Wednesday, July 8, 2009

The Three Muses: Surreal





CECI N'EST PAS UNE PIKE
digital collage 12ins x 12ins

This week's Three Muses challenge has been set by Marie (Ozstuff) and she has invited us to create a Surreal image. As is often the case, my image took on a life of its own and evolved into something possibly more whimsical than surreal although arguably, ducks have a pretty surreal air about them, most of the time, without recourse to donning on fancy dress. Anyway, it's a duck and to create it, I scanned three paintings from an auction sale catalogue and digitally collaged them together. The head and wings were extracted from
Ducks on a Pond painted by Walter Hunt in 1901; the torso and arms holding a dog, and the bloomer bottoms and feet were extracted from two English School paintings, both dated 1830. I do wonder who these lovely girls were, what became of them and how they would feel if they knew that almost 200 years after being painted, bits of them would become the body parts of a digital duck. To do them both justice, I intend to develop two more images that will include their faces. In fact, the face of one of them remained in the image until quite a late stage of its development when the duck finally won. The skirt was made with a feather element from a digital kit.

And now, as they say, for something completely different...


Alberta of Amusing Muses is a remarkable lady. If I had just returned from a trip to New York, I'd be unpacking my smalls and drinking industrial quantities of gin and tonic to recover from the flight, but what does Alberta do? She hasn't been home for five minutes and she's giving out awards to other artist bloggers. What's more, she has sent one to me! Thank you Alberta! There is, however, a catch: I have to share seven random facts about myself. Whilst typing my seven facts, it occurred to me that it might be more fun to scrap a page or collage about them, so that is what I'm going to do. Watch this space Alberta but please, don't hold your breath...

The Three Muses
Ozstuff
Amusing Muses

Credits: skirt made with a feather element from
Kiss Of The White Princess by Glam Fairy Designs; striped bow and picture frame from Altered Halloween available at Miss Crow's Magickal Emporium; dried flowers from Dried Fall Florals by Jen Ulasiewicz; Paper scrap behind fish from Fancy Neutral Melody Papers by Jen Ulasiewicz; fish from Gone Fishing by Cindy Wetmiller at Wetfish Designs; Background paper (recoloured and overlaid) is from Jofia Devoe's The Bright Night and the floor was extracted and recoloured from an interior papers in the Bunnies, Bees and Bird's Big Balloon collection by Lorie Davison

24 comments:

LW said...

An enchanting surreal piece…
I hope you do not mind but I put this on my desktop
So I can look at it all day…

Louise

Sandy said...

Yeah this is absolutely surreal.
Brilliant design and work. Love them.

indybev said...

Oh Lumi, what fun!! This is exquisite, and deliciously surreal. Thanks for sharing the process of its creation, and thanks for taking part in our challenge!

Martina said...

WOW this is just so stunning! Amazing interpretation of the theme.

Taluula said...

Oh Miss Lumi this is a delight and wonderfully surreal. You have such a creative talent for this style of art. Great job.

Katherine said...

This style looks really good on you!

Lori Saul said...

I knew you would create a surreal masterpiece- and you did. Your work is always inspiring and expressive in so many ways!

AliMayes said...

Absolutely marvellous work, so clever!
Ali xx

Luisa Migon said...

Totally surreal!!! Great!!!

lynne h said...

lumi, i second what everyone else has said. and boy, i sure do love those legs and shoes...

thank you for the smile...

: )

xo

Terri Kahrs said...

OMG! This piece is absolutely stunning! It has such an elegant surreal look. Fabulous! Hugs, Terri

WildGoose said...

I agree with you - whimsically surreal, indeed! Thanks for the information as to what sources you referred to put together your so very seamless layers... very elegant!

~*~Patty S said...

Fantastic and perfectly surreal!!!

DMG said...

I think you are the undisputedly the reigning queen of surreal in Blogland, Lu! As you know, I think all of your work conveys an atmosphere of beautiful strangeness, but this is the one is absolutely in a realm of its own. Why in heaven's name aren't you doing children's books? You are SO gifted!

DMG said...

Oh and btw, who says I DIDN'T drink a dozen gin and tonics?

Sandra said...

OMG absolutely amazing and surreal, you are my hero! And I can't wait to see those facts the Lumi way ;-)

Ozstuff said...

Lumi, I am almost lost for words which is very unlike me! Your surreal is magnificent, superb, stunning, wonderful, without peer. Standing ovation from me.

Seth said...

Love the whimsy in this piece!

Anonymous said...

Fantastic!

vintage wil said...

Its gorgeous!!!

Anonymous said...

Oh! This is so good and so surreal!!!

*itKuPiLLi* said...

This is absolutely surreal and fabulous, I love it.

Anne (cornucopia) said...

Wow, great idea! I love this.

Tumble Fish Studio said...

Okay, don't think I didn't notice the fish in the corner up there! Always love fish in art! hee hee
I love your duck - love it more than I can tell you. You captured that duck's inner exquisite self and gave all participants a new and fabulous life! I adore it!
marsha