchair are added to the learning cycle (below).

    






























06/09/04 With all that sleeping comes growth (right).                                                 

10/30/04 Once balance is conquered it's two feet from now on and no turning back (below).

One of my favorites...Reese at her toy desk making musical sounds...capturing that babyish posture and just enough head turn to communicate her concentration...body language at it's peak.

03/26/05 Reese at 6am asleep and dressed and 9:50am dressed with hair braided ...nap time 9:50am.

 

 05/30/05 Reese interacting with cousin at Great Grandmother's home (left) and being held and walking (below).

08/21/05 (below) more sleep...

12/24/05 (below) Christmas Eve early am slumber.

If anybody asked Reese where was she was on a certain day and time in her distant past, she could look at Grampys sketches and answer confidently "I was asleep on..."

Greatly blessed to record in line these images of my  grandchild Reese (now going on sixteen). These images help me explain my observations of stages in her life from an artist point of view and not a camera lens.  Emphasizing again the importance of always carrying a sketch book and being ready to sketch in it. 

In the next post my attention turns to the end of life that is referred to as death to bookend my observations on Life and Death in Ink

until next time...