I drew this little sketch years ago. It was an image from a dream that I can't find in my journal now for the life of me (which implies that it may pre-date the journal, in which case this may be over 8 years old.) The dream went something like this...I was in a room--like a kids' classroom or a small building at camp. "Space Mermaids" was one of the posters on the wall. I was there in a business meeting with others, as I recall. They worked for a phone company (AT&T, I think.) No one would let me speak & when I finally did anyway, they dismissed my comments & laughed in my face. In the end I freaked on them, yelling, "F**k you! I'll use Sprint!" That seemed to shut them up & I stormed out.
At any rate, the idea's been in my head since then. I was intrigued at the image of mermaids swimming in space, which combines two of my interests; mythology/fantasy & astronomy. Unfortunately, to get the figure 8 effect of the design, I need a tall, skinny canvas, which I don't have at present. Still I figured I'd do a study of it, to see if it would make a viable painting. Here's the result. The light in the lower right hand corner is a reflection of sunlight from the photo process--apologies. I would change a few things, but I'm not unhappy with it.
11x14" acrylic on canvasboard
(Updates: Nov. 30, 2009; SOLD. June 2009; Click here for a larger, more recent & detailed version.)
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37 comments:
Very nice, Lana.
Beautiful piece of art.
I love this!
Very beautiful. And I got to see it while it was being created. Great to have a ringside seat for that.
I Love the sketch of the mermaids, they look so real even in pencil.. or is that ink...
Anyways! You are such a wonderful artist! And you have to have a great imagination to be able to draw space mermaids and they turn out that beautiful! Amazing!
~K
Awesome!
This would be cool as a gigantic mural, too.
As dream creatures, space mermaids are a lot better than anything conjured up by my psyche. Cool painting, Lana.
Wow!
You lived in Toronto for a year?? cool.
Dreamy... Lana, I just strayed at random across this blog while I was browsing, and wondered if you might be interested. Noticed the mermaid in the sidebar...
http://charleyana.wordpress.com/2008/10/26/banksy-and-the-grey-ghost/
That's beautiful Lana...reminds me of Disney artwork a little. Beautiful colors!
rob & tabib; Thank you. :)
charles; You're too sweet. :)
k; Thank you so kindly. The sketch is in pencil, fyi.
erik; Thanks! I've done murals before, actually. Not sure I've got it in me anymore (which explains why I've put off painting a mural on our shed for 2 whole years now. *L*)
marvin; Thanks. I also had a dream in which the clouds in the sky were shaped like swans on a lake...I may do that someday, as well.
barrie; Thanks. Yes, I lived primarily in the Niagara Region when I was up there, but I did spend a year in Toronto. Unfortunately I was in denial about being a total country girl at the time & by the time I moved back to Niagara again I was a virtual disaster. Lesson learned. For me, Toronto's a great place...to visit.
julie; Thanks for the suggestion! Ironic that the post is about New Orleans & that the start of the URL is "charleyana" (kind of like "Charles + Lana," y'know?)
roadgurl5; Thanks! I've always loved bright colors, myself. :)
Lana,
This is really a wonderful piece, just a great feeling of fantasy and color.
I love it. This makes my list of top pieces I've seen from you.
paul & travis; Thanks! :) I'm glad you like it.
They're beautiful, Lana
punam; Thank you kindly. :)
Very good use of space with the swim-flying mermaids complementing the crescent moon.
jr; Thanks. I'm hoping to come across a more narrow & tall canvas at some point. I like the long look of the original sketch.
Your studies are more polished than my finished work!
Can't wait to see the final!
steve; Thanks! Hopefully I can find a suitable canvas.
Lana, I'm so impressed with your paintings, this is beautiful. Have you ever recorded your paintings in the making, sorta like a bob ross kind of thing....i think that's the guys name. soothing voice. afro. he's deceased, right?
nw; Thanks. No, I've never recorded an "in the works" kind of video (a la Bob Ross, & yes, he's deceased, sadly.) I don't think my videos would be half as informative as his were, to be honest.
Great work Lana! I love the light in the water/space...you can see the movement! Neat! You always come up with the most creative subjects.
chris; Thanks. Just one of the many benefits of dream recall, I s'pose. ;)
This is beautiful....
doson; Thanks! I appreciate it. :)
that works perfectly, lana :D
imagine the final will be spectacular
laughingwolf; Thank you. :)
These are really beautiful images -- love the idea! I wish I could remember more of my dreams. Got to start writing them down.
michelle; Thanks. Yes, writing dreams down (& just generally being in the habit of that,) is a good idea.
Sure this was the kinda dream you have when yer asleep and not the kind you have...y'know...with early Floyd playing in the background?
jay; *LOL* Now that you mention, maybe I'm not so sure after all. ;)
Lana! The painting is beautiful!!! The figure eight could be a symbol for 'infinity' - your infinite imagination (appropriately in space) and the limits of those in that room....
Get yourself a 12x24 or better still and 18x36 for this one. That is a pretty common pre-stretched size and would be perfect.....
michelle; Thanks! I'll have to go see what I can get at the local stores. Sometimes I can find odd sized stretched canvases at the 2nd hand store super cheap. I just gesso over them & start from scratch. ;)
I love these, love these, love these. Did I say that I love them? lol :P
TT; Thanks. :) Glad you love them!
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