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Baalah — The path
Published: 2006-09-25 18:56:42 +0000 UTC; Views: 1414; Favourites: 27; Downloads: 6
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I finished this one about two or three months ago for a project which is to be kept secret. Unfortunatelly I start losing my temper with the project since it doesn't seem to be very lively at all. Everybody seems to have been fallen asleep which makes me very sad. It started with great enthusiasm, fantastic ideas and lots of motivation, now I'm pretty bored and doubt if it's ever going to be finished. The project's intention was to create a postcard book with fairytales on each of the cards and I was the lucky one to grab Little Red Riding Hood. I interpreted the fairytale as the parent's intention to keep their children from mischief and therefore scare them a little by telling them about the big, bad, hungry wolf in the woods. So instead of a real wolf I added an adult human being in disguise as a wolf to the picture. Most people who saw the picture misinterpreted my intention to depict the wolf as something actually protective and thought it was a man trying to abuse the girl... I'm very sorry if it looks like that... it wasn't supposed to. In order to recall, that the whole thing is nothing but a tale, I used simple silhouettes like in a theatre in the background. I hope you like it and I hope the project will go on...Related content
Comments: 27
I think the misinterpretation might come from the body language of the characters. The unrequited hug, the very uneasy look on the girl's face, and hiding the eyes of a person in art also often gives an impression of "this person has something to hide".
The wolf here is positioned just a tad below the girl, giving him an air of wanting something from her that she doesn't feel comfortable giving him.
If you want to put him into a clear protector role, it's more useful to choose a posture that implies power, but not the abuse of it. For example, standing behind and above the girl could work, one arm put around her protectively. Putting one's hands on the upper arms of a person often radiates something supportive or protecting. And ideally, either showing a real danger he's shielding her from, or his eyes, or both. Eyes are considered the windows to the soul, so hiding them always is associated with trying to hide your true nature. Maybe the wolf head could be pulled further down for that, so the adult's eyes line up with those of the wolf.
Additionally, giving the girl either a pouting/sulking expression (if she sees through the cautionary tale and disapproves of the aesop), a childlike, pouty look of sad disappointment (if she buys into the tale and is only sad that she can't have fun by causing mischief) or even a posture that implies that she considers the wolf familiar and secure would help a great deal.
I think you were also coincidentally unlucky because there's an indie game with the Name "The Path" which also translates the wolf into different visuals and very strongly emphasises the sexual abuse angle. When I first saw the picture here on DA as a thumbnail, I thought it was fanart for the game and was confused about not recognising the characters. Doesn't help that most scholars consider it to be a cautionary tale about sexual predators in the first place.
Of course I know that you drew and uploaded this picture years before the game was conceived, but I only noticed that after clicking on it. óuo And sadly, not all people check stuff like that before commenting or having their opinion. It's simply an unfortunate coincidence.
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First of all: Thanks for your reply.
Secondly, I know that the picture can be interpreted in the way that you and others just described to me, for the very reasons you just mentioned. I don't really consider it a misinterpretation of the picture for I believe there is no such thing. I merely said that my intention has, accordingly, been misinterpreted, which is okay. I was hoping for a different outcome but it's still a valid interpretation- especially sincere there are no markers indicating protection, except for the afore-mentioned silhouettes in the background.
However, I still believe that the wolf pretty much represents the way parents used fairy tales in the old days (and maybe still today). They were supposed to scare kids and make them feel uneasy about certain situations (like talking to a predator in the woods or wandering off track) in order to keep them out of mischief. Making kids feel protected would have ruined that approach. Of course it is disputable, however, if scaring the s*** out of your children is the way to go, but that's what they did
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sorry i just now read your comment on your work. i think that even if misinterpreted it's a strong message that should be put out there for everyone to see. " keep your children safe and trust no one! ". i like the way it turned out. who know, maybe God wanted you to make it just like this and used you as His paintbrush. I'd publicize it with this message and send it around in schools !
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Wow, what a lovely comment. I actually work as a teacher so I could show it around my classes some time 
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with all the ugly things that have been happening in italy where i live, this piece would really go strong! i'm a teacher aswell and your art would be much appreciated in my classrooms. Unfortunately i'm teaching at home now but if i could i would have presented it. like i was saying, we've had two major kidnappings and murders since august and newspapers have been talking about nothing else. look them up: Sara Scazzi and Yara Gambirasio. Two separate issues but they have in common that these little girls were taken by someone they knew and trusted. that's why your painting impressed me. too many children are abused by members of their own family or close friends. i like the message that they should always be careful. not fearful but aware and careful.
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this is beautiful and scary at the same time. the first thing i thought about was a child being seduced or taken by someone she shoud trust and instead is a wolf. it touched some chords, very intense. bravissima.
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I love it!!!! But it's kinda weird because some people like little girl and man realtion ships O.O
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It wasn't my intention to draw a man- girl relationship. I actually consider the wolf the girl's father, who's trying to scare her, so she won't run off track in the woods.
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I really like the face on Riding Hood, such a wonderful gallery you have!!
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The face was the first thing I drew. It kinda dictated the rest of the picture.
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Ich hätte nie gedacht, dass ich so etwas jemals über einen rosa Hintergrund sage, aber der ist einfach nut klasse - genau wie die "Kulissenbäume".
Der Wolfskopf ist der Oberhammer! Außerdem liebe ich das Karokleidchen von Rotkäppchen und überhaupt, ich bin immer wieder sprachlos wenn ich sehe was man mit Buntstiften (ich Ignorant
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Mein Lieblingsignorant ^^ *schmatz*
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Ich hätte nie gedacht, dass ich so etwas jemals über einen rosa Hintergrund sage, aber der ist einfach nut klasse - genau wie die "Kulissenbäume".
Der Wolfskopf ist der Oberhammer! Außerdem liebe ich das Karokleidchen von Rotkäppchen und überhaupt, ich bin immer wieder sprachlos wenn ich sehe was man mit Buntstiften (ich Ignorant
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Eine sehr gelungenen Interpretation, finde ich! Und auch einen meiner liebsten Postkarten im großartigen Set! 👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Ich mag besonders, dass Rotkäppchen in diesem Fall noch mas das kleine, hilflose Mädel ist. Ich hab viele, auf Rotkäppchen gemünzte Bilder gesehehn, in denen das Mädel selbst so ein kämpferisches kleines Biest ist, möglichst noch mit großen Waffen usw. Diese Art der Sicht ist neu, und damit aufs Neue interessant.
Besonders die satten Rottöne sind klasse (und die kleine Spange! 
Großes Kino!
Woah, vielen Dank für deinen Kommentar. Freut mich wirklich, dass es dir gefällt und lass dir gesagt sein: Ich werde grün vor Neid, wenn ich sehe, wie du am PC colorieren kannst... das wird sich mir wohl für immer entziehen
Ich mag deine Motive- die rocken sehr und ich bekomme immer Lust aufs Dark Awakening im KUZ in Mainz XD
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Haha, jaaa, dark partys!
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Oh das KUZ ist strange.
Ich war neulich mit ner Freundin das erste mal dort auf dem Dark awakening und wir hatten beide nicht so nen tollen tag und hatten keinen Bock uns aufzubrezeln, haben uns also nur minimalst geschminkt und ne schwarze Hose und ein schwarzes Top angezogen. Als wir dort ankamen waren dort NUR Königinnen der Nacht unterwegs und zwei Transen in Brautkleidern die aus Prinzip gegen den Takt alles umgetanzt haben was ihnen in den Weg kam. Ich bin mir in meinem Leben noch nie so underdresst vorgekommen. Aber musikalisch wars genial. Ich glaub wir haben zwei Stunden am Stück getanzt.
Ich nehm mir auch immer vor bisschen was düsteres zu malen, aber es werden doch wieder nur Engel oder irgendwelches Fantasy Zeug
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Aus meiner Sicht spricht nie etwas gegen Engel und Fantasy-Zeug im Allgemeinen! Bin mal gepannt!
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Das Bild gefällt mir gut, besonders das Fell des Wolf(pelz)es ist dir unheimlich schön gelungen! Diese stilisierten Bäume im Hintergrund finde ich auf jeden Fall passend, es passt so zu den Kinder-Weihnachtsmärchen in den Stadttheatern des Landes.
Ich denke, es ist eine gelungene Illustration zu Rotkäppchen... Wobei der Wolf/Mensch allerdings wirklich auf verschiedene Arten und Weisen interpretiert werden kann. Wie man allerdings auf die Idee kommen kann, dass der passive Wolfspelz das Mädchen vor dem Mann beschützen solle... Das weiß ich nicht. oO;
Aber das ist ja an sich auch etwas schönes an der Kunst, dass Bilder oft mehrfach interpretierbar sind.
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Seh ich auch so, dass Interpretationen was tolles und wertvolles sind. Mich ärgert es immer, wenn jemand sagt "das ist so und so und ich finds deshalb scheisse!"
Wer seine Meinung hat, sollte anderen auch eine Zugestehn. *find*
Danke für deinen Commy und sorry für die wirklich späte Reaktion.
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*zustimm*
Das mit dem späten Kommentar ist kein Problem, schließlich ist es ja allgemein (leider) nicht selbstverständlich, dass da noch einer kommt.
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So pretty. I adore her bangs and checkered dress, and especially the wolf pelt on the man. Very nice.
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over all i love the compositon with the subdued colour and the stylised trees in the background, they help to highlight the intensity of the colour in the figures and how softly and subtley youve rendered the skin tones, the shadows look awesome and the expression on the girl's face is very poignant, love the textures youve managed to incoporate into the wolf's skin and the shinyness of her hair, its really effective and her patchy clothes give it a kinda punky twist, nicely done
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oh my god sorry for answering you so late!
I really really appreaciate your comment- especially since it is long and lovely
Thank you so much.
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Whoa!
Auf tum Lobeshymnenmarathon, denn das ist wahnsinn, das Bild!
Dieser Wolf ist sowas von großartig dargestellt und coloriert, fast wie fotografiert.
Mannometer. Ich bin gerade ein wenig sprachlos, dazu noch unkreativ, weswegen ich wohl eine etwas aussagekräftigere Bekommentierung des Bildes auf später schiebe.
Nur soviel vorweg: HOWLY CRAPMONKEY!
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Lol... danke. Ich muss mich immer wegschmeißen vor lachen wenn du "holy crapmonkey" sagst. Das hast du neulich im Forum schon mal, da dachte ich, ich fall in Ohnmacht.
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