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Tears of joy in the garden of giants
By zancan
1K Favourites83 Comments27K Views
Tears of joy in the garden of giants
Oil painting on canvas - 120x200 cm
Among the vast palette of emotions that can be felt, one exists that is rare. It's when one gets filled with a joy so immense that some tears come flooding. This is the barriers that crumble, the instant when the extremes blend into one, though absurd, jubilant defeat. It's the moment when laughter and weep gather, the widest range of feelings concentrated in one.
This canvas has been painted multiple times.
First, numerous sketches and drawings were made, that got lost one night in a metro. Rage!
It has been drawn over... eventually the sketches were recovered by a friend at the Lost&Found, months after.
There has been travels, to visit tropical glasshouses, or dome architecture from the 1900s such as the Grand Palais in Paris.
A painted study was completed using digital tools, which took a few months. Then, going back to the genuine aim, the large canvas was painted entirely again using oils. Then, painted over again, for I thought that the whole image lacked contrast.
It's only with the first days of january 2011 that could be decided that the painting was finished.
---
You can watch a close up here:

This deviation is the painted version of the digital painting that I posted back in 2005: link
To get a sense of scale, here's a old picture of me posing in front of the canvas : link
I'm sorry for the terrible watermark ! It is to protect the picture. I chose that rather than submitting a smaller resolution file, because there are so many tiny details to see..
Take care deviants !
Oil painting on canvas - 120x200 cm
Among the vast palette of emotions that can be felt, one exists that is rare. It's when one gets filled with a joy so immense that some tears come flooding. This is the barriers that crumble, the instant when the extremes blend into one, though absurd, jubilant defeat. It's the moment when laughter and weep gather, the widest range of feelings concentrated in one.
This canvas has been painted multiple times.
First, numerous sketches and drawings were made, that got lost one night in a metro. Rage!
It has been drawn over... eventually the sketches were recovered by a friend at the Lost&Found, months after.
There has been travels, to visit tropical glasshouses, or dome architecture from the 1900s such as the Grand Palais in Paris.
A painted study was completed using digital tools, which took a few months. Then, going back to the genuine aim, the large canvas was painted entirely again using oils. Then, painted over again, for I thought that the whole image lacked contrast.
It's only with the first days of january 2011 that could be decided that the painting was finished.
---
You can watch a close up here:

This deviation is the painted version of the digital painting that I posted back in 2005: link
To get a sense of scale, here's a old picture of me posing in front of the canvas : link
I'm sorry for the terrible watermark ! It is to protect the picture. I chose that rather than submitting a smaller resolution file, because there are so many tiny details to see..
Take care deviants !

Image details
Image size
716x1200px 453.55 KB
Make
i2s Digibook Scanner
Model
Suprascan 2A0 14400 RGB
Published:
© 2012 - 2021 zancan
Comments83
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In all fairness this is my first critique on DA so far... so I apologize in advance if u find it underperforming in any regard...
Ok so beginning from the marble doors and arch far across the scene which is probably the entrance to the area depicted, the choice of material and ornate work on the arch shows that this is either a place of great value or of great sophistication or both.
the open skylight ceiling and the metalwork on the columns gives it a good sense of openness and adds to the vastness of the space
also the people depicted in minuscule is going that extra mile in emphasizing the sheer size of the feminine figures depicted
Which themselves taken separately each tell a story of their own the nearest seems to be in a dance of sorts not happy bu her expressions but still content nonetheless the one above her seems to be in admiration of either herself or something which truly brings her joy, the third seems to be either applauding the sky or somehow speaking of something truly important in her opinion. the one on the right seems to be a little subservient and captive and the two on the archway seem to be overseeing in a rather guard-like manner the space below.
taken together with the whole scene and the plants and vines growing about here and there the painting does live up to its name ... It is joyous in a sense and does invoke a rather festive sense but still there is something mildly melancholic about the muses' outlook
all in all a thought provoking piece I was delighted to behold
Je me rappelle la première fois que j'ai vu cette peinture il y a quelques années, j'ai pleuré. L'émotion de joie que j'ai ressenti en la regardant était incroyable et bouleversant ! Cela reste une de mes préférés et je pense acheter un tirage quand j'aurais l'argent ! Bravo pour cette belle peinture et merci d'avoir partagé ton temps et ton talent avec nous !

This reminds me of a scene in La Belle et La Bete, one of my favorite movies ever with the most fantastic fantasy images like arms coming out of the wall, holding candelabras and stone faces on a fireplace opening their eyes and breathing smoke. This is a beautiful,l fantastic wonderland. Great job! [link]

I featured you in my new journal here: [link] Have a nice day! 

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