Day 5 of 30 - T.S. Eliot

This painting is for Monday, January 5th.  I have another painting project I'm working on tomorrow so I'm putting this one out a day early.  Besides that, I really am obligated to do so, because as the Flavorwire website declared, today marks the anniversary of his death.

In addition, today also brings the U.S. arrival of the new season of Downton Abbey, and I can feel everyone's anticipation, most of all, my über-Anglophile mother's!  She had already admonished me, "Don't call after 8 p.m., in fact, don't call at all; I'll be watching the reruns leading up to the new show."  Well, in case you are unfamiliar, T.S. was American-born, but moved to England when he was 25 and became a naturalized British citizen at 39, so I figure this continental transfer of talent should be honored as well.

Look at that Flavorwire article if you have the chance.  It's called, "20 T.S. Eliot Quotes for Better Living and Creative Inspiration," by Alison Nastasi.  Here are a few of my favorites:

“The very existence of libraries affords the best evidence that we may yet have hope for the future of man.”

“Anxiety is the hand maiden of creativity.”

“Poetry may make us from time to time a little more aware of the deeper, unnamed feelings which form the substratum of our being, to which we rarely penetrate; for our lives are mostly a constant evasion of ourselves.”

(I think you can exchange the word "art" or "literature" for "Poetry" as well.  That's the true value and beauty of the arts--you know, the stuff that society and undergrads say is pointless and unnecessary in succeeding in life...SOB!)

Below is my younger (circa mid-life) version, of the great poet.

9 1/2" x 12"

Cardboard, acrylic, ink, charcoal, oil pastel

Hmm.  This portrait is staring at me now.  I feel like he is peering into me, making me realize his import of literary contribution.

Back towards the beginning of this blog on 1/9/13, I did a little painting in honor of T.S. Eliot's famous poem, "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock."  Here's the painting below, referencing the line, "I have measured out my life with coffee spoons."  Click here, if you want to read that post--I must have been feeling very philosophical that day. (-;  Come to think of it, this post is fairly long, too.  T.S. Eliot must cause me to wax poetic   (-;.

One final thing, I was also listening to the smooth grooves of India Arie.  I love her singing so much. Check out this YouTube link to get lost in her voice: India Arie.