Monday, July 2, 2012

G is for Gregor Samsa

Sorry for the long absence, folks-- a family emergency and major book deadline led me on a not-so-merry waltz for the last week or so. Whew! Luckily everyone came out of it alive & well, except for my poor neglected Oddments. I'll try to catch up with the missing AlphaBooks, but for now I'm jumping on to this week's model. Gregor Samsa is the protagonist of Franz Kafka's novella, The Metamorphosis. The poor fellow wakes up one morning to find himself transformed into a hideous insectoid vermin. The ensuing events make my crazy week seem comparatively benign!

I couldn't find my copy of The Metamorphosis, nor did I have time to hit up the library or bookstore, so I was delighted to find the full text on Project Gutenberg. I printed out the opening passages in book-esque form, (~5"x8") & took it from there with the usual acrylic assault.

Do you see the big G? There are a few more tossed in for good measure.

9 comments:

  1. I am so glad you chose to do Gregor Samsa!

    I really like the pattern on his back.

    Have you ever seen Sikoryak's mashup of "Metamorphosis" and Peanuts?

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  2. Yay! You did a wonderful job on the "Gs"! LOVE the big one, but his back looks like a beautiful brocade or iron work pattern! Fabulous work!

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  3. Oh yes, a good college read that left us all reflecting on its meaning. Nice one, that's him alright.

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  4. Glad you're back. This illo matches the mood of "Metamorphosis" so perfectly. Love it!

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  5. By utter coincidence, The Metamorphosis is the book that is being discussed this month on Japan's educational channel at about 5:30 in the morning. Which allows me to appreciate this illo even more than usual. :)

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  6. I absolutely see the big G! Now this fellow is transforming my perception of those normally scuttling creatures! Lovely to visit, as always.

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  7. Sometimes I come here and I get so lost in my thoughts and what I think of your illustrations and then I return the next day to realize that I was commenting in my brain!!!! Another beautiful piece and I see the Gs!

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  8. Fantastic! He makes a great (if a bit icky) bug! (I think the ick factor comes from those hairy bug legs - they are great bug legs!) I really like the curl of the blanket. And those colors! Especially that pale avocado background. Nice!

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  9. I feel the same way as Gregor ( we have probably more things common) :
    One upon time I woke up as .....an artichoke. No idea how it could happen ......

    ( I love the G(ood)reGor-like shaped creature)

    :)

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