Towel Dude – In Watercolor

“Life must be understood backward; but… it must be lived forwards.”
-Soren Kierkegaard

Towel Dude – 5″ x 10″ Watercolor

As you may have already guessed, this towel creature was from Astrid’s cruise.  It also was white on a white background.  I had fun playing with the light and shadows in pink.  😀

Soren Kierkegaard

Born 5 May 1813, Søren Aabye Kierkegaard was the seventh and youngest child of Michael Pedersen Kierkegaard. Søren’s father, Michael, was retired at the time of his son’s birth, having achieved a relatively comfortable position in his community.

Michael had risen from serfdom to the new merchant class of Europe. Michael had been a shepherd, with little in the way of possessions. Michael’s success came from his work as a wool trader. Having been a shepherd, he had a keen understanding of wool, which he parlayed into success as an exporter. He amassed a fortune quickly, something he considered proof he was cursed… a theme running throughout his life and that of his children. However, Michael did want to use his wealth for good causes and for his family. As part of this new middle class, Michael wanted his sons to attend universities and prove even more successful.

Kierkegaard’s mother was Michael’s second wife, a former maid to the family. This second marriage took a great toll on the religious Michael. He had consumated the relationship with his maid shortly after his first wife died. He believed this act of “weakness” further angered God and increased the punishments he and the Kierkegaard family would experience. Michael never forgave himself — or his second wife — for the transgression.  More of this biography…