But there is something otherworldly about standing in that unrelenting surf and trying to see and feel what is beneath you. On our last adventure, the rocks and beach were covered in jellyfish parts - glistening, undulating, sparkling like the agates we were hunting. I poked a lot of parts - making sure they weren't treasures. I grabbed a lot of parts rolling in the waves. There was mist, fog, frigid wind and an angry ocean that day. The two of us, standing in that madness, filling our packs with the largest agates we have yet seen, all alone on that endless, moody beach - a new dimension of beauty and strangeness and wonder. Did I rest my face on a large fish? No, I did not. But I would have if I could have. :) About the art: the AI bot and I have had a wildly good time trying to make mermaids. It doesn't get mermaids well, nor centaurs nor griffins. There are all manner of weirdly wrong results. But sometimes you get a sweet moment between a lady and a fish, like this one. Painted alla prima in two stages: the underpainting and initial sketch in the first go, and the subsequent layers all in a second go after letting the first one dry thoroughly. The inspiration image had a very limited color palette, with background and characters barely distinguishable from one another. I tried to maintain the integrity of that effect, while also pulling both lady and fish forward with some sculpting highlights. The final touches were the dripping paint from mouth of the fish and the highlight in the surface below the lady. Again, the temptation to go back in and overly define everything was hard to resist, but I wanted to keep the pale, fleshy, wateriness of the piece intact. So I walked away. The September Reader Giveaway continues! Leave a comment (or more than one) this month to be automatically entered. The winner will be announced on September 30th. On your mark, get set, GO!
12 Comments
Dotty Seiter
9/16/2024 11:21:58 am
L O L A !
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lola
9/16/2024 02:51:06 pm
Dotty!!!! OMG! I always wanted to be a wizard...of anything! ha ha! Thank you, friend. You made me smile BIG! xo
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Trina
9/16/2024 11:49:53 am
Lola I’m so very tired here on the bottom level . I really want to rest awhile on an accommodating fish……
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lola
9/16/2024 02:52:10 pm
Trina!!! Tenacious, strong, resilient, incredible woman...I am sending you a mental fish to rest upon there in the shallows. Along with big, gentle hugs from me. xoxoxoxo
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Trina
9/16/2024 06:07:16 pm
💕👑💪🏼
Carl Stoveland
9/16/2024 06:05:44 pm
It is just passed the normal boundaries where we risk being hurt or uncomfortable that is where the gold is in art and in life. Thankyou for always challenging us to reach out and grab those sparkly bits.
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lola
9/16/2024 06:35:40 pm
Carl!!! iIt can be so hard to step past those boundaries. I have several I repeatedly smack my forehead against. Oy oy oy.
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Carl Stoveland
9/16/2024 09:41:30 pm
I blame my phrases on an abundance of reading Pat Conroy in my formative years. I love the tag line. My current work may be a tad to normal to live up to that description but one day.
lola
9/17/2024 03:07:42 pm
Carl, your dedication and discipline inspire me! Lather rinse repeat!!!
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Sara Van Horn
9/22/2024 09:05:02 pm
This painting is wonderful, Lola! It's both bold and serene. I am normally a fan of brighter color, but I love the muted tones here! This feels so classical and magical at the same time. I really do get a sense of losing yourself in another realm.
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lola
9/23/2024 03:44:06 pm
Sara!!! The muted tones are a departure for me, but one I really enjoyed. Thank you for appreciating the "classical and magical"! That means so much!
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Sara Van Horn
9/24/2024 06:00:46 pm
I would love that! There can never be too much! 😁 So much rock goodness. All the crystals/fossils/cool striations. They are nature's portable art! Leave a Reply. |
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