In the graphite drawing that artist, Richard D. Burton, is working on, a new face on father time is taking shape.
The artist is working from the left side to the right side, and top to bottom of the overall size of the drawing (18″X24″). “Father Time” is in the center of the drawing surrounded by gears of clocks and other time pieces. After making several sketches of the drawing, the artist has finally arrived at a depiction of a face that he feels gives the drawing the overall feeling he wishes to portray. It is quite different from the the original figure he drew back in 1970.
When asked about his fascination with the concept of “Father Time”, Mr. Burton responded thus:
It is not so much a fascination, I always liked the original graphite drawing, but I felt it really didn’t tell the story. I intend to tell a better story this time. “Father Time” is an imaginary figure that really represents the grim reaper. He has no choice but to wield his scythe as time runs out for some lonely soul – supposedly, it is preordained. I tried to draw a face that depicts an almost sternness, but not without an emotion – perhaps loneliness with a quality akin to sadness.
The drawing will have a surreal depiction of the slow grinding gears of time floating in the “ether” of space. “Father Time” will be floating in the same “ether”, seated on a throne of sorts, and seemingly aware (by the look on his face) that the time pieces are showing to be near midnight. At the base, the throne will be on a foundation of wood planks with the fallen leaves of autumn scattered haphazardly upon it.
The idea of the leaves at the base of the picture is new. It came to me yesterday when I went out onto my back deck to take a photograph. I always intended to have the base of the drawing to be wooden planks with the intent to use the deck for a reference. When I saw the leaves scattered about from a windstorm the night before, I could hardly contain my excitement. Why hadn’t I thought of it? Of course! One more depiction of time. What better representation of time than falling leaves, the gentle warning to all of us in our senior years that we truly are in the autumn of our lives.
My first thought was how complicated could I make the picture and get away with it? The surrealistic gears of time around the main focus could be confusing enough, but to add several more shapes at the bottom of the drawing might really confuse it. Okay, so it might not be “in keeping” with basic art theory, but I love a challenge…even if it is against theory. Autumn leaves it will be!
