"Journey to a Gilded Palace" - pen and ink drawing on artist's stock, 2.5" x 5", inspired by "The Fabulous Adventures of Baron Munchausen" (1962), a film by Karel Zeman.
There are some very evocative scenes in "Baron Prasil" by Czech director/ filmmaker Karel Zeman (1910-1989). In the United States this film was released as "The Fabulous Adventures of Baron Munchausen." Live action is combined with animation in a wonderfully inventive and charming manner. We travel to the Moon in order to meet the Baron (Milos Kopecky) as well as Cyrano de Bergerac (Karel Hoger) and a host of beguiling characters such as Tonik (Rudolf Jelinek) and the Princess Bianca (Jana Brejchova) in a series of romantic adventures. The artistic quality of this film is outstanding, with sets that sparkle via imaginative detail and design. We manage to see flying machines, sailing ships, giant fish, sea battles, land battles, castles, ornate palaces and places of exquisite beauty. Some scenes are tinted, others have a monochromatic appearance or selective use of color. The set of drawings in this post have been largely influenced by both this film and Karel Zeman's "The Fabulous World of Jules Verne" (1958), aka "The Deadly Invention" or "An Invention for Destruction."
A full color version of my pen and ink drawing illustrating the use of pointillism or stippling technique.
A blue tinted version of the original full color drawing, effects taken from Picasa 3 editing program.
This effect from Picasa 3 is titled "Polaroid" and gives a snapshot frame of the original drawing.
This effect gives a glow or luminous quality to the original drawing. Picasa 3 is a free photo editing program recommended by Kim Komando, "America's Digital Goddess."
Here is the original drawing placed on my work table with an artificial rose for inspiration. I love the light coming in through the north-facing window. Here I can work up until 6 PM without light fading significantly.
This image shows the rose taped to the work table just above the drawing.
I find that listening to music is a therapeutic asset while drawing or painting for hours on end. Classical music is my preferred choice for inspiration, but jazz can also become a great source of ideas.
Music has always been a favorable companion to my artwork. In the studio I am presently using the Model One AM/FM radio made by Tivoli Audio, hooked up to a Terk external amplified antenna. Over the years I have always been impressed by the audio designs of Henry Kloss (1929-2002). Kloss helped to found Acoustic Research, then went on to form KLH (along with Malcolm S. Low and Josef Anton Hofmann), Advent, Cambridge Soundworks, and Tivoli Audio. Most of Henry's designs are still held in high regard today including the Model 88 clock radio from Cambridge Soundworks and his Tower loudspeakers. There was a time when I enjoyed reading the three prominent audio magazines of the early hi-fi era: "Stereo Review," "High Fidelity," and "Audio." Later on I subscribed to "Stereophile Magazine" published by J. Gordon Holt in Media, Pennsylvania. Many of these publications gave rave reviews to the electronics and loudspeakers designed by Henry Kloss.
One of the most endearing aspects of the art of Karel Zeman is his use of music in the soundtracks prepared for his films. There is a lovely music score composed by Zdenek Liska in "Baron Prasil" with Frantisek Belfin conducting the Filmovy Symfonicky Orchestra. This music adds layers of charm and mystique to the action on the screen, blending a sense of orchestral enchantment to the artistic merits of the story. In one of the film's most evocative scenes, Baron Munchausen calls himself a "Fantast," a visionary or dreamer. Perhaps this is also a tale of the artist who brings forth imaginary worlds and invites an audience to willingly embark upon a similarly fantastic journey.
One of the most endearing aspects of the art of Karel Zeman is his use of music in the soundtracks prepared for his films. There is a lovely music score composed by Zdenek Liska in "Baron Prasil" with Frantisek Belfin conducting the Filmovy Symfonicky Orchestra. This music adds layers of charm and mystique to the action on the screen, blending a sense of orchestral enchantment to the artistic merits of the story. In one of the film's most evocative scenes, Baron Munchausen calls himself a "Fantast," a visionary or dreamer. Perhaps this is also a tale of the artist who brings forth imaginary worlds and invites an audience to willingly embark upon a similarly fantastic journey.
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