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Tolkyes — Stars and Snow
Published: 2011-01-11 18:43:08 +0000 UTC; Views: 7160; Favourites: 327; Downloads: 0
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Description
Oil on canvas. 15"x30".A Christmas-themed painting.
I finished it Jan.4.
I was also working on a short story and a few other things so it's a bit late for Christmas. Oh, well- better late than never.
In the sky I painted images from photos of nebulae I came across.
The cool-colored nebula (above the branches of the tree) looked like snow falling to me. I forgot what that nebula was called.
The warmer colored nebula in the upper right is called the Swan Nebula. The image below it is an exploding Quasar which reminded me of Christmas lights.
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Comments: 78
Thanks! This is one of my personal favorites because it combines Winter imagery with outer space. Two of my favorite subjects.
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You get a lot of your insparation from space, huh?
Same.
I am just facinated by the nebula's amazing color variations!!
But my space stuff doesn't come out as good... plus I do it on the computer and I'm very young. I would still like to be as good as you, someday. Your artworks are truly an insparation to my muse!!
~Leah~
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I selected photos of nebulae from National Geographic magazines and library books. Then I made color and black and white copies of various sizes at the local copier store.
I rubbed dark blue (or you can use dark purple) oil pastel stick on the backs of the B&W copies. You don't have to thoroughly cover the backs of the copies with oil pastel, just enough so that a light line will appear when you trace over the front of the copies with a ball point pen, creating lines for you to follow onto the canvas. Then I used the color copies to look at.
It's still not all that easy though when you actually start painting. It takes practice. You have to be patient, starting with the light colors first then gradually blending in the dark colors.
You may want to try this.
I don't really know much about computer art. It doesn't interest me. I like to paint and draw by hand. It takes a lot longer but to me a painting isn't a real painting unless it's actually painted with paint.
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I have to agree with you when it comes to painting/drawing by hand... safe to say, I can't really do very well on the computer(It's just the space art I do on the computer, pretty much, I've posted some if you wanna see.), I like having physical contact with whatever I'm drawing/painting. Although I can't paint that well, I am born drawer. I do use pastel ocasionally to color one of my drawings but I don't it all that often. I would really like to make beautiful nebulae like yours, but I guess you're right, being that awesome has to take experience and time. (I bet I'm wayyyy younger than you, so yeah... you probably have more experience doing this thing.)
I WILL SO TRY PAINTING AGAIN!!! 
Thank you for your reply!
~Leah~
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Well just keep practicing. Your gallery shows great promise.
Ever since I was a kid I could draw fairly well but it wasn't until college that my drawing and painting skills really blossomed.
I remember one of my professors saying that most artists don't reach their peak until they're around forty.
That was sort of true in my case, as well. It wasn't until I was in my forties when I finally realized what I really wanted to paint.
Of course now with computers we are all exposed to a greater variety of art on a vast scale. As a result, younger artists may mature at a faster rate now. At the same time though, I imagine it can be a bit overwhelming as well.
With visual art as with writing, after looking everything over, in the end it's best to base your work on that which means the most to you personally.
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I'm Speechless
MAGNIFICENT MASTER PIECE
Love every detail
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Thank you. I've always liked the idea of stone ruins in the snow with a traveler seeking shelter there and making a fire. I've painted that theme several times now. It's sort of a metaphor: we lone individuals coping with life, trying to make the best of certain situations.
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When I looked your piece I instantly felt that way, see colours, light and beauty in everything around us... although darkness and gray tones are beautiful too.
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oh my god this is beautiful. I'm going to watch you after I finish going through your gallery
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Thank you. I'm most flattered.
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you're welcome, your work is so beautiful and inspiring!
also i love that you're a big fan of Yes and King Crimson
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THAT. CHRISTMAS. TREE. LOOKS. REAL. This is awesome!~ : D
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You make visual what people like us can only dream of in our heads...thank you for showing the world what its like to have an imagination...and be able to give a glimpse.
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Such a kaleidoscope of colors and light. I like the association between space and Christmas. Lovely.
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Thank you. I've always liked how stars and nebula remind me of Christmas lights.
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Thank you. I feel that it is one of my better paintings.
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Thank you very much. Your work is coming along nicely, by the way. I am submitting some of your artwork to my 'LandscapePainting' group.
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Just wow! Just wow! 
What I like the most is the colors, you have managed to get them all working together that it becomes mystic and magical! I would love to be there physically, experiencing this nature's wonder!
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Thank you so much! I was a painting major in college back in the late 1970's-early '80's but I had no real direction. I went to work at my dad's commercial art studio for 25 years and didn't do much painting/fine art until 1998. That's when I started actively pursuing painting- my surreal/fantasy landscapes.
"Stars and Snow" took me about a month to paint, which is usual with me. I can spend anywhere from 120 to 200 hours on a painting.
I like to paint spontaneously when I can but looking at photos helps for certain areas.
Even though I live in Florida, I am originally from up north and I love to look at photos of Winter scenes. I especially like snow on cloudy days as well as dusk or dawn- when the snow looks blue or purple.
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A month eh? Nice.. good to know because I'm starting out with oil painting and well let's say I'm still new in this area. 
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Its so amazing to see your stuff in my inbox. And seeing your written explanation is half the fun experience.
8)
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Why, thank you. I'm glad you like my explanations too, because my work is personal for the most part.
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Thank you. This painting does have a little extra magical something to it.
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Thank you. You have a very beautiful garden by the way. I like to paint gardens.
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My Garden was Designed from the start to be a Photography Garden. It looks much better in my Photos than it does in a walkthru
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So much to see and so much to feel in the painting. And I agree with what people say, it warm and inviting despite the fact of there being a lot of snow in there 
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Thank you. Though it is a snow scene, I didn't want it to appear bleak but rather uplifting instead.
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You certainly did succeed in doing that in your painting.
& you're welcome
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wow very cool feeling to this piece. the purple really gives this painting a look unlike almost any other piece ive seen. great job.
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This is really beautiful! The colors are spectacular and the painting feels so warm and lifelike.
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I prefer painting from imagination but looking at nature and working from photos, can give ones work an added sense of reality.
There are certain colors, like purple snow at dusk or unusual color combinations in clouds that are unexpected.
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This is so beautiful! I especially love the way you used all the purple on the snow... so pretty!
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Thank you. When I first started painting snow scenes 11 years ago, I used to use a lot of blue when I was depicting snow at dusk. Sometimes they looked fine but other times they didn't look quite right.
Over time, I noticed from looking more closely at photos of snow at sunrise or sunset, the snow is actually more purple in color.
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