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labornthyn — Tree of Life, enhanced view

Published: 2008-04-27 19:38:57 +0000 UTC; Views: 10746; Favourites: 240; Downloads: 10
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Description Tree of Life version more true to the original than the first one I was able to post (which I will leave up in the gallery for a while for the sake of comparison). The text below is the same as in the other posting of this image.

double A4 Canson Bristol; 0.10 Rotring Rapidograph, black ink

The completion of this work was quite a saga for m personally. It was initiated in December 2000 in an apartment in the city of Tianjin, China, and worked on through an intense time into January 2001, after which for various reasons I fell into a depressed state, and the drawing was left only half completed. I ceased drawing for many months thereafter, during which I landed back in the States for a brief interlude, went on a mad bicycle journey through France, across the Alps and down into Italy to end up in Rome in October 2001, where I was soon able to find a job. I hadn't drawn for so many months, and I had to go to the art store to buy new rapidographs, which I had not even thought to pack in my bicycle bags. In a wonderful room in the Pigneto district in the southeast corner of the city, I began to draw again, this time an ouroboros.

Many months, and many strange times beyond this idyllic life, I once again found myself back in the States in December 2002. I was there to fulfill my fantasy of converting my grandfather's workshop, which had been collecting dust and rubbish for the 25 years since his passing, into my personal live/work/art chamber. Thus I spent 9 months in absolute hermetic solitude, sleeping on a reassuringly solid bed of pine planks I built to raise myself above the concrete floor, from which I could stare up at the deer antlers and old felt hunting hat of my grandfather. Nine hours a day, 7 days a week, for nine months, of solid drawing, drinking vodka and watching anime after finishing the shift at 12:30am.

The second half of the above drawing was begun soon after I acquired this domain, in January 2003, and completed in February. So a total of two years separate the top half of this work from the bottom. The completion felt extremely intense, and the ensuing isolation and focus on art was a revelatory time...

Many thanks to and his gray whiskered familiar...
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Comments: 75

labornthyn In reply to ??? [2008-06-17 09:29:12 +0000 UTC]

Man, don't be so unnecessarily hard on yourself. I've got my own problems with art, and could use some of your freshness and wild energy. You've got the spark of creation, the glorious madness...and your work shines. This obsessive accretion of ink that is my drawing, I am trying to move on from it. Now that I use brush, life is more flowing. Rapidograph is a demon's bargain...

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djtodd78 [2008-06-08 08:09:01 +0000 UTC]

Beautiful yet dark. It makes me wonder about how much truth you have/know and why you would isolate yourself to such an extreme. Also, as an English teacher I can't help but notice your writing style which is distinct. Were you a good student in school? Feel free to answer all or none of my questions, either way I won't be offended.

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labornthyn In reply to djtodd78 [2008-06-10 20:19:24 +0000 UTC]

Thanks for writing, I appreciate this comment! The isolation was born of that time. I had the chance to go deep in, and I took it. I think the intensive making of art opens the mind but also sends us into another domain, or sphere of mind, that can appear to isolate us from others, at times. Good to hear from an English teacher, I have done ESL teaching for some time! As far as a student, I was terrible, always reading books on my own and following my own way, not paying attention to what I should. It is good to talk to you, send a note if you like...

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marrek [2008-05-20 20:27:51 +0000 UTC]

It reminds me of TOOL band graphics - psychodelic is to less to say! It's marvellous...so detailed and full of feelings...

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1a-2a [2008-05-19 23:49:15 +0000 UTC]

Maybe I'm just blind, but in the labyrinth, in the fine detail, is there actually a full drawing or just minuscule images. What I mean is, if you made the labyrinth a gap less octagon, would the design be another full image?

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PellucidMind In reply to ??? [2008-05-18 17:33:01 +0000 UTC]

Great artwork

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shadedmirrors [2008-05-18 04:46:28 +0000 UTC]

this is fantastic ....has that anciently sacred feel to it ...brilliant!!!

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im1happy [2008-05-15 17:41:57 +0000 UTC]

This is so amazing and wonderful. OHh the details are so amazing and wonderful just speachless. Thank you for sharing this most beautiful image Excellent work

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DragonInk7 [2008-05-12 18:52:41 +0000 UTC]

This is really freakin awesome!!

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Corviid [2008-05-05 21:59:35 +0000 UTC]

this is quite an epic piece; the multiple stages of working on it reflected in the multiple planes within the picture. I love it!

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Ariad-Arts [2008-05-05 11:48:05 +0000 UTC]

Amazing and wonderfull stuff! I loved to read the little story about how you created it. You seems to be a very interessant person. About this piece: it evoques me many differents things about our "animals roots", the relation between man and nature, and our vision of the world around us. I feel something about spiritual elevation too. (sorry if my english isn't very good!!) Thanks for sharing this wonderful piece!

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obleakpattern [2008-05-02 19:46:11 +0000 UTC]

beyond excellence

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giorjoe In reply to ??? [2008-05-02 01:44:59 +0000 UTC]

What an excellent symbolic piece! So much talent you have put into it! Great work!

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Himmapaan [2008-04-30 21:44:05 +0000 UTC]

Excellent. Thank you so much for this enhanced version.

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tiamat9 [2008-04-29 05:54:57 +0000 UTC]

Stunningly detailed and designed. I love the balance and formation. Striking motifs.

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mil0u [2008-04-28 23:51:27 +0000 UTC]


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labornthyn In reply to mil0u [2008-05-04 19:39:20 +0000 UTC]

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MartinSilvertant [2008-04-28 19:56:52 +0000 UTC]

The amount of details just blows me away. I think the style of the two heads of the human character is a bit of a pity, which is merely a matter of taste than something else. The labyrinth in particular catches my attention. It's so detailed with an ancient look but with a slight elegance to it. Wonderful. Have you ever considered printing one of your works on posters or T-shirts?

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yoyo-play [2008-04-28 09:10:14 +0000 UTC]

finally better preview details are fascinating ...

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labornthyn In reply to yoyo-play [2008-05-04 01:13:09 +0000 UTC]

Excellent, glad you enjoy it (it still could use improvment)...

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your-rotten-angel [2008-04-28 07:30:16 +0000 UTC]

wow...this is fucking amazing....amazing detail....just amazing.

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labornthyn In reply to your-rotten-angel [2008-05-04 01:12:20 +0000 UTC]

Appreciate your enthusiasm!

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DiegoTripodi [2008-04-27 19:58:25 +0000 UTC]

awesome!

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labornthyn In reply to DiegoTripodi [2008-05-04 01:17:11 +0000 UTC]

Thanks!!

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