Never Coming Home

[Celtic_Emperor]

When she heard her husband's unit was coming home she was beside herself with joy....only now she's beside herself for another reason as men in military uniforms relucantly greet her at her door...

Artwork by & © Damien Jones

Drawn with tablet in Painter 9.

 

[Celtic_Emperor]

thats so beautiful!!! I love how you did her hair 🙂

Thank you. :happy:

 

[Sockstickler]

This is a really great picture. I really like how you did her hair too. I'm also really impressed with how you colored her skin. I've seen some artists have a problem with that, but it looks really good. The whole picture does really.

 

[Celtic_Emperor]

Thank you. 🙂

Paintings are fun.

 

[Sockstickler]

You're definitely welcome 🙂 Looking at this one, it is a really poignant piece when you consider the story behind it, and you see how sad she is, and it really touches you.

 

[Celtic_Emperor]

Yeah, someone on DA commented to this one with:

" awwwwww T______T shes too pretty to be crying *_*"

To which I said:

"Yes, she is. Thats what makes it cruel."

Not to say that less attractive people should cry or anything, but you get the idea. LOL 😛

 

[MTJpub]

Nicely done. Striking detail on the hair, flower and kimono.

 

[a1532b]

I like it. Your work keeps getting better and better, vlad. Did you colour this in photoshop or is it an actual painting? Either way the detail is pretty darn sharp! 😀

 

[Celtic_Emperor]

Nicely done. Striking detail on the hair, flower and kimono.

Thank you. 🙂

Attention to details were really important with this one.

 

[Celtic_Emperor]

I like it. Your work keeps getting better and better, vlad. Did you colour this in photoshop or is it an actual painting? Either way the detail is pretty darn sharp! 😀

Thank you. 🙂

As I said in the post, I drew this on my tablet in painter 9. I don't use photoshop.

 

[a1532b]

Oh, haha, I completely missed that. Now I feel very stupid. 😀

 

[Celtic_Emperor]

No need to feel stupid. It was a legitimate question anyway. 🙂

Some people have mistaken some of my digital work for actual paintings. Sometimes they can't tell the difference unless I point it out.

 

[MistressValerie1]

Beautifully done!

 

[Celtic_Emperor]

Thank you. 😱

 

[Low_Roads]

This is lovely, Vlad. You've captured a very delicate mood: the girl's agony is quite aching. Beautiful technique... her presence is so palpable you can all but touch her; her complexion is fair but very well modeled... a delicate suggestion of moistness to lips and distracted dullness to the eyes (one can easily sense the introspection that grief has forced her to assume). As mentioned, the hair weaving and decoration are intricate without overwhelming the mood, without attracting attention from the face and compromising the emotional tone. One can't view this lady's grief without a shared surge of saddness. It's really superior work.

 

[Celtic_Emperor]

I was waiting to see what you would have to say as your comments are always as detailed as the pictures themselves, and that always makes for an excellent combination. Thank you again, my friend. 🙂

Her single tear is the only life in her otherwise motionless and dead silence. The moment is agonizingly slow and her very breath abandons her. I think it is scenes like this that make being an artist so wonder, as it allows us to express such a powerful array of emotions in a way any human being can understand.

Coincidentally, it was the 7th aniversary of my father's death recently. While this picture had nothing to do with that earlier on, it did in the final stages when coloring and such.

I never did cry over my father's death initially when I recieved the news. I didn't know what to feel, so I didn't until much later. I have mourned the loss, but don't focus on it as I know for a fact (not wishful thinking, denial or faith, a fact) that he is in a better place.

Still, this picture has allowed me to express those emotions in perhaps one of the best ways I know how. And for that, perhaps it wasn't coincidence then that I drew this when I did. Whether it was or it wasn't, I'm glad I did this; it adds variety to my work and leaves me better off than I was before. 🙂

 

[nessonite1]

Zowwie! VERY nicely done! This style suits you.

 

[BigNorm]

damn, that's a good pic, your defeinitely improving.

 

[Celtic_Emperor]

@ ness:

Thank you. 🙂 Its a welcome change, these photo-realistic paintings/portraits. They add variety to my collection.

@ Norm:

Thank you. 🙂 I've been capable of painting like this for quite some time now, I just haven't had the time to really commit to something special like this.

And when you're comparing it to mere oekakis and sketches, of course it looks like an improvement. LOL 😛

 

[rajee]

Outstanding Vlad. I was very impressed with your sketch in TMF a while back but the finished painting just blew me away. As others have stated, the theme of the painting is very sad, somber and touching. I was moved by the description and the sketch. Now I am even more moved by the finished painting.
This in my humble opinion has to be 1 of your finest/best paintings/artwork if not the best.
😀

 

[Celtic_Emperor]

Thank you very much, my friend. 😀

" I shagged her, babe! Yeah! But you don't have to worry, I have no feelings for Alota! She's the villiage bicycle! Everyone's gotten a ride!"- Austin Powers

 

[Celtic_Emperor]

I thought I'd add the rough sketch here as well. I have several different phases of this piece where only parts of it are colored, but it's probably better to show what this all started with. 🙂