After I had my
show at the Contemporary Art Workshop in Chicago, I wanted to slow
down and focus on a drawing project that would require a deep investment
of time,energy and thought. As a joke I told people that I was going
to do a drawing of every song on the Steely Dan Box set. As it often
happens with me, I say- WHY NOT- and turn a joke into a serious project.
The drawings were all done on 11"x17" card stock, with sharpie,
crayon, and watercolors. I would listen to the songs over and over
again, and then produce the image that I saw in my mind. I have included
the lyrics of each song. The goal of this project was to knock myself
into a different way of thinking, to do something that was contra
to my art school training. Steely Dan songs are very visual yet cryptic,
they have a complex power that I have always found solace in. All
images are the copyright of Jason Robert Bell. The lyrics are all
copyright of Donald Fagen and Walter Becker (Steely Dan) - |