“The Runners Totem“ was sketched in just under 57 minutes including signing over two drafts. 51m17s first draft; 5m39s for the second/final draft including signing. I enjoyed a quick cup of tea in between the two drafts.

The original photograph taken by me on 27th January 2024 is a late afternoon composition at the ‘totem pole’ where I have started and finished my lake runs for about fourteen years. This is (at least) the second totem pole in this exact place since the former pole was replaced some years ago.

My favourite feature of this sketch is the shadow on the metal bridge walkway. It reads as an ‘M’.

Interestingly the totem pole clearly has a notable singular ‘M’ displayed upon this. Possibly this is purely a chance occurrence. I didn’t include the totem pole M as this was too far away in the photograph. Besides, my sketch is impressionistic in style and drawn quite quickly.

I like to believe there is a man’s face in the “CYCLE LANE“.. “LOOK BOTH WAYS” blue sign to the mid-centre-left of my artwork. My artistic idea in this depiction is regarding impartiality over partiality in a hiearchical sense. A topic of conversation I have discussed recently with regards to human beings and an inherent tribal mentality.

Even the titling of my artwork has definitive meaning too, to me personally. 

In my opinion (considering past, present or future) dystopia does not need to be restricted to technological adversity in living conditions upon Earth. Dystopia could also include societal, economic, spiritual, cultural, lawful-unlawful or geographically misaligned sensibilities. 

Individually, collectively and/or across certain hierarchy.

Here is my photograph:

Obviously there are things I would change or add detail to with further sketching time. I wanted to make this sketch in under one hour. Less than 57 minutes sufficed.

Again it is genuinely baffling to me why this might take near an hour. What I appreciated is the placement and general composition proportions needed to be as reasonably represented as possible.

I did a very quick Collage too, just for fun:

I feel my Collage of Three plays on visual perspectives.

Finally I made yet another collage with four complimentary colours:

With “The Runners Totem – Collage of Four“ I thought an Andy Warhol style Pop Art piece would be supercool.

Hope you enjoy :]