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oddballoffun —
How do you see me?
Published: 2008-06-27 08:05:41 +0000 UTC; Views: 8719; Favourites: 273; Downloads: 125
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Description
How do you see me?How do I see me?
I used to find my scars ugly and repulsive. Fat purple slugs on my skin that wouldn't leave me alone. People would stare and ask about them. Total strangers would look at them in disgust, and that made me feel disgusting.
I felt like they defined how other people thought of me; If my scars were ugly, then so was I.
It's taken a long long time, but now I see them for what they are. A part of me. They may not be pretty, but it doesn't make me ugly, and anyone who truly loves me will be able to see past them and find the beauty on the inside, and maybe even find some in them.
There will be no more gloves, no more makeup. I won't hide them for fear of other people's oppinion anymore. I can be beautiful too. Perfect even.
This peice is completley and utterly inspired by ^StJoan , who's poem Scars [link] brought me to tears with the realisation that I didn't HAVE to be ugly in my own mind, that as a part of me, my scars could be beautiful too.
It hit me like a brick to the head, I'd never thought of it that way before, and I was amazed that I hadn't.
Even now, it still makes me cry, it hits that close to the heart.
So this peice is half thankyou to St Joan, and half declaration. I was so inspired by her, that I had to try and inspire people myself, and art is my way how.
I hope I have even half as much of an impact on you as she had on me.
Please, right now, go and read the poem that started this all [link]
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Materials:
My new prismacolour pencils!!! My parents bought 120 of them for me for chrissie! best gift EVER!!
A3 watercolour paper, it's a bit too textured for these new soft pencils, so I'll remember that for next time.
Reference is me! With a bit of photographic self portrait advice from *homicidal-mistress , as I fail at photography. it took about 150 shots to get that one, and even then the top of my head and the back of my head missed the frame!
The entire thing is an experiment, new pencils, new perspective, strange photography, and a new colour scheme, not to mention a new outlook.
I can't keep away from symbolism, but this time it's not so crowded, and I'm not going to explain it to you.
I AM THINKING ABOUT SELLING PRINTS OF THIS WORK IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED!
Please note me, comment or email me at poketheturtle@hotmail.com.
This work is copyright to Rhiannon Lavis (~oddballoffun ) and may not be copied or re-distributed without my express written consent. I really like this work, so don't you bastards steal or I'll leave angry, venomous snakes in your bed, then sue you.
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Comments: 122
Isn't it brilliant! I'm so glad you finally got the exposure that message deserves!
And both on the same day, double the effect!
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A beautiful piece of art and wonderful inspiration.
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I'm so glad you like it!! Thankyou!
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I have scars of my own and learned to love them. They make us unique, they speak of experience and triumphs. Embrace them, they are beautiful just like you
This piece is spectacular
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this is beautiful, and if that's a self portrait, so are you!
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Haha you make me blush!
Thank you so much for your kind words, and yes, it is a self portrait. I couldn't find a single reference photo that was exactly what I needed, so I had to make my own.
I like the way it turned out, its much more personal.
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you're very welcome ^_^
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A stunningly effective and unique color scheme, and some of the most delicately and gracefully rendered facial features I've ever seen; altogether beautiful.
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You just made me deliriously happy!
I won't wipe this loony grin off my face for a week!
Thank you so much for your amazing feedback on everything! It always means so much coming from an artist I admire!
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It's so gorgeous.. I wish I could draw like that
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It's nothing but practice, determination and references.
References will save your life if you learn how to use them.
I don't doubt you will be able to if you set your mind to it!
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Well, I try and try and try 
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All skill is is training your hand to accurately inscribe the image in your head.
Artistic talent is having an image worthy of drawing.
I've seen your stuff, you have a good eye for composition and subject, it's mostly your medium that is failing you. You draw too light on the page, so there is little there to see when you don't know what is supposed to be there.
Don't be afraid to use darker graphite, put more shading on, or even use something like charcoal.
I was never any good at charcoal, and ended up black from head to toe, but I found ballpoint pens suited my purpose just as well.
Don't be afraid of making mistakes, and try to avoid rubbing out things. That's why pens inks and paints are such good media to work with, because you can't erase anything, so you train yourself to get it right the first time.
You're doing well already, so don't beat yourself up. I really liked your River picture, it's got an interesting perspective and pose, which I can honestly tell you is better than anything I could muster up when I was learning. Everything was front on perspective and full centred portraits, most of the time with very stiff poses and body language too. Not very interesting to look at.
So like I said, don't pay yourself out. You're doing great. And confidence in your own ability is incredibly important. Art comes from the imagination, and if you can't believe or imagine that you can create something as good as the best artists on here, how can you?
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That's kinda like.. exactly right.. EXACTLY..
I AM scared of messing up, so I play save, I guess.. But I do have to say that most of my art is 'better looking' then here, simply cause I have to take pictures of it.. And that doesn't really improve the quality either, but you're right, they're still very light.
I think I should experiment more with different different things 
I should soo work on that too -__-
Thanks a lot though, for your advise! Cause it helps ^^
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One trick to fixing up the lightness of your scans/photos is to run them through photoshop and up the contrast on them. Fiddle around with the lightness/contrast tool and it will make your darks darker without making the whole thing a shade of grey.
And you'll find most art looks better in the physical than it does on screen.
Even when you print out digital art.
The confidence is a bit more difficult, but the first thing you need to learn is to accept and absorb a compliment. It's one of the hardest things artists learn, because we are our own worst critic. But when someone says "wow, that's awesome", believe them, and don't argue with them.
Something that simple can make a world of difference.
And don't worry about sounding conceited or looking up yourself about your work, your art is to be proud of, and artists have the right to be confident and flashy about that, if nothing else.
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I know it's been ages ago since you gave me your good advice, but..
Thanks a lot
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