Nos. 450, 452, 453: Orphans

Linda Ronstadt by Tom Wills, pencil, September 2019

Sometimes, my favorite part about finishing a drawing or painting is writing about it -- and sharing some insight on how a piece was put together. But not every work gets its own writeup.
Such pieces -- and there are dozens of them either here at home or in other homes around the states -- are my orphans.

Elton John, by Tom Wills. Pencil, October 2019.

Elton John is the latest, just a little piece done over a weekend because I felt like it, and wanted to keep in practice. I found a frame that matches the ruffles in his shirt and is sufficiently gaudy.  The frame makes Elton look larger than he really is -- I think he'd like that.

It's not that there's anything wrong with the drawings or that they received less care. I liken them to singles released by bands that never make the album.  Some are big hits, some are misses and others become highly prized as time passes.
 

Blue Ringo by Tom Wills, pencil, October 2019.

It just so happens that I've put out two orphans in a row in September and October: Linda Ronstadt and Ringo Starr.  Linda's is different from most because I used a very heavy and rough-textured paper. So she looks a little grainy up close, but from a few feet away she's as pretty as ever.
Ringo was the only Beatle that I hadn't drawn, until now. The occasion was the anniversary boxed set release of "Abbey Road,' which is fantastic.

There are a few songs in the box that became singles for The Beatles and others, but never made a proper album (excluding compilations): "Come And Get It," "Old Brown Shoe," "Ballad of John & Yoko," and "Goodbye."
Even the Fab Four had orphans.

Here are some of my favorites. The first one, in particular, from summertime, "Reflection."