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snowunmasked ā Opera
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Published: 2009-04-14 22:32:13 +0000 UTC; Views: 37743; Favourites: 1277; Downloads: 336
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Description
11x14" cold press watercolour paper
Watercolour, water-soluble crayon, oil pastel, ink
Gauze pad, surgical tape, blood, tissue, Elmer glue
"At last I am yours, at last you are mine,
A god gives you to me.
Let me share
The greatest pleasures with you,
A smile from merciful heaven,
Life will be ours."
- "Il dolce suono" from Lucia di Lammermoor
by Gaetano Donizetti
Thank you for looking
. . : : katherine-cheng.com : : . .
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Comments: 560
Thank you so much for sharing your very in-depth perception of this piece, it means a lot to me as she is one of my absolute favourites.
I go back and forth regarding what I'm trying to express.
On one hand I was inspired heavily by Il dolce suono from the opera Lucia di Lammermoor. You probably know it from the cult science fiction film The Fifth Element. It tells of the leading lady stabbing her husband unknowingly on the very night of their wedding. The aria commences when she wanders, unknowing of what she's done, to the Great Hall, where the festivities are still being held, and imagines herself marrying her husband again, thinking their enemies have been vanquished.
On the other hand, I feel that none of the violence actually exists. The only constant, is there being a perfect face, submerged in an otherwise injured state of mind.
In any case, your beautiful critique is very much appreciated. Thank you once again for lending your thoughts
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My pleasure 
I'm very taken with the second expression, the injured state of mind. It puts me in mind of various memories of things a nurse I worked with used to tell me of having worked in one of the old fashioned state mental hospitals... And also of the fact that so often one finds beautiful people who on the inside are eaten up with fear and self loathing.
I don't know Lucia di Lammermoor offhand, although it is quite possible I know the aria, or other arias from it, as I listen to our classicfm radio station a lot, but I tend to tune out the talking... (a bad habit in some ways!) But what a story! The description of the aria puts me in mind of Lady Macbeth, for some reason.
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Katie, your pictures are always a treat to look at, but this one is especially amazing. The various techniques and media that have gone into this work of art, and the way they collide and mix is amazing. The detail on the eye and the makeup around it is superb, with the beautiful blending of colors. The way you overlaid Keith's picture on top of yours only adds to the "colorfully depressed" vibe I get from this picture. It makes it look like the picture was smeared down, or water was spilled.
The entire piece has, as I mentioned like 3 lines above, a "colorfully depressing" vibe mixed with a lot of emotionally charged symbolism.
Overall, this is an amazing picture that, if I had the money, I would buy and hang on my wall right away. You're an artistic genius, Katie, you really are. e.deviantart.com/emoticons/s/sā¦ " width="15" height="15" alt="
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Thank you so much Dale, your words are greatly appreciated
This piece is being reserved for a client 
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It's amazing the way you always manage to create artworks with such deep messages in them and with so many symbols! What attracted me in this one is the way you represented the blood spilling from the wound. The drops looks like petals and the fact they're red makes mes think of them as if they were red rose petals. Another thing that made me wonder about this work is the fact you decided to draw one eye closed by a tissue and some tape, and the other eye wide open yet inhanimated as if the person is lost in her thoughts. The mouth is semi-opened as just to show us she's trying to say something but words aren't coming out.
Nothing to comment on the technique side as I really think there is nothing that needs to be improved here.
It's another masterpiece!
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Thank you so much Daniela
I feel she's just at a loss for words
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One day maybe she'll fine the words.
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Perhaps I'm not in the best position to offer critique since I don't paint and can't discuss your methods, and I don't really have anything to suggest or any criticism to offer. I hope that a critique made simply of 'how things makes me feel' is alright.
One of my favourite things in the world is hearing a beautiful song with an up-tempo melody and warmly jingling guitars only to listen more closely to the lyrics and realise that the song is about something dark and sinister, wrapped up in happy sounds.
This picture is the visual version of one of those songs for me. At first, it appears bright and cheerful, filled with strong shades blended like peacock feathers or oil on water. And then I saw the razor blade. And I smiled a little wider.
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Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts, Tanya
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You would get turned on by a razor blade.
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This is an absolutely stunning work of art. I was immediately drawn to the eye, which is exquisitely rendered. I feel that the angle of the face really adds mood, drama, and atmosphere to the overall imagery. Opera has always appealed to me, although I do realize it is an acquired taste. You certainly have captured the feel of tragedy and romance in the piece. The expression of the face is both enigmatic and revealing. Is it a sense of bliss, of melancholy, of emptiness, of indifference, of elation, of relief, of euphoria, of desire...perhaps all of these feelings. The coloring is elegant with striking hues of red and blue. Self mutilation/suicide is a challenging theme to depict in art, but you have done it in a creative and intense manner. The petals, perhaps a reflection of your love of nature, are a strong and unusual visual touch. So while there is violence in the imagery, it feels serene and dream-like. Gorgeous, fluid linework and excellent mixture of mediums( every element to my eye seems immaculately arranged). Great use of the gauze pad/blood as well. It adds a touch of realism and makes the composition more visceral. I feel that this is your best piece...personal and highly visionary.
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Thank you so much... I am very happy that the effects Opera (in general) can have on me came through in the painting.
And it's true, what you mentioned of the violence feeling serene and dream-like... to me the violence doesn't even exist
Thank you again for your wonderful words
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You're welcome
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The first thing that got my attention while sifting through thumbnails was the eye. I think it is really well rendered. The glimmer is accurate and the shading around the eye is very nice. As I sit and study the piece, I find all these wonderful details. I like the use of blood. Keep in mind the color may change over time but a very good attempt at exploring non- traditional mediums. If it is yours, then you have literally put a part of yourself in the painting. The mixed media usage in this painting is intriguing too. The use of the gauze is well thought out and surprising to me when I realized what it was and why it was there.
The use of color is arresting and attention grabbing. The mixed media techniques you employed are inventive and well thought out. These things coupled together make for a successful painting. Well done!
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Oh and it's Keith's blood, because it's a very intensive colour and in fact maintains the red for a LONG time, there are some prints of his using blood that still looks fresh and brand new even after years. Just have to be careful not to expose it to light as often
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To be honest I've no idea why the gauze pad is there
Thank you for sharing your thoughts
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You don't have to know why you do something in your artwork. I think it is what makes art "art", things coming from the soul.
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I don't think we need to know why, either. Does make me wonder... and I suppose the ambiguity, even for myself, is what makes it so remarkable.
You know that feeling, where it's more like watching the painting paint itself rather than you painting it... it's nice to be an audience for our own work, at least while they're in creation.
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It also keeps the art universal and personal for the viewer.
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I can see so many influences, especially coming from Satoshi Kon.
More so, just this apparition, a reality caused by a string of irrational thoughts and delusional episodes... yet they hold more form than other memories that might even tickle you in funny places.
I'd say the next phase for you is more mixing of these mediums, to continually take those "enveloping" rivers of content and literally paint them through your eyes.
Relating to interpretation, it's evident how purposeless that has become.
Love it pep pep
(apparently my worthless 86 words were far too short to summarily summarize how I can be content with summarizing this in 86 words.)e.deviantart.com/emoticons/t/tā¦ " width="15" height="15" alt="
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When I saw this in my deviation inbox the first thing that struck me was the beauty of the piece. The big blue eye, rendered in a way that was made for beauty. The soft but vibrant eye shadow. The lips. The blue. The petals, even.
But when I full viewed and read the description I was floored. This wasn't just a shiny pretty girl. It's a tragedy and a love story. It's about giving part of yourself to another. The sacrifices for love. And I realised - those petals are wounds and blood - or maybe they're both.
I adore how you used real materials like gauze and even blood! While I'm sure many artists like you have used blood in a piece, I think it is still something that has a very real impact. I don't know whether it is your own, but it adds a new level of symbolism and meaning. Sacrifice for art as well as love. Which is probably the same thing to a lot of us here on deviantART.
It's perfectly titled - it is like what I imagine a great opera to be about. Love, drama, but ultimately something incredibly beautiful. Anyone who has given up something for someone they love will get something out of this piece. It's exactly the sort of art I love - beautiful visually appealing use of colour and line, but also something with a strong symbolic meaning to it, or at least that's what I personally get out of it.
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Oh my god what happened to my Grammar
...
... inspiration came from the crescendo in an opera scene as listed in the description... a sudden slash followed by the blooming of one full image.
>_>
lol I'm so used to doing corrections from top to bottom. Even having been out of school for almost 5 years now.
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Thank you so much for your beautiful words... and I am delighted you enjoy the title. I have so little understanding of my own work, where they come from, what they mean and how or even if they reflect a part of myself... inspiration came from the crescendo an opera scene as listed in the description... a sudden slash follows by the blooming of one full image. It was a gorgeous experience, and even now I can comprehend nothing... therefore I'm all the more appreciative of the perception you have shared
The blood is my husband's, by the way. His has a far more substantial colour than mine, which is unfortunately rather pink than deep red
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I am not a traditional artist and so I'm not too certain if my opinion carries as much merit as someone who is familiar with this genre first hand. Regardless - I had to compliment your unusual addition of the gauze/tape over the eye - it gave this work a painfully raw vibe - something that I didn't expect from the thumbnail as it originally looked light and colorful like some of your previous works.
This has a VERY emotional feeling - I hope that you do more like this - it is touching and affects the onlooker in a way that I can't fully explain. It just...moved me. It made me wonder if perhaps this self inflicted pain on the girl was ....euphoric for her?
Art is suppose to evoke such emotions e.deviantart.com/emoticons/s/sā¦ " width="15" height="15" alt="
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This is just one of those pieces that turned out exactly the way I envisioned, and additionally, one of the few pieces that actually look pretty good in digital format... so in that sense I am happy
I have no idea how to perceive this image... euphoria is certainly a wonderful way of putting it though...
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts
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this is the very first deviation that I felt compelled to critique - I'm glad that it was one of your creations
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... I am more than honoured
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I don't know what you've got in your mind by painting such a wonderful image who tells a story about sadness and hurting themselves. The emptiness in her eye with those wide open pupil starring at something what might beyond any imagination. The bloody band-aid and the razor-blade in her hand just tells you what she was doing to herself. Why does a gorgeous woman like her hurt herself so much to get rid of pain that might lay down in her heart.??? Her mouth just opened up to whisper something we don't understand at all. The wonderful green in her eye doesn't recognize what she was doing ... only emptiness and sadness starring at you.
Wonderful colors and one of the best images of yours. I do love every piece of you but this is just beyond any word. Nothing really can describe this piece of art and only the imagination flow from one thought to another.
For this piece I give in every part 5 stars because it let the imagination run and the originality is just amazing.
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The more I try to rationalise the more I don't understand this piece... I have absolutely no idea how this image was concieved, or what it could possibly mean. It is in fact truly painful... heartbreaking in fact... to view this in the perception of "causing pain".
I almost cried, reading your words... thank you so much for sharing your thoughts Jurgen
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Don't cry my sweet little Katie because it's just my imagination and the thoughts you might have had deep in your mind .... I love your style because every piece is different and from now on I'll leave my critique under every picture I love very much.
As Poet I always try to get into the mind of my counterpart because I love how the mind can tricks you
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Thank you always for being there, Jurgen
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For you always because you are very special
BTW ... you never told me if you tried the recipe I gave you the last time and if how turned it out
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Haha we haven't made that yet
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You haven't made anything I gave to you even the Rinderroulade or the white chicken
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No, I've not yet 
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And I thougt you would cook white curry chix on the weekend
You better hurry up and tell Keith to cook some of the recipes I gave to you both
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Haha no, we only were able to make the baked ham and potato salad.
I'M ALWAYS PESTERING ABOUT IT
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You should do that moar maybe he will cook it
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Quite an exceptional piece. I'm feeling a mix of emotions flowing from this image. Regret and even sorrow can be read from this piece. However, this does not distract from the pictures overall beauty. The use of coloring in both the background and the foreground image are simply stunning. A great use of detail placed was placed into the facial features. The razor blade cutting into the face with petal falling around it rather than blood is a very interesting concept and was executed greatly. This is nothing less than the work of a true artistic genius and should be recognized as such. Overall, and excellent piece.
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Thank you kindly for sharing your thoughts on this, my friend... Deeply appreciated
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You're more than welcome.
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I thought this was beautiful so I just had to get a closer look. It is simply gorgeous!!! The image is a bit sad but from the bright and cheerful colours you used, it kept your work away from being depressing. Nice colour choices. It's a lovely piece
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Thank you
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its beautiful but sad when you look at it. but overall i think its amazing (eye color and color in general)
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