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graphiteforlunch — Formed of Stars

Published: 2012-10-05 06:30:35 +0000 UTC; Views: 2510; Favourites: 174; Downloads: 43
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Description Nebulacat!
(Actually, it is supposed to be a nimravid. Nebulanimravid.)
It could use more detail. Still deciding whether to leave as speedpaint like this or do more with it with all the little nebulous and starry details.
Looking at `balaa 's incredible images, and then listening to the gorgeous music written for the collab of hers:
(SERIOUSLY go check it out, it is amazing!) I was suddenly absolutely overcome with inspiration.
My mind started spinning with thoughts of how we are all made from material that was formed in stars. I thought (as I often find myself doing) of ancient species long extinct, forever lost to us, many never seen by human eyes, how they were made of stardust too, how they have returned to dust. I thought of how strangely sad and beautiful it all is.
The time these creatures had to walk the earth has passed, yet I desperately want them to be alive. Yes, part of it is curiosity- what fur patterns did Dinictis have to offer? What color were Smilodon populator's eyes? Yet even if there were some amazing fossil discoveries that answered these questions (similar to how they have found ways to decipher some dinosaur colorations), they could not entirely quench my thirst. I long for some part of these beasts to live on in some way. It is hard to describe how much I desire this.
The silent stars do not answer me, at least not outright. No ancient purr rumbles from the soil beneath my feet. Wind sighs through the trees, swirling around this planet as it always has.

This cosmos, all bound together by cycles, continues to exist, and time seems to lose its significance. The same matter that made up the blood and flesh of nimravids, of mastodons, of dinosaurs even... it is all here, somewhere, still existing. We of course know of them because we find fossils of their bones in the earth. They are long gone, yet disassembled they remain. And they are not forgotten.

“The nitrogen in our DNA, the calcium in our teeth, the iron in our blood, the carbon in our apple pies were made in the interiors of collapsing stars. We are made of starstuff.”
― Carl Sagan, Cosmos

So here's to life, miraculous life. We are momentarily heirs to this earth, and how will we leave it to the generations who will come after? Give or take a hundred years, everyone alive now will probably be about as alive as a trilobite. But it is a rich heritage. We are made of the same stuff as they were, after all. All formed of stars.
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Comments: 32

rathacat [2013-01-28 06:21:35 +0000 UTC]

I love this concept and the concept behind it. Perhaps some nimravid starstuff still exists in us.

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graphiteforlunch In reply to rathacat [2013-01-29 07:29:45 +0000 UTC]

Thank you so much! It's neat to think about.

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deathmango [2013-01-15 08:51:06 +0000 UTC]

Wow, I just saw this in Sheila Ruth's favorites -- what a lovely image. I'm familiar with the yearning you express so well in your description, though I'd never found a way to verbalize it. You capture that feeling (and the related sense of awe) with your words. It's overwhelming to think of all the stories we will never know. But your prose and image hint at the connectedness, too. Somehow that's a comfort I find directly related to the awareness of uncrossable distance. It's an odd symmetry, no?

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graphiteforlunch In reply to deathmango [2013-01-18 05:21:46 +0000 UTC]

Ahh, thank you so much for your wonderful words! Yes, it is odd, the symmetry of it. Somehow knowing that there is so much that we won't know, so many stories lost to time, so much distance, yet all connected too, it does sort of bring a feeling of unity. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Someday when I get better at space art I hope to try this again and make it really look like a satellite-taken photo of a formation that also resembles form of a living (or once-living) creature. I appreciate you dropping by and commenting!

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SheilaRuth [2012-12-30 14:54:42 +0000 UTC]

This is stunningly beautiful! I love the concept!

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graphiteforlunch In reply to SheilaRuth [2013-01-02 16:29:27 +0000 UTC]

Thank you so much! I hope to grow my skill with space art to execute this concept more clearly in the future.

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hawkbreath1 [2012-11-25 20:15:04 +0000 UTC]

Wow this is beautiful!

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graphiteforlunch In reply to hawkbreath1 [2012-12-12 08:46:52 +0000 UTC]

Thanks!

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hawkbreath1 In reply to graphiteforlunch [2012-12-12 21:46:02 +0000 UTC]

Welcome!

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erarosaimmortal21 [2012-10-09 15:35:01 +0000 UTC]

Really beautiful!
I like your take on how we're part of the universe and how everything exists. I agree with you. Oh, and I love that quote.

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graphiteforlunch In reply to erarosaimmortal21 [2012-10-20 06:00:57 +0000 UTC]

Thank you so much for your kind words! Yes, he has some fantastic quotes, doesn't he? They just stick in my head!

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erarosaimmortal21 In reply to graphiteforlunch [2012-10-20 11:07:34 +0000 UTC]

Yes, he sure does! You're welcome!
I'm fond of people that admire great quotes, use quotes.

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ladylioness5 [2012-10-07 01:17:27 +0000 UTC]

I agree with your take on our existance. you worded it better than I ever could have. And this inspired art is very awesome to look at. Wish I had your talent.

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graphiteforlunch In reply to ladylioness5 [2012-10-08 21:56:29 +0000 UTC]

Aww, thank you so much for your kind and encouraging words! I am glad you are a part of this wonderful universe!

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Wishesonthemoon [2012-10-06 14:29:08 +0000 UTC]

Oh wow this is beautiful

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graphiteforlunch In reply to Wishesonthemoon [2012-10-08 21:56:40 +0000 UTC]

Thank you so much!

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balaa [2012-10-05 19:22:23 +0000 UTC]

I am humbled to know my creation inspired such beautiful dreams in you. I always felt that one of the greatest honors any artist could experience was to see their creation spark another new creation. It is a joyous feeling I celebrate with all my being! Thank you, in turn, for your inspiration and the wonder you kindled in my day <:. I am also thrilled to see someone else familiar with Carl Sagan's work. He has been one of my greatest inspirations in the past few years and I suspect his view on the universe and our place in it will continue to shape what I create and why. Please continue to create visions from this heart of yours...such places of wonder lie in wait and we..who are made of starstuff..can create something that never existed in the universe...what a privilege we have as artists!

Dream into the long deep, between the falling stars and rising eyes. Let your eyes not be clouded by doubt but filled ever with the awe we were meant to feel... Dream on <:

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graphiteforlunch In reply to balaa [2012-10-08 21:55:27 +0000 UTC]

Aww, thank you, thank you so much for those words. I cannot stop creating, cannot stop dreaming. And you, dream on as well. Your fantastic visions create a ripple effect of wonder... I am sure that there are many more like me who look at your work and feel a call to dream deeper, to hone our art more as we aspire to excellence. It makes me so happy to know that my sharing with you brightened your day. Artists truly do have a privilege, nearly (or truly) sacred in nature. How fortunate we are to have this wide universe to dance and dream in. Thank you again for your encouraging words. They set my heart on fire!

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balaa In reply to graphiteforlunch [2012-10-10 18:10:01 +0000 UTC]

Gosh I wish I could favorite comments <:..I revel in your kind words and the dreams I see take flight within them! Thank you for painting my skies with your inspiration. I hope other artists take such inspiration from each other, such potent fuel to kindle new stars <: !!!

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MysticalMysticism [2012-10-05 17:40:03 +0000 UTC]

My goodness, this is breathtakingly stunningly beautiful!

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graphiteforlunch In reply to MysticalMysticism [2012-10-08 21:57:15 +0000 UTC]

Aww, thank you! :3

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MysticalMysticism In reply to graphiteforlunch [2012-10-08 22:12:26 +0000 UTC]

truely beautiful message aswell!

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graphiteforlunch In reply to MysticalMysticism [2012-10-09 02:02:13 +0000 UTC]

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layperson [2012-10-05 11:56:29 +0000 UTC]

amazing cat

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graphiteforlunch In reply to layperson [2012-10-08 21:56:50 +0000 UTC]

Thank you so much!

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sordid-justice [2012-10-05 11:38:55 +0000 UTC]

So pretty o.o

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graphiteforlunch In reply to sordid-justice [2012-10-08 21:57:07 +0000 UTC]

Thank you so much!

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surpriselilydesigns [2012-10-05 06:52:44 +0000 UTC]

I love this! and that Carl Sagan quote is one of my favorites!

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graphiteforlunch In reply to surpriselilydesigns [2012-10-05 07:24:20 +0000 UTC]

Thank you! And yeah, this quote is very cool! I was remembering pieces of it while I was drawing but had to look it up and see who it was by. Sagan has some great quotes.

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Nin-kaii [2012-10-05 06:44:16 +0000 UTC]

Awesome! I got inspired by this!

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graphiteforlunch In reply to Nin-kaii [2012-10-05 06:45:04 +0000 UTC]

Yay! Glad to hear it!

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Nin-kaii In reply to graphiteforlunch [2012-10-05 06:46:34 +0000 UTC]

^-^

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