Fredrick Douglass
Author: Kim Blenkhorn
Pressure
There’s not a piece of artwork on the planet that was not made without the application of pressure and darkness; neither is there a man who exists or ever existed of good moral character without the same application of pressure and darkness.
I greatly enjoy sitting in my art studio, which is really a mere spare bedroom, I take pleasure in gazing upon the many works of art which surround my humble studio. Pencil Portraits decorate the walls, framed , unframed, men, women, well known, some lesser known, black and white faces, paintings, canvases, brushes, paints and easels; these are my company and I have become familiar and attached. As an artist I know my artwork. I know it intimately, I have to know it well to know what it needs. Every artist understands this. I look at it, and I go back to it, and I turn off the light and leave for perhaps I believe myself finished for the evening, but then I turn the light on again for one more look. Before I leave my house I run upstairs to glance one more time, as I cannot pass by without peeking in from a different angle or distance. Why? I don’t know. perhaps I will catch a little more knowledge of the thing. The faces I have drawn somehow strangely have become my faces, my people. My artwork. I have looked at them so often I feel I know them. it occurred to me one morning as I sat sipping hot cup of coffee in my leather chair staring at all the art surrounding me feeling sort of melancholy, that the painting I was working on was bland it needed something deep and contrasting. I looked around at my favorite pictures and saw yes in fact it is this heavy value that steals my attentions. Artwork is made great with great pressure, pressure from the pencil and with great darkness; darkness that is added again and again, layer after layer, it actually makes the art, it defines it, brings dimension and interest and even the lightest mark on the canvas is still darkness on a light surface. It is this dance of darkness which excites my interest; how it is applied, used and played with on the paper that creates unique and beautiful images. In fact what intoxicates me as an artist is this contrast of light and dark on blank white paper. it is what draws me in to keep looking; the variation in values, the depth which strikes a chord within my soul. In some strange way it is the darkness applied with the greatest pressure which brings life and completion to any portrait I bring forth.
The difficulties in our lives can be understood as dark lines applied with pressure used to define us, make us what we are and who we are to be. It is the darkness and the pressure applied which truly fashions man on the backdrop of God’s kingdom of light. Without it we simply would exist. It brings me comfort to know that.
Mahatma Ghandi
George Washington
“The harder the conflict , the greater the triumph”
George Washington
This is one of my early drawings – soft pencil on watercolor paper. What strikes me about this man is his suffering and his humility. He was in constant pain, I read somewhere because of his ill fitting false teeth, And yet even in the pain he did incredible feats, crossing the Delaware, leading countless battles, suffering great loss of loved ones, becoming the first president of a new country, he had tremendous responsibility and courage, all with an equivalent of a sixth grade education and field training. His father died when he was young leaving most of what he had to Washington’s older half brothers. Though the cards were stacked against him he rose agains and again, not because of hand outs but because of freedom to do so because of desire and resolve. consistently he made decisions that were unlike the expectation of those around him, turning down the request to be king and freeing the slaves he owned was not the popular thing to do, He didn’t do what was popular but what was right, he pushed through pain, he led without degree and he survived without wealth. It is to this man and his unlikely character we owe so much as Americans. Anyone read a good biography I would love to find one on his life?
“ if freedom of speech is taken away, then dumb and silent we gmay be led, like sheep to the slaughter.”
George Washington
Rabbi
Passover is fast approaching. I thought it appropriate to display a Rabbi studying Torah. This is one of my favorite pictures that I have drawn, I struggled a lot with it so it reminds me not to give up. But that’s not why it’s my favorite. I can’t tell you the name of the Rabbi I just liked the beauty of a man advanced in age so intensely immersed in Gods words.
I was reading about Mary pouring her alabaster box full of perfume over Jesus only 2 days before Passover, two days before he was crucified. Did she know? Did she know he would soon become the Passover?How could she? Her act was an act of faith because she didn’t know, even the disciples were confused about this mystery. We read Gods word to know Him better, but do we act in faith even when we don’t fully understand those words or who He truly is? perhaps we read to know ourselves better, what we look like, what we believe…perhaps we read that we might know how to act in faith. Perhaps this Rabbi isn’t studying Gods word at all, but in his old age simply looking into a mirror, a true act of faith indeed.
Nelson Mendala
Nelson Mendela what a wise man!
“It is not our diversity which divides us; it is not our ethnicity, or religion or culture that divides us. Since we have achieved our freedom, there can only be one division amongst us: between those who cherish democracy and those who do not.”
“Money won’t create success, the freedom to make it will.”
“I like friends who have independent minds because they tend to make you see problems from all angles.”
“A critical, independent and investigative press is the lifeblood of any democracy. The press must be free from state interference. It must have the economic strength to stand up to the blandishments of government officials. It must have sufficient independence from vested interests to be bold and inquiring without fear or favour. It must enjoy the protection of the constitution, so that it can protect our rights as citizens.”
Maya Angelo
Maya Angelou’s life and the seven autobiographies left behind are wonderful evidence that people of all races and backgrounds have told their stories and had the freedom and opportunity to do so here in America. This is the fruit of democracy and excersize of constitutional rights. Maya’s life is evidence of the American experience, she who rose from the very dredges of life; her great grandmother was emancipated from slavery after the civil war and yet over time because of our free, not perfect, but free country Maya at a ripe old age died a successful, wealthy, famous, influential author with a long and extensive career and honored member of society not because of the color of her skin but because of the choices she made in life; she and people like her are the reason everyone wants to come to america. her voice was not only heard and listened to but is used in educational institutions still to this day. This is a true American story the story of the individual rising up like a Phoenix. She received a presidential medal of freedom from president Obama. she was the first poet to make an inaugural address at the inauguration of of JFK. She was a respected spokesperson and political activist. Her life and experiences are not free from hardships and pain, she suffered a great deal. Her very life and history is evidence that no one has a perfect story to tell, that suffering and obstacles descend upon every human being and in many situations build into us purpose strength and character. no family, people group or Individual is spared of affliction in this world unfortunately, it comes to us all in different ways; however as long as we live in a free country we can make choices about how we live and what we do as individuals and we can work hard, rise up and make a difference. Maya Angelo certainly did.
“Nothing will work unless you do.”
Maya Angelo
The Chosen People
“ And I shall delight in Thy commandments, which I love.”
Psalm 119:48
American citizens and especially the church ought to love , honor and protect the laws and words of God for it was by them and with them that this countries foundations were laid, freedoms were defined and constitution was constructed, it is by them and through them we come to know God, it is by them and through them God has revealed messiah and it is by them and with them peoples are revived, comforted and gain understanding.
If we do not know them we will most surely misinterpret them and misunderstand the creators heart for humankind.
“The law of the lord is perfect , Restoring the soul the testimony of the Lord is sure; making wise the simple the precepts of the Lord are right; rejoicing the heart, the commandment of the Lord is pure enlightening the eyes” psalm 19:48
Winston Churchill
“Let men of science and learning expound their knowledge and prize and probe with their research every detail of the records which have been preserved to us from those dim ages. All they will do is fortify the grand simplicity and essential accuracy of the recorded truths which have lighted so far the pilgrimage of men.”
Winston Churchill
Norman Rockwell
Then there’s this guy who has painstakingly and lovingly preserved an ideal American culture with its values and virtues through his paintings and artwork.
“I paint life as I would like it to be”
Norman Rockwell.
I highly recommend his page turning autobiography “my adventures as an illustrator” which detail his fascinating life story and describe many of his paintings.
