Tuesday, October 16, 2012

light in the forest


Some time ago I created an illustration that contained a water element - it was a dragon, water spirit. I enjoyed working on this so much that I wanted to try this with other elements and see where can it take me.

It was instantly clear to me that I need to start with earth.

One day at the beginning of August I went to my favorite park, drank great tea and made two sketches with a pen.
Of those two I picked the first one and couple of days later made another drawing - I used the basic composition from the original park sketch. This is a real place that anyone can visit. I wanted to try and capture more than what you can see. I wanted to capture the moment when you are a part of a forest, when you feel that there is more to this place than you can possibly see with your eyes.

I also had a strong memory of the "order" of the place - the way all branches were organized naturally and perfectly, and the shapes and directions of the light. So that´s what I was remembering with the second sketch. 





I scanned my second sketch to my computer and started working in Photoshop.
For some reason I did not want to erase anything, I felt that I should not worry whether the strokes are perfect or not, that I should keep everything the way it first came to me.. this is not my usual process, I tend to try a lot of versions and variations, always comparing them with one another to the smallest detail... 

I just kept thinking about the layers of light that you experience while in the forest..how there is space for everything and despite the fact that everything around you is alive - there is still space for you and this small human body too..




So this is my experience with the element earth and creating this picture.
Enjoy.


DB


Those who dwell among the beauties and mysteries of the earth are never alone or weary of life. 

Rachel Carson 



The earth does not belong to us. We belong to the earth.
 

Chief Seattle, The Chief Seattle's Speech




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