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- Buddha - Dero (adapted from a magazine illustration).
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At first sight this looks like a classic image of the Buddha, but in fact it is meant to depict a Dero -- the
hugely overgrown, degenerate survivor of an ancient race of super-scientists, according to the imaginings of the
20th century mystic Richard Shaver. "That huge thing of flesh that had been something like
a man was perpetually bathed in hundreds of high-power stimulative pleasure rays. His was a tremedous energy
devoted to ways of feeling ever greater sensuous pleasure." [source: Amazing Stories June 1947.]
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- Yamantaka (drawing, 2007).
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Here is another meditational deity from the pantheon of Tibetan Buddhism. A naked, blue-skinned creature with bestial
features and a blatantly erect penis, holding a fearsome sword in one hand and a severed head in the other.
Is this meant as a warning to sinners of what awaits them in hell, or is it a scene from some Himalayan horror story,
or a demon worshipped by some malevolent cult? Not at all. Implausibly as it may seem, Yamantaka is a compassionate,
enlightened being whose only enemy is delusion. His sword (like Manjusri's) represents wisdom, the severed head
symbolises pure speech, and nakedness denotes an unobstructed mind. And the erection? That symbolises religious bliss!
[See my book review: Images of Enlightenment]
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- Zen Alien (drawing). The Aquarian, May 2005.
- This is another drawing I did for the Aquarian newsletter (see the original b&w Manjusri, below). I had the
idea of doing a series of cartoons called "Alien influences on civilization", of which this was the first. But then I ran
out of ideas!
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- Dr Strange (after Steve Ditko) 1968 or 1969 (colored 2004).
- My interest in Eastern mysticism goes back a long way! I first encountered Dr Strange (Master of the Mystic
Arts) in the British reprint comics Fantastic and Terrific, around the age of ten. I traced
this picture from the pin-up on the back cover of Terrific #2, which was dated April 1967
although I acquired it a year or two later, which was when the tracing was done. I finally got around to
scanning it in and coloring it! Dr Strange was created by Stan Lee & Steve Ditko, and is copyright ©
1963 Marvel Comics Group. Click on the image or here
for the full-size version (it will open in its own window).
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- Manjusri (color version), 2004.
- I finally got around to coloring my picture of Manjusri, the bodhisattva of wisdom. Click on the image or
here for the full-size version (it will open in its
own window). You can still see the original version below.
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- The Turning Wheel (illustration of a story by
PKD). PhilipKDick.com, 2001.
- This is the first of two illustrations inspired by a couple of the more philosophical of PKD's early
short stories. Click the thumbnail or here to view a larger version of the picture
and a description.
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- The Indefatigable Frog (illustration of a story by
PKD). PhilipKDick.com, 2001.
- This is the other early philosophical PKD story that appealed to me. Click the thumbnail or
here to read more about it and see the picture full-size.
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- Trees (digitally enhanced drawing). May 2000.
- This is my attempt at a Zen-like painting - actually just a pencil sketch drawn outdoors and then tidied up
and colored on the computer. Click the thumbnail or here for a
larger version and further details.
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- Zen monk Woodblock print by Bunsen, 1831.
- This picture comes from a 19th century Japanese ehon picture book which has been in my family for
almost a hundred years. It's probably the only "real" art (i.e. not comics) that made any impact on me
as a child. Click the thumbnail or here to view the picture and more information about it.
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- Manjusri (drawing). The Aquarian, June 1999.
- To date, this is the only picture of mine which has seen printed publication - in British Mensa's
Aquarian newsletter. Click the thumbnail or here to view the drawing
and the words that originally accompanied it.
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