Bob Dylan — Lone Pilgrim

World Gone Wrong. 1993

Painting by Bob Dylan. Blue Misty Marsh. 2020. Acrylic on canvas. 120 x 160 cm

I really like this painting. It seems quite an unusual one. I like how when looking closely there are the lines of the paint underneath the blue mist it seems. Also I have noticed that sometimes Bob Dylan’s signatures on his paintings seem to be in the style of the painting, in some kind of way. Here to me it seems somehow similar to the blades of grass,

I really feel like I want to breathe in the air of this blue misty marsh. Breathe in some of that blue mist, and feel the cool water reflecting the golden sunlight.

The golden eternity sunlight shining from behind the trees, and almost like a line of rust running down into the blue mist covered trees.

The light blue and white fading into the yellow from above. The more I see of this painting, the more it seems like a painting I want to return to.

“Sing of the lakes and the nymphs in the forest”

.. and then of course these trees — one with quite a wave in it. Almost like a wave form, rising from the silent water.

Someone out there seems to be interested in that tree..

This painting here, Lake Elsinor. 2020. Acrylic on canvas. 92 x 122 cm, is another one that I really like. The shimmering green in the sky, reflections of light in the distant treetops — I sense a calm stillness in the water, faint lapping sounds, but almost a tempest of the approaching night sky, the ghosts of electricity, the opposite of gloom, the wild cathedral night, waves of freedom, across the dark sand, towards the light, along the coast, between the trees

“I’m travelin’ light and I’m slow coming home”

The other reason that I mention this painting is the Bob Dylan signature. One of those in the style of the surrounding scene, an extension of the scene in some kind of way. This one seems to me to be in form a breaking wave at the edge of water.

The actual water in the painting doesn’t have the white of a breaking wave. Although there are reflections of the green of the sky in there. Or maybe the green of the lake is reflecting in the sky. It looks like Bob has put a bit of white paint on his brush here, and it’s gradually been used as he painted his name ~ almost like he is painting a wave. From the first time I went to see Bob Dylan paintings at a gallery I have been interested in how he paints his name on there. I went for a trip to Chemnitz, Germany in 2007 to see his paintings, and I recall peering at how he painted his name on different paintings. I also really like when there are paintings within paintings, reflections in mirrors and windows. Painting inside paintings, reflected in mirrors, reflected from glasses of wine. I’m not sure if there are any of those. There is one with a painting inside a painting inside a painting, but I need to find that one again.

Here we have a painting titled Moody Club, from 2021. Acrylic on canvas. 91 x 152cm

There is something about this glass that I like. I really want to drink what ever is in that glass.

The signature on this one has the cross on the y, and I like the way it’s painted on the back of the chair.

Also those two hands there with the glass and the cigarette I think look really good. I think many of Bob Dylan’s paintings have more than one painting within the painting. Especially the more recent ones.

I wrote here about another of his paintings that I like, Storm Clouds. There is something unusual in those clouds.

https://nightlymoth.substack.com/p/storm-clouds-painting-by-bob-dylan

—

Lone Pilgrim

1. I came to the place where the lone pilgrim lay,

And patiently stood by his tomb,

When in a low whisper I heard something say:

How sweetly I sleep here alone.

2. The tempest may howl and the loud thunder roar

And gathering storms may arise,

But calm is my feeling, at rest is my soul,

The tears are all wiped from my eyes.

3. The call of my master compelled me from home,

No kindred or relative nigh.

I met the contagion and sank to the tomb,

My soul flew to mansions on high.

4. Go tell my companion and children most dear

To weep not for me now I'm gone.

The same hand that led me through seas most severe

Has kindly assisted me home.

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Written by B.F. White and Adger M. Pace

https://www.bobdylan.com/albums/world-gone-wrong/

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Twelve untitled paintings of mine,

https://nightlymoth.substack.com/p/twelve-untitled-paintings

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I wish you a good night,

nightly moth.