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Thursday 17 February 2011

"November Rain" by Guns N' Roses

Well here we are, another drawing made using lyrics from a song. This time it's the glorious November Rain by the infamous Guns N' Roses.

This drawing has a simple composition but required a lot more planning as it contains a lot of words and not a lot of places to place these amazing lyrics without distracting from the feel I wanted it to have. Also some of the words were a tight squeeze. The challenge is knowing how to distribute the words and how to separate them so they hold there own when reading them or placing them in a specific area of the picture to add to the visual effect of the piece. A very important aspect for me is also trying to create depth or form with the words, not just putting them in in any way possible. Little things like around the girls hips, the words follow the contours of her body to show its round and not flat. The umbrella benefits from this also, having the words wrap around the sections and the words sizing varying according to the distance of each section to try and create some added depth. I added some quick colour to it also in the special version below.

The song appears on the 1991 album Use Your Illusion I.
An amazing song that is still loved by millions around the world. Axl Rose apparently had been working on this since 1983 trying to get it just right. An earlier version from 1986 can be heard here: (November Rain Demo 1986)

The lyrics and the video are based on a short story by Del James called Without You. The story is part of a collection called The Language Of Fear, which was brought back to market in 2008 after being out of print. The new version of the book contains an intro by Axl Rose, who wrote: "Del James has a personal knowledge of most of the situations he writes about, and has a love of the gutter from having been there." James contributed lyrics to 2 Guns N' Roses songs: The Garden and Yesterdays.

(^_^)

Tuesday 1 February 2011

"For What It's Worth" by Buffalo Springfield

Here's the drawing I've been working on this week. Another picture incorporating words or in this case lyrics from a song. Last week was Metallicas "ONE". Link

This one is inspired by the 1967 classic by Buffalo Springfield "FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH".
Buffalo Springfield was a North American rock group that served as a springboard for the careers of Neil Young, Stephen Stills, Richie Furay and Jim Messina. Despite the band's short tenure and limited output it was one of the most influential bands of the 1960s. (Wikipedia)


A lot more complex than the last and taking a lot more time to complete, this drawing was a real challenge. I always liked this song since I first heard it as a child, it contains some incredibly well expressed lyrics that say a lot with just a few words. I've included below a short clip of the drawing from beginning to finished piece.


With so much social unrest going on just about everywhere, this song still holds its own. For many this song went on to symbolize worldwide turbulence and confrontational feelings arising from events during the 1960's. Even today it's lyrics are still relevant.

"For What It's Worth" - Buffalo Springfield - Lyrics

There's something happening here
What it is ain't exactly clear
There's a man with a gun over there
Telling me I got to beware
I think it's time we stop, children, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
There's battle lines being drawn
Nobody's right if everybody's wrong
Young people speaking their minds
Getting so much resistance from behind
I think it's time we stop, hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
What a field-day for the heat
A thousand people in the street
Singing songs and carrying signs
Mostly say, hooray for our side
It's time we stop, hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
Paranoia strikes deep
Into your life it will creep
It starts when you're always afraid
You step out of line, the man come and take you away
We better stop, hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
Stop, hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
Stop, now, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
Stop, children, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down