Show me myself without the shell
I finished a piece that I'm pretty proud of. If you follow any of my galleries/tumblr, you've probably already seen it. I did want to talk about it a bit in a slightly more private setting (although nothing on the internet is private) so there's a bit more about it than my usual nondescript blather.
I'm really super excited about this one! Once I had the idea I knew I had to attempt to realize it. I sketched it on paper first, then scanned and worked linework up on photoshop. I'd hit a stumbling block on the coloring for awhile, but yesterday it just poured out of me and I'm super pleased with how it came out. I really tried to go bolder with colors than I usually do to make for a picture with a bit more depth, in contrast to the very flat background. I was really interested in trying to give her torso definition with the stark shape of what was revealed. It probably could have been done slightly better, but I'm pretty happy, especially with her breasts and ribs. Also, drawing pubic hair is hard.
The entire idea was an exploration of my own femininity. There's a lot going on with me in terms with that which is probably too much for a random journal post, but suffice it to say this was a difficult piece. (not in the idea creation, but in it's excecution) There is a lot of symbolism here, not all of which I'm aware of, I'm sure. Of course, there is the obvious (and probably over played) vagina reference. The rose hints at the red/root chakra. It frames the head as the major center of pleasure and self. The shape of the exposure is intentional, with the oft hidden pubic area unapologetically displayed, but the oft exposed breasts merely hinted at. She is not mother, her existence is for her pleasure and no one else's until she chooses otherwise. The hand/bud hints both at her potential for creation and self pleasure/awareness.
Someone else mentioned an Art Deco influence, which I see now that it was mentioned, but was not intentional. Also the near/not quite symmetry was mentioned. That was something that I really loved about the piece but can't fully figure out why. It's one of those elements that demanded to be there but I don't know the reasoning behind.
I had considered adding her other bud/hand, down and to the back a bit, but as this was how the image came to me originally, I kept it as is.
Anyway, I'm really pleased with how the colors came out, as well as the whole piece. I'm really tempted to paint this on velvet now. :D
Originally posted @ http://calliopeoracle.dreamwidth.org/18396.html
I'm really super excited about this one! Once I had the idea I knew I had to attempt to realize it. I sketched it on paper first, then scanned and worked linework up on photoshop. I'd hit a stumbling block on the coloring for awhile, but yesterday it just poured out of me and I'm super pleased with how it came out. I really tried to go bolder with colors than I usually do to make for a picture with a bit more depth, in contrast to the very flat background. I was really interested in trying to give her torso definition with the stark shape of what was revealed. It probably could have been done slightly better, but I'm pretty happy, especially with her breasts and ribs. Also, drawing pubic hair is hard.
The entire idea was an exploration of my own femininity. There's a lot going on with me in terms with that which is probably too much for a random journal post, but suffice it to say this was a difficult piece. (not in the idea creation, but in it's excecution) There is a lot of symbolism here, not all of which I'm aware of, I'm sure. Of course, there is the obvious (and probably over played) vagina reference. The rose hints at the red/root chakra. It frames the head as the major center of pleasure and self. The shape of the exposure is intentional, with the oft hidden pubic area unapologetically displayed, but the oft exposed breasts merely hinted at. She is not mother, her existence is for her pleasure and no one else's until she chooses otherwise. The hand/bud hints both at her potential for creation and self pleasure/awareness.
Someone else mentioned an Art Deco influence, which I see now that it was mentioned, but was not intentional. Also the near/not quite symmetry was mentioned. That was something that I really loved about the piece but can't fully figure out why. It's one of those elements that demanded to be there but I don't know the reasoning behind.
I had considered adding her other bud/hand, down and to the back a bit, but as this was how the image came to me originally, I kept it as is.
Anyway, I'm really pleased with how the colors came out, as well as the whole piece. I'm really tempted to paint this on velvet now. :D
Originally posted @ http://calliopeoracle.dreamwidth.org/18396.html