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Monday, October 06, 2008

Chimera's head (La Testa della Chimera)

This is yet another illustration of one of Hanna Filo's poems ... L'Atto Gretto (Petty Act). There's quite a lot going on in the drawing, but it very basically captures two lines:


Mani congiunte in preghiera
La testa della Chimera

(Hands joined in prayer
The Chimera's head)

A Chimera is a mythical beast with the head of a lion, midsection of a goat, and tail of a serpent. I tried to depict this as a metaphor for the contradictory and sometimes warring aspects of our personalities.

I'm sure Hanna will shed some light on the meaning of the poem in the comments section of this post.

9 comments:

Ms. O. D. said...

this one is really nice, it really captures a chimera. i love the colors, this one seems brighter than the other drawings.

Laura Brown said...

I really like that one. I can see all kind of things in there and I like the faces like that optical illusion where there are two faces facing each other or another one facing forward.

Francis Scudellari said...

@Ms. O.D., Thanks! I used a lot of yellow in the drawing, which probably accounts for the brightness. I need to upgrade my digital camera though ... it's old and the resolution is pretty poor so the image isn't as sharp as it should be.

@Laura Grazie! I put a lot of work into this one, so I'm glad you like it. It grew quite a bit more complex as I worked on it. My original idea was a single face with just the two tails flowing from her hair. As often is the case though, I started seeing other possibilities as I sketched in the details.

fihanna said...

This is number 1!
In addition to the design of orchid, this is absolutely incomparable!
Take the cake!!!
Is that obviously, this design "sanctifies" my poetry that is far more obscene...;P
I describe one narrow,insular act.
Pathology:
Guardavo in sù
Inginocchiata,
Mani congiunte in preghiera,
La testa della Chimera,
Le fauci ghignanti scuotevan la criniera,
Una coda serpentesca mi frustava il viso,
Poi, la bestia si liberò,
E liberò mio sorriso
..
I have certainly given different basically meaning.
GRAZIE FRANCIS!!!

NathanKP said...

Very interesting picture. This is one of the best I've seen on this blog so far.

NathanKP - Imagination Manifesto

Anonymous said...

The synergy you created flows particularly well. What really does it for me is the sharpness of your lines, which contrast with the vivid colors.

Anonymous said...

You do draw hands so well, and yes, even the (divided) face is so elliptical. I've never known someone who can draw as uniquely as you can. Thanks for sharing.
By the way, I've give you also the I love your blog award, weeks ago at my Working Abroad blog. This is the URL
http://wwwworkingabroad.blogspot.com

Cheers.

Susan Helene Gottfried said...

Every time I look at it, I see something different. Francis, this might be one of your best.

Francis Scudellari said...

@Nathan I think I'm still learning a thing or two about the process, so I hope to keep improving.

@Rob Color and flow are definitely very important elements for me. I usually pick more complimentary colors, so the contrasts here make a big difference, and that fits with the theme.

@Jena Thanks, as always. I actually posted about the award you gave me, but then forgot which one it was :(. That's ok ... you got it again :).

@Susan That seems to be the consensus ... and I'm glad you think so too. I think there's something in my personality that tends to turn very simple things into very complex problems ... and that serves me well as far as drawings like this :).