Long ago in 1968-70 I shared a flat with the genius that was Pete Smith (and still is). He was a man with a prodigious creativity, a mind that pierced infinity and so many skills that you did not know what was coming next. He was a scientist who played every imaginable instrument, made his own instruments, painted, drew, created many strange inventions, made light-shows, cooked, photographed and designed.
We were both on a Zoology course doing a degree that we were unhappy with. It was one great memory test. We both thought that education should be more than a memory test – it should be illuminating, expanding, mind-blowing, fun, discovery, investigation and wonder. Our course was dull, boring and reductionary. Consequently we did not attend much. We chose to educate ourselves by reading Sci-fi, playing music and generally talking about anything that sparked our interest.
When Liz and I were married in 1971 Pete presented us with a book of cartons. It started as a story book but soon, due to time restrictions, became a mixture of whatever came to mind. The drawings are rudimentary because they were rushed but that book is one of my prized possessions.
I thought I’d share them with you.
Thy all speak lots to me. This is a simple one. It is about compassion. Crying for the whole world in despair at what we were doing to it.
Oh! That is so simply poignant… Did he ever do anything with his cartoon talent? What a treasure, Opher. That is your theme for sure.
Pete did a whole series of cartoons when we were at college. I have a number of them. His full size ones were much more elaborately drawn. He had a rare skill for picking out a simple idea in pictorial form. I loved them. I think he could have gone on to do great things in that medium. But Pete being Pete his head was too full of other things and he went off into other directions. He set up a company doing real science for kids, worked for lego, did designs for LEGOLAND and Durrell Wildlife Park on Jersey, and still lays music, invents, travels, lectures and such. He’s got too active a mind to settle.
I’ll post some more of his work later and dig out his proper cartoons. I’ve only just figured out how to put them out. I’m photographing them and doing it that way. Simple.
His work reminded me very much of an Aussie cartoonist, Michael Leunig. My favorite cartoon is by him. Heard of him?
You know that cartoon you posted would make a great addition somehow to your blog header or something. It’s so you!
Pete and I are like twins – our minds gel. I’m setting up a new blog. I might use that! Cheers Cheryl.
Never heard of Michael – I’ll check him out. I love meaningful cartoons. Thanks for the heads up.
Can’t wait to see what you’re doing! 😀
It’s going to be a blog just featuring the best of my books. I’m going to put all this on hold a bit. I was finding it sapping me. It’s going to take time setting it up. I will withdraw most of my books from publishing and regroup. I need a more positive direction.
Well doing something different is usually a catalyst. Hope it amps up your enthusiasm.
So do I. Despondency is not a pleasant feeling. It’s hard to find the enthusiasm to do creative things. It wears you down. But I have a new book in my head! I am editing an old one and rewriting a really old manuscript. There are things happening. I’m going to put out things on the blog for a bit. I’m trying to be positive.
{{{Opher}}}
Thanks Cheryl – you’re a star.
Reblogged this on Opher's World and commented:
Pete is a genius!