Friday, August 12, 2011

Beauty Remembers the Beast...getting there...and disappointment...

I wonder if I'm the only one who, no matter which version of Beauty and the Beast I read (or see), always feels a sense of disappointment, of anti-climax, when the Beast turns into the handsome prince.  Beauty falls in love with an extraordinary person, she makes a huge leap of faith, and then he turns into a man.  Just another prince, like all the other princes in all the other faery tales.  Did she feel let-down too?  Did she wonder if her sacrifice deserved better?  She loved a beast who turned out to be gentle and loving, yet wild too.  Not the sort of husband who would care about table etiquette, or small talk at parties to keep guests amused.  Not the sort of husband who would care if she went barefoot, or let her hair hang down.  And what does she get?  A prince, for whom all those sorts of things would be of paramount importance.  Not a man to run wild in the woods with...a man who would require a wife who knew how to behave on state occasions, to entertain endless boring sycophants...to behave APPROPRIATELY.

I'd choose the beast, wouldn't you?

My Beauty did.  She's coming along, I've spent HOURS (or rather OWW-ers) hand-lettering the poem  onto the canvas.  Almost done, but OH, my aching fingers and shoulders.  So here are more progress pictures, as requested.

Some winter trees added to the horizon.

The whole canvas.  91cm x 91cm.

Beginning the free-form hand-lettering.  Guess all those hours in Typography and Hand Lettering classes during my Graphic Design course were useful after all!

Close-up.  2nd last verse, phew!



Almost done!

______________________________________________________________________

SIGH!  Just after I posted the pics above, I sat down outside in the sun for a well-deserved cuppa...and got a phone call.  Apparently my entry form, for the Art Award/Competition that I entered "Beauty Remembers" in, did not arrive in time.  Sad to say, it seems that it takes Australia Post 5 days to deliver a letter that I could (and obviously SHOULD) have dropped off myself in 10 minutes.  And it takes the organisers almost two weeks to let me know (on the day before it was to be taken in) that I could have saved myself the trouble of rushing to get it finished.  So I'm feeling rather down and disappointed.  These competitions are a good way to get your artwork out in the public eye.  Ah well, I've finished the pencil and it's now sealed, so I may put it aside for a bit, as I have another painting to do.  Then I can pick it up again and take my time over it.  But here's a pic or two of where it's at now, ready for the 'colour wash' step.


24 comments:

sarah said...

Just stunningly beautiful. Your handwriting alone is like art. There are some versions of Beauty and the Beast in which he does not transform - Robin McKinley wrote one, Rose Daughter.

Trace Willans said...

I just spent the whole week rushing a piece to post today and realised it is too big. So I have some idea of how you feel. I do so agree about the beast. Have you read Rose Daughter by Robil McKinley? Is a nice variation. And thought you might enjoy the wolves over here. http://michelemeisterart.blogspot.com/

mel said...

i have to echo Sarah...the handwriting is exquisite...not to mention the rest of the piece...:D

sorry the Post messed with your entry..perhaps this means it was meant for other things.

thank you for sharing your beautiful art...

ps. yes -- i find it a bit of a let-down that the Beast transforms..i rather prefer him in Beast form.

earthangelsarts said...

Wild and free! That's my kind of guy. Your painting is waiting for a better venue, you wait and see. XX

Pseko said...

I agree with the choice of the beast! It's an injustice to assume beast=criminal.
Did you ever see the Disney movie - the Three Lives of Thomasina? Susan Hampshire's character living as the wild woman in the glen .. The ending I didn't accept. (she sold out)

Enjoy seeing hand lettering ...

Valerianna said...

Oh, what a bummer about the entry!!!

This piece is soo magical. I love it. I love it just in pencil, too and am QUITE impressed with the hand lettering, goodness! Missed that class.....

and, of course, I'd prefer the wild one, I don;'t fix up too well these days. I mean, I think I have, but then the women more practiced in the art remind me that I have not done my "self tanning" gel-stuff or that my unshaven legs are just NOT acceptable! Not that I hang out with any of these women, but there are a few in my family.

the spirit that moves me said...

Looks absolutely amazing!! I couldn't agree more - we need men who can support the wild women inside us (and for us to support the wildness inside them), not put more pressure on us to refine... I love this piece, and perhaps there is another destination for it.

Mo Crow said...

stunning work & wow! re the hand lettering on such a big scale, the silver lining is this one will be all the more magical for the extra gestation.

Unknown said...

wow, very beautifull

Els said...

You know, this work is evolving so beautifully, I'm always eager to see what you did next.
Well very sad for that too late entry .... In time it might be clear that it was for a purpose (aaah what a lousy thing to say), although the disappointment must be great at this moment ...
Maybe it's good to let it rest a bit instead of rushing forward as you planned to ....
Take care!

Karen said...

This is just stunning Christina! Gorgeous! x
I too remember as a child feeling sad when the Beast turned into a Prince.

The Time Sculptor said...

Breathtakingly beautiful illustrations... remind me of a darker, grown-up version of RL Stevenson’s poem The Land of Counterpane. And 'a mermaid in the attic' - what amazing mental pictures that conjures up! Fascinating blog, thanks for sharing.
Jane Gray

Anonymous said...

i choose the beast. beauty does not matter. not really.

herhimnbryn said...

Hallo Mermaid Lady,
I have been following your progress with this wonderful piece. I am sorry Auspost let you down, take heart. Maybe it was meant to be? Maybe your 'Beauty', is waiting for something else to make her presence known.

Her peaceful face and the watchful wolf will stay with me today.

jude said...

amazing to watch

Pixie said...

Beautiful beautiful artwork...and the writing is just stunning....
Love it.
Pixie

Beth Niquette said...

My goodness! You are SO talented. I am just in awe. So absolutely amazing--I am inspired.

deanna7trees said...

amazing.

Von said...

Beautiful work! And hey you now all Princes aren't straightlaced, some like running barefoot through forests and going out in to the world to do good works or pretend not to be Princes!

Suzi Smith said...

Lovin this piece & watching it grow.

MulticoloredPieces said...

Greetings from Tunisia! The non-conformist in me applauds your questions about Beauty and her Beast. Your drawings are fabulous and magical.
best, nadia

Ruthie Redden said...

I would choose the beast to run wild with every time. Stunning work Christina, worth every ow! It was meant to be, and is waiting for the perfect opportunity. x

Sandra van Doorn said...

it’s wonderful to see the process of your work. this is a stunning piece.
xo sandra

Tammie Lee said...

your writing is gorgeous! And i love seeing this gorgeous piece unfold. Sad that you did not make the dead line.

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