The Artist Challenge

21 responses so far ↓

• 1 Vikki // Aug 28, 2010 at 8:35 pm

  Outstanding Ray! I’m completely blown away. Extraordinary choice, poignant and heartfelt. Diptych can be so difficult to pull off and you’ve done it so beautifully and successfully. Your art panels become an interactive experience for the viewer.

• 2 Gail // Aug 28, 2010 at 10:23 pm

  Beautiful Ray…so much I love about this one! First, The sky…the depth is amazing.The color palette, the shadows, the detail, and the solemn representation of the sorrowful theme are awe inspiring.

• 3 Ray Shuell // Aug 29, 2010 at 2:29 am

  You know, some of us have this thing about “things we’d like to do before we die”, well, illustrating Desolation Row, by Dylan was always on my list. I’m the one that tells people, “it’s only paint and paper, what does it matter if it doesn’t work?” But I could never, one, pluck up the courage to have a go, or two, decide how to do it – it’s such a BIG song, in every sense of the word, an epic, apocalyptic song. If not for Vikki and her challenge, it might still have been on the list.

• 4 Rusty // Aug 29, 2010 at 5:29 pm

  The poor cirucs people…. a tight rope? And just why are they up there?

  I am so engaged in this painting my heart hurts.

  I’m going to get the significants of Desolation Row and will be back later.

• 5 Ray Shuell // Aug 30, 2010 at 1:17 am

  Hi Rusty, people have been trying to figure out Desolation Row since it was written and Dylan has never come forward to explain it himself. Is it a good place to be, or a bad place to be? When you look it up you’ll probably find reference to the Duluth Hanging the night a Circus came to town. Dylan’s father was nine at the time and lived just a few blocks from where the lynching took place. An awful story. I’d like to know what you think after you’ve read the lyrics, Rusty. Talk soon.

• 6 Rusty // Aug 30, 2010 at 5:38 pm

  okay, I’m back.

  You captured that song with amazing artistry and illustration (elucidated).

  I think I may be a little possessed for a while finding meanings that I may assign to it.

  I decided to add my own bits to his song:

  I’ll call my friend Alice
  who has left her Wonderland.
  Her heart had shrunk with malice
  When the rabbit took the stand.

  The Queen is yelling from the tower
  “Off with her head.”, you know.
  Alice and I have the circus to see
  Down on Desolation Row

• 7 Ray Shuell // Aug 31, 2010 at 3:43 am

  Angel Gabriel and his army
  Plays poker with the devil’s saints
  While Rusty Harden rushes off
  To go and find her paints

  But there is no paper large enough
  To capture the scene below
  And anyway they’ve already left
  For Desolation Row

• 8 Ray Shuell // Aug 31, 2010 at 3:55 am

  Vikki North and Sonya Conti
  Are just about to run
  Till thinking to themselves
  This really could be fun

  Artists writing poetry
  Poets with pictures to show
  Everything turned upside down
  On Desolation Row

• 9 Ray Shuell // Aug 31, 2010 at 3:58 am

  So come on Gail, Cheryl too
  Why not have a go
  We can all do what we want to
  Down on Desolation Row

• 10 Rusty // Aug 31, 2010 at 9:31 am

  Dorothy climbed the vortex wall
  to get to the ruby shoes
  Tinman plays the Wizard’s Ball
  singing the cryptic blues

  Glenda had her bubble burst
  and is married to the Scarecrow
  Both have an endless thirst
  that leads to Desolation Row

• 11 Ray Shuell // Aug 31, 2010 at 12:24 pm

  Well, I see you’re working to a theme
  On that yellow brick road
  I hadn’t planned on going there
  Must be the Da Vinci code

  It started off with Alice
  Now it’s Dorothy and Toto
  And Toto’s looking for a tree
  On Desolation Row

• 12 Sonya Meglaurel // Aug 31, 2010 at 12:32 pm

  OH Ray boy and Rusty girl play ye on this Desolation Row. A circus and merry-go-round you doth mystify me mind. Two happy souls slapping rhymes and story telling laughs, sparing partners faced off each holding your OWN!

• 13 Sonya Meglaurel // Aug 31, 2010 at 12:38 pm

  Fred bring your choppers and Doris your right hook fit in will ye tween Dylan scarecrow, Dorothy, Toto Alice and the Queen Pub Wench bellowing off with ye heads on Desolation Row!

• 14 Rusty // Aug 31, 2010 at 2:15 pm

  Christopher is a slumlord
  Cares only about the rent
  Eeyore always knew the score
  Found himself a tent

  Tigger’s got a girlfriend
  Now he’s not the only one
  Poo lives around the bend
  His honeypot is gone

  Once a family, but who knew
  How’d the story go
  Piglet warms a rabbit stew
  Down on Desolation Row

• 15 Ray Shuell // Aug 31, 2010 at 3:29 pm

  Not sure how much more I can take
  It’s getting near the end
  If I carry on much longer
  It’ll send me round the bend

  Thank you Rusty, Sonya too
  You both must take a bow
  But right now it is bed for me
  on Desolation Row

• 16 Ray Shuell // Aug 31, 2010 at 3:30 pm

  xxxxx

• 17 cheryl // Aug 31, 2010 at 5:25 pm

  I see Ralphy in his pants of stripes
  Wondering where he’ll spend the night
  He’ll be coddled and warmly held
  And will never give up the fight

  Wonderful pieces Ray

• 18 Sarah // Aug 31, 2010 at 10:55 pm

  Ray, it looks like I missed a great show! I love these, too. I think, even if I didn’t know your reference point, I would still derive all the same feelings from them. Again, I am in love with your backgrounds, the sky, in this case

• 19 Ray Shuell // Sep 2, 2010 at 11:29 am

  Cheryl, thank you for your contribution and your compliment. I knew you’d arrive at some point to help us out. Thank you.
  Sarah, the great show has just about wore me out. Don’t know where Rusty gets her energy. Glad you like them. Thanks to you, also, for your kind words.

• 20 Barbra Dean // Sep 14, 2010 at 9:42 am

  Oh Ray you are so clever
  To paint just from this song
  Whenever you pick up a brush
  You really can’t go wrong
  I too love the darkened sky
  The moon just filtering through
  Whenever I hear this song
  I will think of you

• 21 Ray Shuell // Sep 14, 2010 at 5:08 pm

  Thank you, Barbra,

Leave a Comment