Stayin' in the Wind
(the art of Bob Dylan)
I have never completely liked Bob Dylan’s music. Fact. His nasal voice is acquired taste - which I have still not acquired. Fact. But. I read his lyrics as poetry. And I immediately know why he won the Nobel Prize for Literature. And that’s why I am a fan of his - with no knowledge of his music, but completely enamoured by his words.
So imagine my excitement when I discovered Bob Dylan paints too!
I was intrigued - as I knew Bob Dylan could never do anything ordinarily. And I started searching for his paintings. And what a rich cornucopia did I discover. He has a significant body of work which includes works on paper, paintings, sculptures and large-scale installations.
Dylan dates the origins of his work as a visual artist to the early 1960s. In his autobiography Chronicles, he writes: 'What would I draw? Well, I guess I would start with whatever was at hand. I sat at the table, took out a pencil and paper and drew the typewriter, a crucifix, a rose, pencils, knives and pins, empty cigarette boxes. I'd lose track of time completely.... Not that I thought I was any great drawer, but I did feel like I was putting an orderliness to the chaos around.'
Jonathan Jones, art critic at the Guardian, is far more generous when he says 'A real artist made these drawings and paintings. Their integrity is compelling. They demand to be looked at, for their awe and wonder at the beauty and grandeur of being alive. These are the pictures of a true poet.'
So what I have done here is to feature a few of my favorite paintings of his - he’s got an incredibly large and diverse portfolio! - and I have combined it with his poetry - errr, lyrics of some of his songs! His pungent words have a life of their own, and when they are manifested in paint and texture and colour, seem even more powerful.
I had such fun doing this - I really hope you enjoy seeing and reading this!
"The flowers of the city,
Though breathlike, get deathlike at times.
And there's no use in tryin',
To deal with the dyin',
Though I cannot explain that in lines."
From “To Ramona” Album “Another Side of Bob Dylan”
"I tried to give you everything,
That your heart was longing for,
I’m just going down the road feeling bad..."
From “Trying To Get To Heaven” Album “Time Out Of Mind”
"Don’t turn away, you’ll create sorrow,
Time is an ocean but it ends at the shore,
You may not see me tomorrow."
From “Oh, Sister” Album “Desire”
"Well now what's the use in dreamin',
You got better things to do.
Dreams never did work for me anyway,
Even when they did come true."
From “I Feel A Change Comin' On” Album “Together Through Life”
"Well, they’ll stone ya when you’re trying to be so good,
They’ll stone ya just a-like they said they would,
They’ll stone ya when you’re tryin’ to go home,
Then they’ll stone ya when you’re there all alone,
But I would not feel so all alone,
Everybody must get stoned."
From Rainy Day Women #12 & 35 Album Blonde On Blonde
"The man in me will hide sometimes to keep from bein’ seen,
But that’s just because he doesn’t want to turn into some machine."
From “The Man In Me” Album “New Morning”
"She takes just like a woman, yes, she does,
She makes love just like a woman, yes, she does,
And she aches just like a woman,
But she breaks just like a little girl."
From “Just Like A Woman” Album “Blonde On Blonde”
"Strange how people who suffer together have stronger connections
than people who are most content."
From “Brownsville Girl” Album “Knocked Out Loaded”
"May your hands always be busy,
May your feet always be swift,
May you have a strong foundation,
When the winds of changes shift."
From “Forever Young” Album “Planet Waves”
"The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind."
"The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind."
From “Blowin' In The Wind” Album “The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan”
"I am a lonesome hobo,
Without family or friends...
...Stay free from petty jealousies,
Live by no man’s code,
And hold your judgment for yourself,
Lest you wind up on this road."
From “I Am A Lonesome Hobo” Album “John Wesley Harding”
"Come mothers and fathers,
Throughout the land,
And don’t criticize,
What you can’t understand."
From “The Times They Are A-Changin'“ Album “The Times They Are A-Changin'“
"Well, I try my best,
To be just like I am,
But everybody wants you,
To be just like them."
From “Maggie's Farm” Album “Bringing It All Back Home”
"Life is sad,
Life is a bust,
All ya can do is do what you must."
From “Buckets Of Rain” Album “Blood On The Tracks”
More Resources on Bob Dylan’s art:
https://www.halcyongallery.com/bob-dylan/biography/
https://www.halcyongallery.com/news/bob-dylan-deep-focus/
https://www.halcyongallery.com/exhibitions/63-drawn-blank-in-provence-bob-dylan/
This is amazing. no idea dylan was such an observant and prolific artist.
What a discovery! I had no idea he paints. Love how you've complemented his artworks with his words. Surreal.