Some time ago, my friend and colleague, Iggy Pintado [@iggypintado on twitter] asked if I would draw his portrait.  Honouring his request was such a pleasure.

From out of the charcoal dust appeared a man of stature, truth and compassion.  A man who has big vision and the courage to follow it through.  A man who is young at heart and has a passion for people. Yes, I experienced all these things about Iggy as I drew his picture. How cool is that?!

So here is my artistic interpretation of Iggy Pintado. What do you think?

Enlightenment

Hope and memory. Quest and questions.

Mind and body separation.

Moksha. Satori. Revelation.

Endless, enthusiastic fascination.

Spiritual panorama. All and none.

Everything centred, being one.

Steps on paths, surreal - sublime.

Dance of souls with things divine.

Enlightenment

'Enlightenment' by Robin Dickinson | Oils on canvas

Detail 1 from 'Enlightenment'

After a coffee and checking out my street cred, an hour later I left with a stunning series of Irish & his mate, otherwise known known as Harley.

Sent from my iPad

 Rain Man

Autistic savant,

Society's unwant.

Mind spinning.

Friends thinning.

Dys-ease offends.

They condascend.

Missed calling.

Rain still falling.

Rain Man

'Rain Man' by Robin Dickinson | Pastels on paper. 29.7cm x 21.0 cm

By: Catherine White

Paul and I met in a park where he lives, adjacent to Sydney Road and Belgrave Street, Manly.  He spoke frankly of not fitting on page two, paragraph four. He began to cry when telling me of the day he learned his mother never wanted him.

Potential projects present in curious and unexpected ways, and almost demand to be drawn.  An image from a magazine, a photo online, or a person sitting alone in a cafe are all sources of inspiration. When this happens my artistic process just flows; in a sense the subjects almost draw themselves.

Such was the case recently when I saw a picture of our friend Annalisa Holmes on Facebook. [aka @transcribe on twitter]

My immediate question was, how would this image work as charcoals drawn on orange paper?

It was a thumbs up from the subject herself. What do you think?

By Catherine White

Andrew from Sudan lives in Wollongong, NSW, Australia. He is a Limousine Driver in his uncles business with aspirations to be a model.

By Robin Dickinson

The truth about beauty

When you look in the mirror, what do you see?

Handsome or ugly? Imprisoned or free?

Can you see past comparison’s flaws?

Past nature’s depressing gravitational force?

Can you hear beyond the critic’s shouts?

Can you feel beyond your own crippling self-doubts?

In a moment of silence, in a snap-shot of still.

The truth rises up to the surface and spills.

The scales fall from the beholder’s eyes,

Whose gaze strikes awe at the perfect prize.

Every line, every mark, every curve that you see,

Paints a precious and unique part of your original beauty.

'The truth about beauty' by Robin Dickinson | Charcoals on paper. 29.7cm x 21.0 cm