Close-up of 'Forget Me Not'

This is just a close-up so you can see her face a

little better... Also, could you tell that the orange/grey

musroom clouds to the left of both her hand and knee

are nuclear bomb explosions?? ... Those are some of

the details I intend to improve upon.

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'Forget Me Not'

 October 9, 2011 - Acrylic on Canvas

Alright, so I'm completely fired, so far as posting of the completed

'Catching Energy' is concerned.  I will have those pic's up ASAP,

I swear.  I'm just waiting on pics of my collaborators canvas. 

In the meantime, above is another 'new' painting that's mostly

complete... Upon discussion with a few of my muses, I intend to make

a few changes to the details.  I'm posting her now, however, because

the message, and general feel of the painting, will remain the same. 

I promise to post pic's of the polished version, too, once complete :)...

She has been in my head, literally, for years... I think, maybe 10?  I 

actually had a different version of her, on this canvas, from a few years

ago. However, when she first came to me, I wasn't yet skilled enough to

do her justice.  So, I had only gotten so far before I felt I had to stop.

When I revisited her, now feeling ready to finish what I had started, I

picked up the same canvas, intending only to add to, and complete,

what I had already done. In the end, I think I painted everything over,

leaving only the general composition in place.  It's interesting to me to see

how much my style has changed over the years.  This version of her is

considerably different, stylistically, from what I initially had. The message,

however, although expanded upon, remains the same as when she was

first conceived of. 

The story she tells is of Mother Nature weeping for her planet,

and all the destruction wrought by humanity.  I've been told

 that she could represent all women, as well... Although she is

Mother Nature to me, I do like the idea that she could represent all

women. Almost as if she were ambassador of all mothers, making her the

true embodiment of Earth Mother.  The concept also makes me feel like

the intended message becomes more accessible.  Picture a mother 

weeping for their child, who has taken the wrong path in life, and the

mother cannot fix it, no matter how she tries.  Now make that mother

Gaia, and that child humanity... 

   

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'Catching Energy' in progress...

Above is a shot of 'Catching Energy' being worked on right at the beginning

of the night.  The original plan was to move around, and set up randomly in

different places.  However, we wound up with such a steady flow of people

at the first place we set up, we didn't move for the rest of the night... We

were there for a good three and a half, maybe four hours, and had approx.

300+ participants!  I'd say it was a resounding success. :) So, THANK

YOU to all who participated. I promise I'll get more photo's up ASAP,

especially of the completed piece... It looks amazing, by the way. 

There are so many nuances, it's really interesting to see the different

interpretations of the project, in art-form.

The whole experience, in and of itself, was a really phenomenal one for me. 

I wasn't sure what to expect when I first hatched this plan, and to say the least,

I was more than a little nervous about how well it would be received.  In the end,

 though, most of the participants seemed to get what it was about, and I loved

how many people reacted with incredulous excitement at the fact that they were

'allowed' to participate.  As though they really wanted to join in, but thought

it was an exclusive event.  Hearing "Really!?!?! I can paint too?!?!?!" was,

by far, the best reaction I could hope for.On the flip side, however, this turned

out to be a definite social experiment.  Although I expected it, it was still
interesting to observe how many people would be excited to join in, until their
friends responded negatively.  Watching the change in their expression, and
demeanor, turned out feeling like more of a resounding 'no'than of those who
weren't inclined of their own volition.  I can't complain, though, because in more
than one instance the excitement of one "Yes" was enough to convert
half a dozen "No's".

Overall, I had a blast, I'm so happy I bit the bullet on my fears, and made

it happen, and I'll likely try it on a larger scale next year, if I can manage it.  For

now, however, I'll be vibin' off this experience for a little while.  So, thanks again,

and I'll get those pic's up soon. ;) 

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