Celestial Dragon -- Something Different
I usually don't paint still lifes but I decided to try something else that was "different". I was trying for something "mystic". I actually had some fun looking for props since I didn't have anything that looked mystical. Finally at Cost Plus World Market this dragon attracted my attention followed closely by a really interesting box which opened up to sort of a panel of Chinese figures. They both intrigued me so I bought them. Then when I visited my Dad, that brass vase caught my eye. With Dad's permission, I snagged it.
According to Google, The Celestial Chinese Dragon is comparable as the symbol of the Chinese race itself. Chinese around the world proclaim them themselves "Lung Tik Chuan Ren" (Descendants of the Dragon). The Chinese Dragon, or Lung, symbolizes power and excellence, valiancy and boldness, heroism and perseverance, nobility and divinity. A dragon overcomes obstacles until success is his.
I thought that mystical sort of called for DARK so I spray-painted the inside of a box with black spray paint and tried to find a good angle to light the whole set up. I had fun painting it. Trying to decide what to lighten or push back so that I could help lead the eye around this very darkish painting.
I found this painting impossible to photograph with my own camera. I finally gave up and took it to the professionals and thought they did a good job. (I've been avoiding professional photographers because of the cost... but wanted a good photograph of this painting.) I guess the really dark overall sense of the painting makes it difficult to photograph well.
When I got the image back from the photographer last night I posted it on Facebook just because it's so different for me, but happily people seemed to like it. One even mentioned that it looked a bit like Peter Adams' work (as if), but the comment did please me because when I was thinking "mystical" I looked though Peter's work for inspiration.
Whatcha think?? Is it mystical?
According to Google, The Celestial Chinese Dragon is comparable as the symbol of the Chinese race itself. Chinese around the world proclaim them themselves "Lung Tik Chuan Ren" (Descendants of the Dragon). The Chinese Dragon, or Lung, symbolizes power and excellence, valiancy and boldness, heroism and perseverance, nobility and divinity. A dragon overcomes obstacles until success is his.
I thought that mystical sort of called for DARK so I spray-painted the inside of a box with black spray paint and tried to find a good angle to light the whole set up. I had fun painting it. Trying to decide what to lighten or push back so that I could help lead the eye around this very darkish painting.
I found this painting impossible to photograph with my own camera. I finally gave up and took it to the professionals and thought they did a good job. (I've been avoiding professional photographers because of the cost... but wanted a good photograph of this painting.) I guess the really dark overall sense of the painting makes it difficult to photograph well.
When I got the image back from the photographer last night I posted it on Facebook just because it's so different for me, but happily people seemed to like it. One even mentioned that it looked a bit like Peter Adams' work (as if), but the comment did please me because when I was thinking "mystical" I looked though Peter's work for inspiration.
Whatcha think?? Is it mystical?
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