Lola Jovan Art Musings and Random Thoughts

The Heart of Conflict

6/12/2023

"The Heart of Conflict" - oil on paper, 18.5 x 18.5. Available here and at Artfinder.

As the ruler of Wonderland, the Queen of Hearts is the character that Alice must inevitably face to figure out the puzzle of Wonderland. In a sense, the Queen of Hearts is literally the heart of Alice’s conflict. - SPARKNOTES.COM

The long passage down through the rabbit hole has landed us at the feet of the Queen of Hearts.

She's terrifying, absolute in her rhetoric and yet, ultimately, just a playing card - powerless to actually harm anyone. Kind of like the inner critic, yes?

The Heart of Conflict

My inner Queen of Hearts shouts "off with her head!" over many things, both professional and personal. She's very loud, rather bossy, and takes up a lot of space between me and the other side of whatever she's yelling about. It is a challenge when the thing that trips you up is your own inner villain. Looking at this piece helps me shush her - I can replace her stern visage with an image of my inner cheerleader. Who might look something like Alice. :). More to come.

It's time for the JUNE READER GIVEAWAY! Leave a comment below about how you manage your own inner critic and be entered in a chance to win a small piece of art FREE!

About the art: the AI bot loves the Queen of Hearts. It has a way of making her quite frightening and imposing, if you give it enough words. Beginning with a soft pencil grid and adding a rough sketch, I placed a wash of thinned oil paint on the background. Then working from the face outward and gradually deepening the darks, making sure to keep blending the colors enough to mute them into this rather renaissance color palette. Ending with the hair, which was created with very thin paint and a round brush lightly held near the long end, dragged and rotated simultaneously to create a dreadlock/coil effect. She's beastly, and I kind of adore her.

12 Comments

Dotty Seiter gmail link

6/12/2023 04:40:32 pm

1. I posted at my blog, and then the very next thing I did was open yours. You'll see that I answered your query in advance!!!

2. You ARE going to make a deck of cards, aren't you?

Carol Edan link

6/13/2023 02:17:01 am

A deck of cards. What a fantastic idea!

lola

6/13/2023 03:14:58 pm

Carol! I am intrigued!

6/13/2023 03:14:43 pm

DOTTY! Omg we were in the same headspace! ha ha! I love that! And a deck of cards? Like playing cards? Art cards? I am intrigued by the idea...

6/19/2023 04:00:25 pm

Playing cards! But, hmm, not a standard deck of 52 … or maybe 52 cards, but not w standard suits, #s, and jacks, queens, kings. Maybe more like tarot cards, with an image on each face, and some kind of uniform pattern on the back of each. The cards need to be handled! I can already feel them in my hands. Maybe I deal out 5, turn them face up, and 'read' them to myself, see what story or inner voice/wisdom makes itself known.

Lola

6/21/2023 02:58:51 pm

Dotty, you amazing muse you! I am agog with the idea. Investigating printing sources. Contemplating themes....It may take me a wee bit to create this project, but it is now in my path as something I SO want to do. Thank you. THANK YOU!!! xo

Niki Gilmore link

6/12/2023 09:48:13 pm

Whatever she's yelling about! 😂 thanks Lola, this was a great chunk of funny and eye candy! Cheers to queens! Happy Pride 🙃🙂

6/13/2023 03:15:31 pm

Niki!!!! Haaaaaaaaa love that you enjoyed this one! Yay! And HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY Pride! WOOOOHOOOO! xo

6/13/2023 02:22:18 am

Love your adventure! Everyone has their "rabbit hole" and the little daemon's that lurk in every corner. Some I allow in my studio, and some not. Hard work to get them out sometimes! Go for a deck!

6/13/2023 03:16:23 pm

Carol! Oh gosh, getting the little daemons out of the corners is sometimes a herculean task! This stern queen makes me giggle and helps me banish her to the outer reaches of the kingdom. xo

Molly O'Connor

6/19/2023 08:36:11 am

How do I handle inner conflict ? Hmmm, that's easy !
I just ignore those inner yahoos with their loud obnoxious and critical opinions and stupid suggestions.
They can prattle, sidewalk-superintend and throw shade all they want, ultimately I have FINAL say.
I'm a firm believer (and follower) in listening to my GUT. Has never steered me wrong in 63+ yrs !

6/19/2023 02:45:20 pm

Molly!!!! Ha ha! You have me smiling. I would expect no less from you, fierce human! "Sidewalk-superintend" - what a great phrase! Those "inner yahoos" don't dare mess with you. xo

The Heart of Conflict

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