Reoccurrence in your art ...

[Halo_n_horns]

Some time back I had read a book that involved an artist in the storyline. His character only painted one subject: a garden clearing on a sunny day with shady trees and flowers in bloom. It was pretty much all he ever painted, and according to the storyline, he had painted the scene in a variety of different styles ranging from completely abstract to very photorealistic. In every painting the garden changed a bit from the last painting. The styles changed a bit from painting to painting as well.

I realized that though not to any degree that matched that artist's obsession with that subject, I also have a reoccurring thought that I sit down and work with from time to time, though never to achieve the kind of personal success I keep wishing for.

I drew the first one when I was 14 years old. She was one of my first nudes and her name was simply "Temptress" and she was part of a four-panel set that told a very short story. Unfortunately I cannot show you that first drawing of her. That was twenty years ago and I haven't the slightest idea as to where that set is today.

Two of the other three attempts have been shown in these forums. But my third attempt I'm posting here for the first time. Each has ended up being a teaching process for myself. In studying how I wanted the picture to come out I've inevitably stopped working on the piece because I learned something new when it was too late to go back and incorporate it.

In my second attempt I kept things rather simple. That was what I wanted to change but it was too late. This is pencil and approx. 9"x12"
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e105/halo_n_horns/TempII.jpg

In this third attempt I was bringing the detail to whole new heights. I wanted her to appear mythological. The easiest way to accomplish a mythological effect was to give her a completely impossible physique. Again I learned something new in the course of this drawing, and because of that you can see where I started her other wing, and then abandoned the project. Pencil again, 19"x24"
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e105/halo_n_horns/TemptIII.jpg

This last one was entered in the second art contest here: Window. She was put under the name Harbinger of Shattered Dreams and was intended to be completed in inks. The pose was completely different from previous incarnations, but that will be remedied whenever I start Temptress V.
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e105/halo_n_horns/TemptIV.jpg

So, as an artist do you have any specific reoccuring themes or characters that you like to return to from time to time? Do we get to see'em?

 

[Guest]

.......

 

[Typo Fu Master]

I have created and reused a female character with some morphs that I like to use, but generally when I do an image, it sucks up all my inspiration and motivation until the next one. There have been a couple of themes that I've thought about exploring again.

One of them you may have seen: the image Point of View in my 3D Art Gallery thread. I like the idea of a character's perception as it's molded to it's creator's purposes.

The other I haven't uploaded yet, but might soon. I spent a lot of time on it trying to create the effect I was looking for. It's called Transdimensional, and features an Amazon walking through a portal to be transformed on the other side to an alternate 'self' in another reality. It's probably not that apparent just looking at the picture. I really liked that idea, and I've considered doing something similar.

Halo, as always I'm impressed by your level of skill, and sorry you didn't complete your earlier sketches. You do fantastic work.

 

[Typo Fu Master]

Another one I've thought about doing again was a "jigsaw" theme. Making an image appear to be a jigsaw puzzle in progress.

 

[Halo_n_horns]

Another one I've thought about doing again was a "jigsaw" theme. Making an image appear to be a jigsaw puzzle in progress.

Well, get'em in here.

 

[Typo Fu Master]

I will, eventually. I'm a little depressed right now, which isn't helping me make much progress with the current contest either.

 

[Halo_n_horns]

I will, eventually. I'm a little depressed right now, which isn't helping me make much progress with the current contest either.

Depression is rarely a good thing in art. It worked for VanGough, but few others. Anything you need to discuss, or just blue?

 

[Typo Fu Master]

Depression is rarely a good thing in art. It worked for VanGough, but few others. Anything you need to discuss, or just blue?

I don't know if it's just a chemical imbalance or what. I get moody on occasion. Probably a good time to avoid the GB. I'm likely to say something stupid. I've already come close.

I really want to finish this contest piece. Weekends are best because I can supposedly concentrate on it without having to worry about going to work. But I haven't been able to focus today worth a crap.

 

[Halo_n_horns]

I don't know if it's just a chemical imbalance or what. I get moody on occasion. Probably a good time to avoid the GB. I'm likely to say something stupid. I've already come close.

I really want to finish this contest piece. Weekends are best because I can supposedly concentrate on it without having to worry about going to work. But I haven't been able to focus today worth a crap.

I've gone through what you're describing. I think most if not all peoples with high artistic inclinations go through what you're describing.

Its your mind and body. Those chemical levels are under your control if you exercise the effort and discipline to keep them there. Unless there's another root cause, you can change what you need to within yourself.

 

[Kcar]

I've gone through what you're describing. I think most if not all peoples with high artistic inclinations go through what you're describing.

Its your mind and body. Those chemical levels are under your control if you exercise the effort and discipline to keep them there. Unless there's another root cause, you can change what you need to within yourself.

Indeed! I developed a bi-polar condition when I was 4, and it's haunted me all of my life. And I'm 51 yrs old! It was hell...no meds to control the lack of seretonin in my brain. All hope of balance is gone when that happens...severe depressions would last for months, even yrs. Immensly painful. The high phases? I slept only 3 hrs out of every 24, and I was drawing non-stop. That went on for 2 consecutive yrs. Then in 1986, I was given a new drug called Prozac, which made a big difference! In 2003, a new drug was added to my regimen which regulates the extended seizures in the brain that are believed to cause bi-polarity. It's an anti-epileptic! It's awesome stuff! I feel like I always wanted to. Balanced.

A great therapist, as well as meditation, helped me to complete my recovery.


Your drawings are progressing amazingly fast, Halo!! If you were to draw every day, your art would go very far. Do you enjoy it enough to do that? I love your attitude about learning. No drawing is a waste of time, for me either - even a bad one.


As for recurring themes? Horses, trees, nudes, cats. I also like to mix em in together. I also do portraits (animal and human), but only like doing those when it's of someone I love deeply, or admire very much.


All of my drawings are original like yours, Halo - done from my own imagination.