I do not think that there is any other quality so essential to success of any kind as the quality of perseverance.

Second Blog....... Continue the story......

'I do not think that there is any other quality so essential to success of any kind as the quality of perseverance. It overcomes almost everything, even nature.' - John D Rockefeller.

This is one of the most encouraging quotes you could ever want to read..... Because it’s SO True!..... And J'dizzal' Rockefeller (possibly the best surname ever) should know about perseverance.... because that fucker was worth nearly $700 billion...... let me say that again .....7..hundred .....BILLION ..... That is enough to make the London Eye nearly 10 thousand times.... Jesus!.......But then again, that amount of cheddar should be expected when you are the founder of the first GREAT Oil Company in the USA!...... and even though amassing hundreds of billions of dollars from Oil ISNT the same as drawing a picture over and over again.... I’m still going to use it as an apt simile......

I have loved Lewis Carroll's (Aka Charles Ludwig Dodgson’s) book Alice’s adventures in wonderland since I was very young..... And the Disney film; even though it was largely a bastardisation of 2 books, was enough to continue this obsession as a child. The most interesting characters in the books are the Cheshire cat and The Hookah smoking Caterpillar, in my opinion, and I have done MANYmanymany pictures of both of them over the years. But over the past few years I have attempted to perfect the style and form of the caterpillar character; called Absolem in the new Tim Burton film, which is a pile of shit!.... but his art is amazing so I forgive him!.

Attempt one!

My first 'recent' attempt (late 2010) resulted in this shambolic attempt to illustrate the languid caterpillar that is present in Carroll’s original story..... But ....... it turned from a Caterpillar into a grass hopper.... NightMARE! There are certain aspects of this picture that I love, and have continued through my other attempts.... the monocle and Converse to name a few.

Attempt Two!

My second attempt at Absolem took more of an expressionist turn, and as I have done on many occasions, I failed with the pencil so I picked up my paint brush and a fine liner! This picture conveys a much more manic and potentially dangerous caterpillar... and although that isn’t what I intended to do; I like the extra dimension this picture provides.... it truly epitomise the Kafkaesque principle....... but it still wasn’t RIGHT! Plus although the monocle and Glass hookah pipe made an appearance.... the caterpillar has now turned from a caterpillar to a grass-hopper to a SLUG! 'With arms!!! ..... What kind of world is this!?

Attempt Three!

My Third attempt doesn’t look any better, still the same picture in Black and White...... Still looks like a Slug..... Damn It!

Attempt Four!

My fourth attempt was a complete overhaul of my original design, because I was determined to make this one look like a Caterpillar and not a Slug-Hopper! This picture was drawn using pencil and gives a great insight into the different textures of the toadstool, paper, and books blablahblah. In addition, I love the TINY details in this picture, the collar on the smaller Mushroom, the clock, his boots, the globe, his goggles blahblahblah......PLUS in the original piece the writing in the book is an extract of Thomas Paines Age of Reason! ....... There is however one negative to this picture..... And it was pointed out by my Grandad or as I call him 'The Great One’..... He drew my attention to a MASSIVE flaw in this picture.... and it was...... That the globe didn’t have 23 degree axis.........wow....... Great Man! Ha-ha...... But even though this picture was the best so far, it still wasn’t acceptable..... Sooooooo...

Attempt 5!

 

My Final attempt to date is attempt four with some serious photo manipulation, I love the colours, and I love the enhanced sense of tranquillity due to the blue and purples as well as the added texture at the top of the picture..... BUT it still isn’t PERFECT.... but it’s the closest I’ve got... so far.....

Future.......Attempt Six!

My sixth attempt will hopefully be the FINAL incarnation of the Absolem caterpillar, I have sketch out the main forms in the above picture....... my chief target with this future piece, will be to achieve a sense of scale and space between Alice (who will make her first appearance) and Absolem who Will be wearing a red military tunic, I also have plans to take this back to the same style as attempt to.... as its more free flowing ....Fingers crossed that my PERSERVERANCE pays off!!

Till next time, BIZAL!

RBXXI