Saturday, April 08, 2006

Illustration Friday: Speed


"Yeah, the cheetah's pretty fast, but not faster than a bullet."

How fast can man prove his dominance over Mother Nature by utterly destroying her?

PLEASE NOTE: Lengthy comment on the next post below, if you're so inclined to read it.

Otherwise, peace to our planet and everything on it.

33 comments:

HARDWAX said...

Beautiful work as usual, beautiful and compelling words!

Lou said...

After reading your comments on your previous post, my initial comments have changed. I was originally going to say that this is a great illustration and that you captured it beautifully. Now, I feel that the illustration has a sad feeling to it. Both for the man and the animal (or should I dare to say both animals).

Great job!

Robert McLaughlin said...

Hi. I looked up your reference photo on Google. It seems like you did the hunter a real favor--he's far more handsome in your rendering.

I'm largely in agreement with you on the ethics of hunting. I support it if you clean and eat what you have killed. (I'm a supporter of both whey protein and meat-preferably white turkey breast-protein.)

Killing for the sake of killing. It's beyond my comprehension. A tin can or a paper target work very well for me.

Side note: It isn't unknown among mammals for the male to kill the offspring of other males. Whether they enjoy doing it or not, is unknowable (I think).

Twisselman said...

Robert Mc-- Good point about the males of certain species killing offspring of other males. I know that happens with cats. Don't know if there's some compelling instinct having to do with destroying perceived threats.

Another instance is slaughter after the thrill of the chase. When my father and grandfather raised sheep, they were always on the lookout for packs of dogs that would kill and leave the carcasses.

Thanks to anyone leaving comments. Apologies if the subject turns stomachs. Not my intent to be controversial... just to make us pause and think.

TheTart said...

Hey T!

I am such a big baby Tart over here. I would love to see this with no, what I think is blood, near the cheetah. ; ( Makes me feel SAD.

Your style is always wonderful and unique, natch!

Big saddish smooch,
The Tart
: )

Twisselman said...

There was something bothering me about the illustration... and I'm glad The Tart pointed it out... the pool of blood was unnecessary and over the top. I appreciate all comments, pro and con. Thanks, Jo-Jo.

TheTart said...

Oh Twiss! This is wonderfully uplifting!

Everyone has an opinion, but is just that. Both pieces are truly great works of art ~ in your unique style. And both remind us to always think, even if it is hard or painful.

Big hug & smooch,
Your devoted Tart!
; )

° said...

man will never prove his dominance over mother nature. remember Katrina, Rita last i heard those to women kicked mans ass real good and he still is feeling it. i agree though man does screw it up in his blantant stupidity in trying to tame mother nature. oh nice pic and comment.

Unknown said...

I like the soft digital airbrush look. Also agree on the sport thing. There is a time for the hunt and time to leave it alone. Here in southern MI, if we didn't have deer hunting, we'd have an incredible increase in traffic accidents, more crop destruction, and loads of starving deer in late winter. But I fail to see purpose in those hunts that are pure 'sport.' Good extended commentary on the othe rpost.

Tony Sarrecchia said...

Love the look of this piece. Compelling and compassionate....pretty much the diametric opposite of anything I do :) Great job.

The Unknown said...

Wow. Great post. Thought provoking.
I would say man doing his best to muck things up pretty damn fast.
Sadly.
love

Katili said...

Awh I am so speaking the same about the stupidity of mankind regarding their actions towards the nature and fauna especially. I just saw a film A sound of thunder, based (?) on a Ray Bradbury short story, the year in Bradbury's story was 2055 and man had killed ALL animals, the last animal was an alligator, which had died 38 years ago (2017)I read the story when I was in my early twenties and now I allready see part of it happening. The film was not any good to my opinion.

Everyday I go buy food, I look at the killed animals and think of all the GIANT stores with all the killed animals there, and they ended up there only to give us buyers more choices to chose from and how much really end up in garbage? If there were no greedy big stores and markets, people could easily go back in time and make a planned week for their food and order the meat they need for food purposes, no unnecessary slaughtering and sadistic animal transports.

This subject makes me very sad, but angry, too.

Unknown said...

Now that I have left a comment first on your comentary. This is a great illo. Your work is always first rate, but it is sad also. Sometimes our art work takes us down a road that needs to be looked at. thank you for all the insight.

Anonymous said...

Well said! and well done also ;)

Heartful said...

Beautiful, sad, well-said.

TXArtcGal said...

Being a vegan...I will admit that I get saddened when I see the treatment of animals in a cruel manner, or hunted senselessly. I do follow a vegan diet...but sadly I don't go to rallies or chain myself to Purina's gate. I also don't preach to others not to eat animal products (to each his own). Like you; however, it is when the treatment of animals is cruel...or, if they are hunted simply for sport...then it breaks my heart.

Anyway...your illustration and the message is sends is wonderful.

Paul Tuller said...

aaw poor chetah - great illustration though!! Cool idea too

Jaimie said...

great illustration and I agree with the sentiment behind it.

Unknown said...

nice illo!! :)

Alison Ashwell said...

Poignant illo and commentary.

I definitely disagree with killing animals purely for sport/fun -I was amzed at the sheer number of pheasants killed. Sounds liek it was no sport at all but jsut a blood bath.

Other animals do kill for what appears to be pleasure though [they play with the creatures and then don't eat them] - notably killer whales and cats

modroom said...

Cool illustration. In view of the subject matter this has an eerie sensitivity from the hunter, false I suppose.

Roz Foster said...

Kudos to you, your image and your protest. A sweet kitty it is... er... was. And thanks for the bonus info on Cheney. 70 pheasants in a day. It's creepy that this number is something to be proud of in certain circles.

Janet said...

Of course I always love your illos!...and I've mentioned before, you make such thought provoking posts.

isay said...

i am glad you have chosen this topic. i agree with what you have said - and the illustration is beautiful. i like what you did with background also.

valerie walsh said...

Mr. T this is a really great illo and post and I am glad i didn't see the blood! You did a wonderful job in your style that I love!!! In case you are interested my husband just did a chaper in the newly released: The Dick Cheney Survival Bible DUCK! 250 ways to find cover from the man who calls the shots, pulls the strings and shoots the lawyers by Gene Stone. My John wrote a chapter called 7 steps to creatings your Dick Cheney Protest Record. Please keep up the great work Twisselman!!!

Aravis said...

Yes, peace to all. Wonderful message, Twiss.

As for male cats killing kittens/cubs, I once saw a show on Discovery that explained that the male cats do this to ensure that only their genes get passed on and are dominant. They wipe out the offspring of their rivals, as if to wipe them out permanently.

The Tart said...

So glad you are here to delight us with your lovely illos and to keep us thinking. Peace, love to you too! You are sure to be in Miss Pretty's next story.

Kay Aker said...

Utterly inconceivable that such slaughter would be sanctioned! Thought provoking and powerful imagery and words!

Suzan said...

Amazing illo! The idea that a simple fun drawing can bring such emotion and compassion to its viewer. It's a wonderful gift you have. Very well done.

stp-illustrations said...

Great! Very, very good!!!!!

Larry Lee said...

After I've posted my IF entry, your's is among the first blogs I seek out. You always have great illustrations and commentaries. It is a gift to be able to entertain and provoke thought at the same time. I agree with your position on hunting for the fun of it. I've never hunted, but don't have a problem with it if it is for good purposes. I do remember that the first day of hunting season was basically an all-day study hall for anybody who showed up for high school. There were that many kids off hunting. I believe almost all deer hunted was done for venison.
Anyway, great illustration.

trowbridge chronicles said...

I like your unique style and color sense. Your work is always so fun and inventive.

Amy Zaleski said...

Very nice take on this topic. I feel as though I browsed earlier last week (sorry I didn't comment then) and the cat was sitting in a pool of blood. Did I imagine that or did you remove it?