Sunday, February 7, 2010

Her eyes were muddy in sadness.

Fall seven times, stand up eight.

– Japanese proverb

58 comments:

  1. Oh, how poignant! I wish I could zoom in even more on the lovely face-- such expression in such simple but well-placed lines! From the texture of the paper this looks very tiny. Exquisite!

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  2. Very nice work, you captured the topic and perfect and your title as well.

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  3. Thank you for stopping by, Krista and Mike! Happy Sunday to you -

    Krista - thank you - I like to work tiny, you're right..from the tip of her chin to the bottom of the part in her hair it measured 1/2". I need to post something about this...do most of you like to paint large? Or small...just curious! : )

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  4. Ohhh, she looks so sad, this is lovely. I like to paint large. When I was starting out I painted very small then seemed to get bigger each year... Although I did a series of fairy paintings a few years ago and used micro brushes and a magnifying glass. I think it is a little easier for me to work larger and it enables me to work more loosely. Kind of a mute point working digitally though.

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  5. Just so very beautiful,whimsical and lovely is right...What feeling you have captured. God has truly blessed you sweetie!!!
    Hugs Dena

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  6. Aaaaw Shirley! This is a sad picture but it is also beautiful. You really know how to capture emotions. I want to paint a sad woman and I need to see how you painted her eyes. :)

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  7. This is so beautiful...and true.

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  8. This painting is so beautiful...the colors are delicate and the sentiment of the piece is so wonderfully detailed in the girl's face.

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  9. This is beautiful Shirley!! Lot's of emotion, love it!

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  10. Love the Japanese proverb caption to your lovely illustration piece! Yes, sadness is beautiful too. And you just expressed that so wonderfully.

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  11. Found you from Krista's site...love your art! They are so soft and nice, beautiful colors. I really like your little "clumsy" girl! :)

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  12. So sweet and beautiful Shirley, I'm amazed at the detail you achieve working so small! Your work always makes me feel a sense of peace whether joyful, whimsical or sad, just lovely! I love the Japanese proverb too, such wisdom. To answer your question, as ususal I fall in the middle! I don't work either big or small, although I did work big when I used to paint murals. My colored pencil work is usually done on 9 x 12 paper, and the size varies within that. Thanks for your kind comments on my last post!

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  13. Shirley, this is so lovely. Her unhappy expression is so wonderfully captured in your soft sweet style. I feel "muddied" with her. Fantastic mood and terrific illustration. That proverb is so short, but so powerful. I must remember it.

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  14. Just lovely! You've certainly captured her sadness. My paintings are often on the small side but I do find that extreme detail now requires both specs and magnifying glass!

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  15. this reminds me of me and my sadness somehow...
    beautiful image, Shirley, i especially love her dark hair, so mysterious, and the dress is like pearl :)))

    xxoo

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  16. What a beautiful, poignant image and I am also amazed at how small it is! You've captured emotion with simplicity.

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  17. This is such a gorgeous illustration Shirley!
    Lovely and delicate.
    It's always a great pleasure to find your updates!
    Hugs,
    Eva

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  18. Just Beautiful! Great illustration! :D

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  19. So winsome... what a lovely piece Shirley... you never cease to amaze girl!!

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  20. WOW! What a different mood from your usual work, but still so pretty!! I love it.

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  21. Nice work. Great emotion and equally cool proverb.

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  22. beautiful piece, shirley. I love the rich color!

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  23. This is absolutely gorgeous. Nice work. I concur with Krista up on the top there. It would be nice to have a detail of her face. Again, nice work.

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  24. OMG, Shirley! So dainty and fragile. Absolutely BEAUTIFUL! Your watercolor work is exquisite, as always. I love this piece!

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  25. So delicate and beautiful, the details on her face, the browns on the background, it's lovely, Shirley.

    I too like to paint small... Sketches too, all done in a small scale. :-)

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  26. the colours, her face, her dress, everthing is so sad and so beautiful...totally love it :)

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  27. She's beautiful Shirley - such wonderful detail. I would like to work small but cannot. It's frustrating if I want to sketch in a small notebook - I run out of paper!

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  28. Beautiful moody piece! Lovely delicate colors!

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  29. So glad you commented on my site so I found yours. You have a new fan. LOVE your work. Full of life.

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  30. Wonderful illustartion!Love the coloureven if she's so sad:(

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  31. oh!!! I don't have the words to express how touching, beautiful and moving this piece is. It is so elegant. Shirley, you astound me!

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  32. I love your art so much! If I could paint ...your style would be what I would strive for! I would like to put you in my favorites! Thanks! ♥

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  33. The circle framing of color really complements the figure and the subject. Beautiful piece.

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  34. Boy there is a wonderful message in there. Talk about words and pictures that go together. I woke up this morning and this wonderful picture met me. Honestly for me this is very spiritual Shirley so in so many ways that I can't fully express right now. How absolutely inspirational. Not feeling happy self for a few days. Lots on my mind and It's 6:34 am and I going to mediate and I will look at your picture to help me. Thanks so much for posting this my friend. You will never know how much I appreciate it. Hugs to always my friend.
    Nester

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  35. Dearest Shirley, you are the sweetest thing, thats all i want to say.

    Hugs kisses to you and your 2 little faeries.
    ~mita

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  36. What beautiful art! I love your blog....your illustrations are exquisite! To me: watercolor is the most difficult medium. Obviously not for you! : )

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  37. Beautiful work and wonderful blog!

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  38. oh wow shirley! lot of emotion coming out in this one. what a beautiful illustration.

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  39. Wow Shirley, this is just stunning! I love her sweet sad expression. You really captured something here. And I love the muddy color pallet. Great work!

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  40. So much heart & beauty!!! This work is just inspiring! Awesome job!

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  41. Hello Shirley... It's been a while since I visited and how I've missed peeking into your blog... xx

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  42. Hey Shirley! Beautifully done...she looks sad yet content in her muddy space.

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  43. GORGEOUS work!!! I can feel sadness

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  44. My heartfelt thanks, everyone..for all of your kind comments and visits. I am trying my best to reply to all of you - if I haven't I will be in touch soon. I appreciate your feedback as it keeps me going and encourages me tremendously! It's wonderful to be in touch with so many of you who are such amazing artists who I am inspired by.

    I'll be posting again soon! : )
    Shirley

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  45. Little black haired girls in white dresses ROCK. This little enchantress was sad and wistful until a purple sea dragon whisked her away to an under sea world. Let's continue her adventure, shall we?

    xoxo!

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  46. Finally, it's up.
    Happy creating!

    http://yoonsee.blogspot.com/2010/02/gifts-from-talented-shirley.html

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  47. deliciously sad!! she is beautiful!

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  48. I mentioned you on my blog today and gave a link to yours. I am so in love with your art! Have a nice weekend! ♥

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  49. happy valentine's day dearest Shirley ;))

    xox

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  50. Hey girly, how are you??? I wanted you to know that I finished the project and I don't know that I really talk about it just yet. I mean I call you and talk about, but I don't know If I can blog about it just yet. I'm on to the next one and working on my site as well. Just happy to be working at this point you know?? How are things in your world? I got your number posted on the board to call and I will as soon as I catch my breathe. I have a house full of children right now at a little sleep over and one just got up and is already starting with the WII. It's way to early for that!!! I wanted to come by and wish you and yours a very Happy and Wonderful Valentine's Day! Have fun. Talk to you soon!

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  51. ah yes, dearest Shirley, i too am so glad to have become such good friends, with you and Vanessa :))
    I believe i met you when i was in my hardest part (2 or 3months ago if im not mistaken). Actually i met Monsieur Olivet first and i fell in love with him and i thought to myself: be nice to Shirley if you want the Monsieur to become your lover! hahaha lol :D
    You know, Monsieur is lovely and so is the lady behind this character, i think!

    Ttyl Shirley! :))
    xoxo

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  52. This is so powerful!! Her face is priceless.

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