Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Illustration Friday - Cocoon

She decided to be brave and leave the protective cocoon she had built around herself.
(acrylic paint and coarse molding paste on 4 x 6 inch Strathmore acrylic paper)

Over the weekend, I prepared a number of surfaces with gesso and various molding pastes for the joy of painting on a textured background. She came together quite nicely and I had fun experimenting with the colors, which started out in pinks and turquoises before shifting toward turquoise, neutrals and red. At the very end, I decided she needed to have "brave" stamped on her just in case she gets fearful again...

If you like her as much as I do, you can find both the original and a print version of her in my Etsy shop (click here), which I updated quite a bit yesterday.
Posted by Silke Powers at 4:44 AM
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38 comments:

  1. Micki WildeMay 4, 2010 at 5:17 AM

    She's lovely and it's quite amusing as I watched the film 'Cocoon' on tv yesterday!! ;)

    Micki x

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  2. illustration poetryMay 4, 2010 at 5:37 AM

    hello there Pretty!

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  3. KathyMay 4, 2010 at 6:38 AM

    Beautiful as always!

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  4. VictoriaMay 4, 2010 at 7:30 AM

    Hi Silke..she is so beautiful a soul and gentle a spirit....she reminds me of Amelie..who had to learn to be brave and take risks! Did you ever see that movie?..it is my favorite ever!! Gorgeous work!! She is special!
    Kiki~

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  5. roberto M.May 4, 2010 at 8:27 AM

    Silke, beautiful painting, i love it!!!

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  6. studio pashnadaMay 4, 2010 at 8:49 AM

    she looks very brave - I like those colors (want to use them in my laundry room)

    updating your Etsy Shop - that's something I desperately need to do. the online stuff takes as much time as the art - and not all of it is as fun (tho I sure LOVE blogland!)

    do you have much success with Etsy? have you tried the other venues whose names slip my mind now?

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  7. RikaMay 4, 2010 at 9:11 AM

    Beautiful painting Silke!

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  8. Mr. H.May 4, 2010 at 9:22 AM

    Very pretty Silke, I really like this one. She has such a forlorn look about her.

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  9. Doris SturmMay 4, 2010 at 9:28 AM

    Just like your lovely lady, I will be brave and try to break out of my protective cocoon of blubber and fat for I (as you know) have joined Weight Watchers - again - in an attempt to look as pretty as your painting ;-)

    p.s. we have a light rain at the moment, Silke, but it's one of those skies that looks like it will be the same all day long - do you remember those blank skies when it snowed in Germany? That's what it reminds me of here, only it's rain!
    Love,
    Doris :-)

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  10. roberto M.May 4, 2010 at 9:36 AM

    I'll try the next fool moon, thanks for your advice!!!!

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  11. UnknownMay 4, 2010 at 9:46 AM

    Hi Silke,

    Saw you on Kelly Rae's class comments so I popped over to check out your blog. I'm glad you decided to pick up a paintbrush, you definitely have a talent for it.:)
    Best wishes to you and I hope to get to know you in class!

    ♥Jenny

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  12. Such a Wondrous Place this Faery SpaceMay 4, 2010 at 9:54 AM

    Fabulous! Brave! She is soo great! She seems to have wings in her mind! Great! Blessings.

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  13. yoboroboMay 4, 2010 at 10:13 AM

    Hi Silke! I love your painting. The textures are great - I have to try some textured canvases. You and Anne have inspired me! xox

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  14. Marie SMay 4, 2010 at 10:59 AM

    I love that you paint on textured surfaces. It seems to me to add depth and I bet in person they are more than they appear on this little screen. Your textured surfaces, though, are art by themselves. The last one was gorgeous.
    This brave girl is one of my favorites Silke. She is wonderful!

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  15. GlorV1May 4, 2010 at 11:03 AM

    Ditto with Pam's comment. I too have to try this textured look. It really looks Great Silke. You always do a great job in all your work. Have a wonderful rest of the week.

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  16. DeborahMay 4, 2010 at 11:48 AM

    Oh I lOvE! Especially the stamp of brave...just to remind her. I think I shall write it on my hand today! **blows kisses** Deb

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  17. mermaidenMay 4, 2010 at 12:52 PM

    i find the combination of blue and red so compelling. this is a wonderful piece.

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  18. Elizabeth ParsonsMay 4, 2010 at 2:03 PM

    your painted textures sound devine! I just bought some modeling paste last week to experiment...
    nice take on cocoon too!
    eBeth

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  19. Elizabeth ParsonsMay 4, 2010 at 2:06 PM

    forgot to say- your header for your blog would be a perfect piece for cocoon too!
    eBeth

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  20. JessMay 4, 2010 at 3:27 PM

    She's beautiful and I think YOU're very brave covering up the pretty colours with neutrals. It's really paid off and you've made a lovely piece of work!xx

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  21. ManonMay 4, 2010 at 3:48 PM

    She is lovely and she appears to be brave to me!! Another lovely piece, Silke!!

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  22. Bella SinclairMay 4, 2010 at 4:38 PM

    Gorgeous! You are genius to add the word brave in there. And the red circles lend such a wonderful dynamic to it. Beautiful!

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  23. AnonymousMay 4, 2010 at 4:47 PM

    Hallo Silke, auf mich wirkt sie etwas träumerisch - aber mit bestimmtem Blick. Sie weiß genau, was sie will. Mir gefällt die Farbgestaltung sehr. Liebe Grüße, Inge

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  24. Elisabeth J.-S.May 4, 2010 at 4:54 PM

    Hallo Silke
    ich freu mich dass Du auf mein Blog mitliest. Leider hab ich das mit dem Übersetzer noch nicht raus. Ich bin Computerneuling und da dauert alles länger.
    Kennst Du Bilder der Malerin Frieda Kahlo? Dein Bild hat mich spontan an sie erinnert.
    Eines meiner Tageskinder kommt aus Indianapolis. So ist die Welt vernetzt, find ich toll
    Wish you a nice time
    Elisabeth

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  25. AnonymousMay 4, 2010 at 7:30 PM

    Silke, I lovee that.The touches of red are what stands out and makes it simply gorgeous!

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  26. Ces AdorioMay 4, 2010 at 7:43 PM

    Yes, we have to leave our cocoons some time or another. However, if you need a place to stay, I have room in the Pig Sty Alley. Rent is cheap.

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  27. Lisa HoltzmanMay 4, 2010 at 7:48 PM

    Oooh, I love your use of color and textures on her, and the "brave" stamp is a wonderful dimension to add.

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  28. lilylovekinMay 4, 2010 at 8:07 PM

    Loved what this painting said. I was talking about that on my post today about building a protected life. It might be time to break free.

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  29. MrBibleHeadMay 5, 2010 at 1:05 AM

    Another enchanting piece Silke!

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  30. Elisabeth J.-S.May 5, 2010 at 1:47 AM

    Hallo Silke
    bei uns ist es ja nun früh am Morgen. Es ist mir noch nie passiert, dass mich ein Bild beschäftigt. Ich mußte es mir gleich heute morgen nochmal anschauen. Den Namen Frida Kahlo habe ich gestern auch falsch geschrieben. Ohne "ie" im Vornamen. Aber ich werde auch jetzt wieder an ihre Bilder erinnert. Sie hat glaub ich meistens die Gesichter ein bißchen mehr von der Seite gemalt. Das Leben dieser Malerin hat mich immer schon fasziniert. Kennst Du sie?
    I`ll come back again
    Elisabeth

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  31. UnknownMay 5, 2010 at 2:05 AM

    Hi Silke!!! this is another wonderful piece....I think it is important to be brave.....

    Have a wonderful day!!!

    Hugs
    Diana

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  32. Lori annMay 5, 2010 at 2:11 AM

    I love her. And the red circles, so interesting. Don't you wish that writing brave on ourselves made it so (in real life)? you are so creative Silke. love to you!

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  33. SnowbrushMay 5, 2010 at 2:55 AM

    I like her very much, Silke.

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  34. Theresa MacNaughtonMay 5, 2010 at 3:40 PM

    Wonderful painting, Silke! Each one keeps getting better and better. Love the colors you used for her. Theresa

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  35. BethMay 5, 2010 at 6:34 PM

    Another fabulous color palette! And I never stop being impressed by how you capture so much emotion in your lady's eyes. You also add the perfect words every time. Nice!

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  36. Valerie LorimerMay 5, 2010 at 7:55 PM

    This is gorgeous! Love the colors, Silke.

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  37. LAUREN STRATTONMay 5, 2010 at 9:05 PM

    lovely textures!

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  38. Karen DMay 6, 2010 at 9:20 AM

    She is beautiful and I love watching you grow in your art.

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