Revisiting an old sketch.

My super busy-bulletin board.

Backtracking a bit...here is some info on the origin on the piece I started yesterday...

Sometime over this summer when I was cleaning up my studio area (aka, 'where I took over a corner in the kitchen with all my art madness') I found a sketch that I had made...I don't know when, 2008-2009?  I am pretty sure that I made this sketch when I was in graduate school, it looks like I was making notes on art nouveau ...so this is my best guestimate as to when I created this sketch.  

But regardless...it was tucked away in a sketchbook...and we were reunited. I put that sketch on my bulletin board, with the various other items that I pin up to keep me motivated...and it got a little faded, but it was still there...waiting.

On Friday morning, when I woke up and couldn't get back to sleep I went and sat at my art table, eyeing my new watercolor pencils...I glanced up and saw this faded sketch and knew that I had to work from this.  So I did.  I basically kept the same image, did make a few changes and additions.  I went with the exaggerated eyes that I love so much, and then stretched out the neck and body in a very mannerist treatment, using elongated proportions.  The face is serene and also sad, my feeling on that particular morning.  I kept the swirling hair that I love so much, very much in the style of art nouveau...then added butterflies and also the calla lily, from which the figure emerges.

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(Left) Original sketch, circa 2008-2009...not sure... (Middle) In-progress pics.... (Right) Finished piece, a tribute to Amy.

For me, butterflies have become very symbolic of Amy.  Her death brought about a change in the lives of all that knew her...when I have searched for the meaning of butterflies I have found information tying butterflies to the soul and change in many cultures.  It just made sense to add the butterflies, the one in the top right leaving mandala motif, as if leaving this realm. As for the calla lily...this is the flower that I always associate with Amy and her passing.  I know that traditionally, calla lilies are associated with funerals...and oddly enough, weddings.  Go figure.  There were...so...many...so many flowers at Amy's funeral.  When I think of those days right after, the wake, the funeral...it is all a blur.  But I remember the smell of all the flowers...and the image of the calla lilies that would accompany my friend into the next part of her journey.

I guess that was my attempt at analyzing this particular piece.  It is a tribute to my friend.  I made it out of love, and it will be sent out to John and Jennifer next week to go along with all of the other art pieces that I have made to try and show how much I love and miss Amy in the language I know best- my art.  

In other art-related happenings...I finished my CED for today, #322.  After completing my piece for Amy, I couldn't help but have some of the elements carry over into this piece.  I started with the graphitone pencils for the rendering of the face, again going with the exaggerated proportions in the facial features and the neck...and kept my new watercolor pencils.  I love these new pencils, they go on smooth, tons of pigment...when I add the water, my paint brush literally glides across the paper. Love...and I just may commit to drawing Oscar de la Renta in my daily pieces for the rest of the month. I love the vintage styling for the fall runway...yep, just might have to stick with this and see where it takes me.

Ummmm...yeah, so anyway.  That was my day in art.  Completing the piece for Amy was such a serious endeavor, draining and cathartic all at the same time.  In many ways I needed to create my daily piece just to get myself back together.  Lot's of ideas swirling around in my head...swirling like Mucha's 'macaroni' hair...swirling like butterflies...

(Left) CED #322 in progress (Right) Finished piece