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seawren's avatar

I think I like the original every so slightly more, but they're both intriguing. I was in Salinas recently and learned of a Steinbeck quote which I have taken as my mantra and, I think, also applies here.

“And now that you don't have to be perfect, you can be good.”

― John Steinbeck, East of Eden

I bought a sticker of it for inspiration. Now I just have to find the perfect place to put it.

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Pam's avatar

It's so hard to photograph art - propped up against the cat works well for me. People are "Oh, kitty - so cute" and that makes up for a lot. On closer look I think the chair is actually upright on the floor and the cat is hanging from the ceiling... at least that's how it works in my house. We are never "lesser" versions of other artists - we are always perfectly ourselves and as our skills grow our art evolves and that's exactly as it should be. <3

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Mark Everest's avatar

Be it Gormly to Gauguin, I truly believe that everything any of us create is an amalgam of past observations and influences - how can it not be? But it’s each of our own, unique perspectives that then take those influences and create something new and personal - a creative well that can never run dry. We all drink from it.

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Patti Sullivan's avatar

The high contrast looks like a coloring book image and the original looks like it is a book illustration. I love the drawing either style. I don’t know who any of those artists are and feel I need some art education. There is still so much I don’t know…. at 51. How embarrassing.

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Jenny Lawson  (thebloggess)'s avatar

Not embarrassing....exciting!

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Patti Sullivan's avatar

Thanks, Jenny! Also with my lack of knowledge, you are 100% original to me. So there’s that. 🙂

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Bob O`Bob's avatar

I'm uncertain. The gray background is a huge difference which I can't overcome. I *think* I prefer the second one but recognize that I can't judge on a level field.

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Holly Storm's avatar

As an artist I *should* say that I prefer the original but as a graphic artist I really love the whiter whites and the darker darks. It makes is a bit more surreal. I'm going to have to check out Gorey; I thought the back of the chair looked Seussian.

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Jen Marvel's avatar

They're both beautiful in slightly different ways. I think I like the second one better, maybe a little more, I don't know, "real".

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LN Owhere's avatar

When I was young, I would hang my head upside down off the couch and look up at the ceiling, imagining that the ceiling was actually the floor. What a curious view...

Your drawing brought back those memories. Thank you!

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Scribbly Wisdom's avatar

Of course you won't be creating something like Gorey because you are Jenny - and you are great! I love your drawings and while they may sometimes be like Gorey, they are only coming from you and where you are in the present moment. Be free Jenny - I would love to see a Nightmares from Nowhere-type of story with your drawings.

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Jen Makin's avatar

"Stay on the bus" - look up Arno Minkkinen's Helsinki Bus Station Theory if you haven't come across it already. A lovely articulation of why it's valuable to keep at art projects, particularly when they look like reflections of other people's work.

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roger hawcroft's avatar

Either is interesting but I prefer the feeling of the second picture. It seems to me that its lower contrast suits the 'mystery' ? or 'surrealism' or whatever the right word may be, of whatever the image is attempting to or actually portraying.

I'm sorry, if I've got it all wrong, I apologise. I admire art and artists in most formats but particularly drawing, painting, poetry and literature, though having no artistry of my own.

I've doodled for most of my life but all I produce is masses of scribble. I can't abide it and so scrunch them up and toss them. Just as I admire stylish and pleasing handwriting, so I am fond of doodles that speak.

So, thank you. Work like this helps me push aside my all too seriousness and ever present depression at the negatives of humanity - reminds me that some people contribute magic and wonder ... and, (please don't take this the wrong way), don't have to be GOATs to do it for, as they say: "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder" or as I would say: "There's wonder everywhere, one simply has to open up to it."

Thank you.

Take care. Stay safe. ☮️

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Alissa Grosso's avatar

It's a wonderful drawing! I don't really know how to pick a favorite. High contrast really pops, but the lower contrast version has more depth. So, yeah, that's not very helpful of me, I guess.

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Jeffrey Michael Melby's avatar

Very nice!And Goreyesque,as has been noted.I loved Gorey when I was a kid,along with Charles Addams.Keep doodling.Good way to stay sane or at least diverted from reality.

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Jenny Lawson  (thebloggess)'s avatar

LOVE Charles Addams.

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Samantha Moore's avatar

I like them both! And yes, Edward Gorey is punk rock. I'm sure he worried about the same things. I think maybe the second time "unprocessed" one is the one I would choose, but I appreciate you putting them both on to show us, so maybe keep doing that?

I wish I were an artist. I enjoy doodling and coloring and "reverse coloring" to relax. I bought an Edward Gorey coloring book, but I only started one page because, you know, I find coloring a page of his in a coloring book is kind of hard.

I own all of your books, and whenever I comment, I always want to thank you for Furiously Happy because it helped get me through a super hard time.

I love you, Jenny! Keep drawing! Keep writing!

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Paula Murray's avatar

GOREY! YES! So now you need to write a little poem that doesn't necessarily tie them all together. Perhaps your own Gashleycrumb Tinies? And I prefer high contrast.

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JLMillford's avatar

Both are great. Keep drawing—-Gordy would be proud

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