Copyright: All artwork/content protected under ©2007-2011 Lynne Ciacco

All content herein copyright © Lynne Ciacco


Thursday, June 9, 2011

You Never Know

For days (if not weeks or months even) I've been wanting to get to my studio and make something that could be classified as art.  For the past several days, I've had a vague image of a girl floating in my head and I felt that I wanted to do a drawing/painting of her...with crinolines and bare feet and long hair.  Today I finally got to my studio and this is what happened.


©2011 L.Ciacco. Domestica, watercolour, graphite, Caran d'Ache pencil, on paper,  11.25 x 12.5 in.

Not quite what I had in mind, but I just let it flow, without question or criticism...other than the criticism of my trusty eraser from time to time.  I've been thinking about relationships lately, for various reasons.  Does it show?
There is a lot of symbolism in this piece, which I could describe, but I prefer to let the viewer bring her (or his) own interpretation to the picture.  I will say, though, that the choice of colours has to do with the chakras, and the positioning of the feet and hands is very important.  The cat, I'm not so sure about: I had intended it be a dog.


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21 comments:

  1. Beautiful beautiful composition I love your interpretation of the knees, great.

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  2. I love this watercolor, Lynne. I'm working on deciphering the symbolism, though. The first thing I notice is that she's trying to lead him somewhere, while he tries to head in the other direction. I'm assuming her red dress represents the 1st chakra, having to do with primal desires. Yellow is the solar plexus chakra, corresponding to personal power... Hmmm...a power struggle over sex? Also, I see that their legs merge into one foot, which is between the two other feet. They each have their own ideas, but at some point, they also agree. And the cat looks unhappy that it isn't a dog! Or, I could be wrong about, all of it, but I do enjoy the piece!

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  3. Life happens and art comes when you least expect it. There is a wonderful unity to your design and the colors are lovely and rich.

    Give yourself more studio time and that lovely woman may just appear on paper.

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  4. This is so vibrant and lively. The faces have great personality. I love the story of you setting off to paint something quite different. Obviously, this is the painting that needed to be.

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  5. Loving their knees, hadn't seen that before in your work. Great image. The cat is neat too, wouldn't want to get the wrong side of that one. But love the knees.

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  6. I read a lot about relationships ! And about the way they change between two persons ;)
    I really like this painting, like an enigma with a lot of drawers of solutions!

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  7. His right foot and her left, togrther an axis. But their orbits are different. Hers is staying, holding, hoping but not believing. His is an escape trajectory moving outward, away, happy - but not completely.

    The lilies like him turn outward toward the light. The cat is staying, resigned, ready to make the best of it . . . as will she.

    Great composition!

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  8. Sorry. Missed the D & W on my last comment.

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  9. Firstly I see movement throughout the picture...... all three seem a bit perplexed but the powerful legs are ready to go. Interesting use of the chakra colours,I think you will know best what they represent for you. There's a lot of vibrant green energy springing from the plant pot!

    It's funny how "intentions" get pushed aside during the creative process!

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  10. Bonnie,
    Glad it holds interest for you.

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  11. Leovi,
    Thanks for complimenting the composition--as I didn't plan it I'm happy it worked out.

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  12. Sharmon,
    Your interpretation is pretty much what I feel about this painting as well. But I particularly love what you say about the cat being unhappy at not being a dog!

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  13. Patricia,
    Too true! Usually, when life "happens" it gets in the way of the art coming, but it's so rewarding when it actually feeds into the art. I'm happy that you find a unity in the design and like the colours--it must mean that my instincts are working.

    Excellent advice about getting to the studio more!

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  14. Robin,
    With faces, I don't do pretty or cute...and it seemes, rarely happy, either! I sometimes wonder if this is off-putting to the viewer, so am gratified to hear you like the character of their faces. As you know from your textile explorations, it is so satisfying to let a piece develop seemingly on its own.

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  15. Keith,
    Happy to hear I've produced something you like! I'm not surprised, really, that you like the knees as they're made up of a line, and you are a line master. I've done knees like that in the past, but mostly in doodles.

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  16. Ötli,
    It's so true how relationships change all the time; and that we want to keep them in the format that has been good in the past but may no longer work in the present. If my painting presents a bit of an enigma with many possible solutions, it's even more than what I hoped for!

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  17. (D)C(W),
    Holy crap--I think when you retire you should start a new career as a psychiatrist! Great analysis, and right on target.

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  18. Forest Dream,
    Yes, so much energy springing from that little pot of lilies, isn't there! You in particular would notice that, with your close connection to nature.

    I think the only real intention that we can bring to the creative table is to make something; to give that creative impulse release and form. Then stand back and see what transpires.

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  19. their faces look kind of sad, including the cat's. i looked at this after reading your explanation post. i like the way the colors symbolize aspects of the various chakras and that the body positions speak so strongly. interesting for sure. and the lilies...they must mean something too. glad you got into the studio. best, suki

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  20. sukipoet,
    Their faces are not happy, it's true. I am suspiscious of constantly smiley faces and always hated it when admonished to "Smile!" for no apparent reason. The lilies, I agree, must represent something. I felt strongly that they had to be white lilies. They're said to represent purity, but I'm not so sure that I didn't have death in mind when I drew them.

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