Bullet with Butterfly Wings

Finished another word art piece of mine using Lyrics. This time inspiration comes from the powerful song by The Smashing Pumpkins, 'Bullet with Butterfly Wings'.

Bullet with Butterfly Wings - Pen & Ink

"Bullet with Butterfly Wings" is a song by the American alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins. It was the lead single from the band’s 1995 double album Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness. The song won the 1997 Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance.

(Source: Wikipedia)


A rat sits caged in a girls head. Gnawing on the bars, trying to break free. In the eyes of the girl we read 'I still believe I cannot be saved'. A bullet with butterfly wings flutters above. Lyrics cascade down the girls hair on either side. 


The Smashing Pumpkins is one my favourite bands, and this song for me has always been one of those that I would play repeatedly. Great beat, fast and beautiful lyrics. True poetry.


I get many things from this song, someone who feels trapped in a situation they have no control over or no control over their life. A society that just takes and takes, uncaring, cold, deaf, dictating our lives. "the world is a vampire, sent to drain". They're so angry and yet they have no influence over what will happen - "despite all my rage i am still just a rat in a cage" All about conforming, loss, sin, pain, frustration, change, etc... at least that's how I see it.


Something I think many of us have felt at certain moments in our lives if we're truly honest with ourselves.


(^_^)

"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

"ONE" by Metallica

Forgive my neglectfulness recently. My health not being what it should recently did not permit me to pay due attention to my blog, however this mutiny on board this vessel I call my body is at an end.

I give you my finished drawing using lyrics from Metallicas powerful song "ONE". I used the lyrics themselves to form the picture. It's amazing how powerful words can be and I didn't want to lose that, so I put them in. A limbless body with disconnected veins and arteries where his arms and legs once were, eyes and mouth sewn shut and ears no longer of any use. A lot of planning was involved in word placement and making everything fit. Most of the picture was completed in a single non stop 8 hour sitting which was exhausting!

Lyrics are from the song itself but also includes parts from the music video which includes footage from Dalton Trumbo's film Johnny Got His Gun (1971), telling the tale of a soldier whose body is severely damaged by a mortar shell. His arms, legs, eyes, mouth, nose and ears are gone and he is unable to see, speak, smell, or hear. His mind functions perfectly, however, leaving him trapped inside his own body.
But I also think it speaks to many people as a metaphor, expressing that inner scream we want to let rip when we feel unheard and powerless...

BANKSY let loose on The Simpsons

Episode: MoneyBart, will be shown in the UK on 21 October.

Banksy was tracked down and asked to storyboard the famous Simpsons couch intro. Apparantly the first time an artist, not an employee of Fox etc, has been asked to storyboard any given sequence of the show. And as most of Banksy's work, will cause quite a stir as I'm sure it did when he submitted the storyboard.
I really like it, but take a look for yourselves.






Also not sure if it was a Banksy piece or not but recently there was this great image sprayed under a billboard opposite West Hampstead Station that I think has now been painted over. I'm glad I managed to take this picture when I did back in May!

 

Here's another piece of urban art.

West Hampstead Stormtroopers

A paste-up that also popped up around West Hampstead. Unfortunately its been torn and ripped... but here's a pic to how it looked in all its glory taken by n8kowald!

Writing in the speech bubble on the right seems to be a logo that says: 'sup:peeps!