Friday, March 6, 2009

The lonely Mermaid


So much for working on my Cinderella painting, I got side tracked :-)
I used to paint mermaids all the time, especially ACEOs, and haven't done one in a while, so here is my latest, a poor lonely mermaid, with no one to play with.

Looking through my unfinished canvases I found a Frida painting I started two Halloweens ago. Back then I was happy with the face, but now it looks too rough. I stopped because I didn't know how to get the background that was in my imagination on the paper. I still can't, I am working on it though. I want to be like those artists that can put so much detail in their art. How do they do it? I wonder if they use reference photos? I'm sure I am not alone when I say this is one of the most frustrating parts of creating art. Your head is filled with beautiful images, but you just don't know how to get them on canvas, so the viewer can see what you see.

Speaking of beautiful images, have you ever been ready to drift off to sleep, when a fantastic image pops into your head? I've had ideas I would never imagine, and wonder, where do they come from?

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

wow. just awesome.

Brenda said...

Your mermaid is gorgeous. Yes, I, like you, have ideas but no idea how to transfer those ideas onto paper/canvas - probably because I have no art training? I get all my best ideas just before I go to sleep, I keep a pad and pen handy.

Anonymous said...

She's beautiful!

Flor Larios Art said...

Hi,
I love mermaids and this one is so pretty!
I would love to see your painting of Frida... let meknow when you finish it.

Unknown said...

Sweetie you have a gorgeous mermaid here, and I just adore all your work...expecially the way you do the faces!!!
xx

Tammy said...

She's very very pretty!

ostrich girl said...

Thanks for the feedback! It is sooo appreciated from a fellow artist!I don't know how you manage to get in there before I even finish my post That is so amazing! I am trying to put a couple people in my blog and I am having a hard time doing that little linking thing so you can just click on tier name in my post and go straight to them!? RRRRR!Oh to have more computer skills! Forget it ! Back to sculpting! TeHeHe xoxo Sheri Debow

ostrich girl said...

I left you a big long thing about your mermaid on the wrong thing so it didn't go about 3 hours ago.I thought thats why you responded to me! So here it is .Yes! I have tons of those thoughts and if I don't write them down I loose them.
Also I wrote to you and reminded you that so many styles of art are loved and needed.The person that can not get away from their own busy,crazy,detailed,overfilled canvas would love your style that is so straightforward & whimsical !

Unknown said...

Sweetie do me a favor and come visit my blog I have a little award for you!!!

look at My Creative World
under, http://bevie2u2.blogspot.com

Jodi Ohl said...

I love your mermaid-you'd never know you struggle with the details at times, your paintings are always gorgeous and look like the flow so naturally and magically!

Renee said...

Your poor lonely mermaid will not be lonely for long looking like that.

She is beautiful. What a great job you have done.

Her eyes are full of compassion.

oxoxoxoxoxo

Love Renee

Mixed Media Martyr said...

I have the same trouble with my art... sometimes I see the image in my brain, but it is more feelings and emotions than techniques... and even though it seems crystal clear in my mind, when I try to think of the techniques it would take I can't think of how it could be done physically... and yet there it is plain as day in my brain!!! FRUSTRATION!!!!

Lisa Lectura Creations said...

She is lovely!

I know exactly how you feel. I have tons of unfinished canvases. Happy Monday!

Creative Blessings,
Lisa :)

Renee said...

Meow, meow, meow.....

It is a darn good thing that Ms. Kat left your house and came to mine or Ms. Mermaid would be being chased all over the fishbowl.

I love her and she loves me too. I know this because she told me.

You are awesome.

Love Renee

p.s. Ms. Kat says she likes it better over here because she knows I really love her....

The Studio at Crow Haven Farm, LLC said...

She is freaking amazing! You go girl...I love her and want to see more!
Cheers!

Kims Art said...

I love her! I favorite this one! That is why I draw before going to sleep and keep my journal by my bed. It's like if there were only enough time to do them all.

Stacey said...

Beautiful! I truly adore your work. If you have a chance, please come and visit my blog, as I have given you an award. :)

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much for your message. I never thought Bothered is a word just in the Uk. We are a funny lot.
Not bothered means you have no energy or wish to do something, Like a teenager moaning because they have been asked to wash the pots. They say Oh I 'm bored and can not be bothered. Or fly's are going around you head and they are bothering you. So people could be bothering you, if they won't leave you alone. Like your being pestered.
Hope this helps?

Renee said...

Betty you crack me up.

Ms. Kat and I were in stitches over the 'as a matter of fact, I think I will go buy a lottery ticket'

Seriously we were laughing our heads off, she almost fell off of her black ribbon.

Love you.

Renee

ostrich girl said...

I think some of my dolls look like your paintings...I think that is part of why I am drawn to your paintings.(Not to sound totally narcisistic but...)We both have a childlike whimsical quality to our work!
Have you ever tried a doll? Have you ever worked with "Creative Paperclay"? the awesome thing about it is it takes paint like water color paper.I think it would be second nature for you if you tried it.Next time you hit the art supply or the craft store pick up some "Creative Paperclay". If you look at the faces of my puppets and my marrionettes there is not alot of detail in the sculpt I do most of the detail with paint.If you get a minute to scroll thru my flickr I think you will be seriously inspired to step out of that comfort zone to a new one!And I hope you do! Your dolls would be AHHHmazing because your paintings already look like dolls!
xoxoSheri DeBow