"Satori"

newspaper article illustration, ink, gouache & Caran d'Ache crayon

In Buddhist tradition, "satori" is a flash of spiritual enlightment, an idea popularised in modern western culture by writers such as Jack Kerouac.

Originally a black & white pen drawing, this is one of many illustrations done for newspapers & magazines. Deadlines for newspaper illustration are naturally very tight, and building a drawing with uncountable thousands of tiny pen points is madness - or at the very least headache inducing - but very satisfying, and especially suitable for such a subject. With the development of computer graphic techniques it is highly unlikely any newspaper editor will commission such handwork again. Pity.

One of the problems of working to tight deadlines is that after the initial satisfaction of finishing a work, disappointment can set in. "If only I had a little more time I could have done it a bit better." Sometimes one imagines that one day an improved version can be made. But then the next job comes along, and so on. Coming back to this picture after many years, it was difficult to recall the imaginative thread my mind followed as I created it. Could probably use a little satori.