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Contemplation: Michael Cheval Drawings
A magnifying glass will reveal the magnificent level of detail in a MIchael Cheval drawing, but only a keen mind can see all that the artist intends. History, literature, music, and art become intertwined in Cheval's drawings, challenging the observer to unravel mysteries where logic and absurdity go hand in hand, and irony abounds. The end result is unique, timeless. This book provides a brief explanation of each drawing, but your own perspective and contemplation will shape your experience with the artwork—and that's just what Michael Cheval intends.
130 pages, Hardcover
Published August 14, 2022
About the author
Stanford Apseloff
24 books26 followersI grew up with an identical twin, Glen, so from day one, my world was surreal. Perhaps that's why I like Salvador Dali, Michael Cheval, and J.R.R. Tolkien.
My parents were both English professors, and our modest home had books everywhere. We had an old black-and-white TV that competed, but my parents made sure the books won.
Without me realizing it, my parents forced me to become creative. If I wanted to learn magic tricks, I couldn’t buy them from a catalog; I had to figure out how they worked and make them myself. My parents got an old piano from a neighbor who was moving out of state, and in the void created by restricted television, that piano sitting in our living room beaconed me to play. If I wanted to draw, my mother would sketch whatever I wanted—I vividly remember witches on a broomstick—so that I could learn how to do it.
As an adult, I developed a love for nature/wildlife photography and incorporated that into my early writings. Later, via an odd series of events, I discovered the artist Michael Cheval, and we became friends. I wrote two books about his artwork (Michael Cheval’s Dreams and Michael Cheval’s Magic) and a novel, The Third Syzygy, featuring characters from Cheval’s artwork. Michael Cheval illustrated that novel with dozens of drawings.
I find creative projects and I write, not because it’s a discipline I wish to pursue, but because that’s what makes me tick. I’m not happy unless I’m creating something, experiencing the pleasure of watching it take shape. If others enjoy the finished product, that’s a bonus.
My parents were both English professors, and our modest home had books everywhere. We had an old black-and-white TV that competed, but my parents made sure the books won.
Without me realizing it, my parents forced me to become creative. If I wanted to learn magic tricks, I couldn’t buy them from a catalog; I had to figure out how they worked and make them myself. My parents got an old piano from a neighbor who was moving out of state, and in the void created by restricted television, that piano sitting in our living room beaconed me to play. If I wanted to draw, my mother would sketch whatever I wanted—I vividly remember witches on a broomstick—so that I could learn how to do it.
As an adult, I developed a love for nature/wildlife photography and incorporated that into my early writings. Later, via an odd series of events, I discovered the artist Michael Cheval, and we became friends. I wrote two books about his artwork (Michael Cheval’s Dreams and Michael Cheval’s Magic) and a novel, The Third Syzygy, featuring characters from Cheval’s artwork. Michael Cheval illustrated that novel with dozens of drawings.
I find creative projects and I write, not because it’s a discipline I wish to pursue, but because that’s what makes me tick. I’m not happy unless I’m creating something, experiencing the pleasure of watching it take shape. If others enjoy the finished product, that’s a bonus.
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