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Contraltissimo — Prone to Wander

Published: 2011-05-10 00:11:18 +0000 UTC; Views: 946; Favourites: 18; Downloads: 37
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Description Hm, my camera did the same two-tone job on this one too....

Named for the lyrics from that hymn, Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing:

Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
prone to leave the God I love;
here's my heart, O take and seal it,
seal it for thy courts above.
Robert Robinson, 1735-1790
This was our final homework project for Drawing I. In this assignment we were to "create a personal shrine, comprised of objects that have significance and meaning to you....Using objects of your choice, think about perhaps constructing a narrative, or a statement about you and your life."

Among other things.

So the shrine I made was kinda the story of my life.... I try to keep Jesus front and center, and my family and my church are very important to me, way up high in the picture.... but there are so many fun and distracting things elsewhere in this big wonderful world that I just like to chase after! Escapism and creative pursuits and what have you.... I tried to put in lots of details that would distract the eye, and business and interesting visual noise that would keep the viewer occupied (as there are many things in life that are distracting).... but I tried to keep the area of highest contrast centered on Christ, because that is where I want the eye to ultimately be directed.

And my teacher gave me 35/30 on it!! "+5 for extra effort" she said.

"A truly exceptional drawing - with great variety of value, texture, shape - everything is fully realized - and well organized - a strong sense of peace, calm & beauty."

My teacher said that. And lots of other stuff too. ^_^ I'm proud of it, so I thought I'd share.


Charcoal and white stuff on Arches 90LB Hot Press Watercolor Paper (22"x30")
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Comments: 53

Contraltissimo In reply to ??? [2015-04-29 04:59:18 +0000 UTC]

Thank you so much! ^__^ Haha, dirty secret: I went to a Deseret Book and bought the little family portrait, and the temple figurine, just so I could set them up for this picture. I planned to then return them! But I liked the family portrait thing so much that I kept that one.

I am sure with your prayers he will. I wish him all the best of luck in his studies!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

JackieStarSister [2014-11-18 03:40:48 +0000 UTC]

I put this in my Favorites a long time ago, but I only recently learned the song with that lyrics. It's one of my favorites! And this piece is wonderful in concept and artwork.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Contraltissimo In reply to JackieStarSister [2014-12-09 02:19:11 +0000 UTC]

Oh my goodness, isn't it a lovely song? ;u;

And thanks so much for taking another look, friend!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

masterrohan [2011-05-28 23:10:20 +0000 UTC]

Phenomenal!

(Antonio Banderas accent): "I give you 40/30!!!!! +10!!! (low and sultry) But it is not as beautiful as you!"

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Contraltissimo In reply to masterrohan [2011-05-29 07:17:37 +0000 UTC]

Ohhh yooouuu....

Hee hee.... thank you so much!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

anhedral [2011-05-15 14:14:24 +0000 UTC]

Your teacher called it right.
You've worked in a digidesign interface, a tuning fork, and Toothless. That made me smile. And is that an ocarina in the middle?

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Contraltissimo In reply to anhedral [2011-05-17 02:08:22 +0000 UTC]

Thank you so much!
And Haha! You recognized the digidesign! That's awesome. And of course, couldn't leave either the tuning fork OR little Toothless outta the picture. And yes that IS an ocarina! Two birds with one stone for my shrine: I like instruments.... AND video games!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Calico321 [2011-05-13 22:07:15 +0000 UTC]

That's amazing


(and sort of off topic, but I wanted to boast to someone who'd appreciate it - my husband bought me a couple of Hiccup figures, the Toothless that shoots the fireball, and Astrid!! It made me think of your Plastic Adventures )

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Contraltissimo In reply to Calico321 [2011-05-14 07:22:26 +0000 UTC]

Haha! Thanks!

And WOOOOOO!! Bawwww, that is so awesome. Now that is love, right there.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

JamLover [2011-05-11 03:49:01 +0000 UTC]

!!!! That's fantastic!! I love all the little things and details in it, like the tuning fork and all the little titles of the books! And I'm feeling lazy, so I'm sorry for the short and stupid comment!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Contraltissimo In reply to JamLover [2011-05-12 20:22:04 +0000 UTC]

Thanks so much! And eeeeee you saw the little tuning fork!! Hehehehehe.... That one was actually a last minute addition to the still-life because.... I'm uncomfortable having it not on my person. So I added it like.... the morning before the afternoon it was due.

Glad you like all the details and stuff!

And posh. There are no stupid comments!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

JamLover In reply to Contraltissimo [2011-05-17 04:30:54 +0000 UTC]

Dude, my eyes ZEROED IN on the tuning fork like it was the most important thing in the picture! The ocarina was a close second (I reeaaally want a ocarina, but they're so dang expensive! I have been sadly playing Song of Storms on my family's old ugly and out-of-tune upright for TOO LONG! )
But your attachement is totally understandable! My ipod has 4 piano apps (each with different pros and cons) so I can plunk out a tune whenever I need to

... Only stupid people writing comments!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Mohegan567 [2011-05-10 10:46:34 +0000 UTC]

I spot a little Toothless there and the Jesus statue really stands out! It's so difficult to make a statue made from (marmer?) look this good! Wow wow wow!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Contraltissimo In reply to Mohegan567 [2011-05-10 20:11:32 +0000 UTC]

Haha! I didn't "make" the still life to that effect! Naw, that statue was just sitting on the piano minding its own business, so I used it.

And yay you saw Toothless!

Thanks so much! I'm glad you like!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Bintavivi [2011-05-10 06:11:04 +0000 UTC]

Oh. My. God.



I am literally staring at this. This is...WOW. I adore the subtle changes in the charcoal work (may I mention you just reached an even higher place on my respect scale?) and the way all items are organized and the shading which is totally amazing and...everything.

Link's ocarina. Your pendant (). The microphone. Treasure Island!!!!! ...Oh! Mini Toothless is there too!
Music of course. Music is everywhere in this.

Exceptional work indeed. Congrats, congrats, congrats!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Contraltissimo In reply to Bintavivi [2011-05-10 20:09:52 +0000 UTC]

Aohhhh Bintavivi thank you so much!

Hehe, I've grown quite fond of charcoal! I'm one of those people that don't like to get their hands dirty, but.... there's just so much you can do with it! Who cares if it makes a mess?

Hee hee hee.... it's fun to see you recognize the different things in the still life.... And oh, yes, music.... That sheet music there.... I just opened a little homemade book of photocopied carols in page protectors. Opened to my favorite song in there, In Dulce Jubilo. Because oh my gosh caroling with my family.... just singing with my family.... is probably I daresay one of my very favorite things in this world.

Hehe and you saw the little Toothless too!

Thank you so much Bintavivi!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

SweetReichel [2011-05-10 03:48:46 +0000 UTC]

Just amazing, not only the technique and result but also the whole concept. I loved to see our Lord in the center of your drawing--and your life. I hope you go on like that

Congratulations for the 35/30! In my opinion, you deserved it. I agree with the comment of your teacher.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Contraltissimo In reply to SweetReichel [2011-05-10 07:17:41 +0000 UTC]

Thank you so much! I intend to; I think it's a good way to go.

Bawww, your comment makes me so happy. Thank you again.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

InuyashaWarrior [2011-05-10 03:11:00 +0000 UTC]

I don't know what that necklace is from...it looks extremely familiar, but I can't seem to place it. All I know is that I want one.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Contraltissimo In reply to InuyashaWarrior [2011-05-10 07:10:09 +0000 UTC]

I think, some time after it was gifted to me, I realized one connection in my mind....

A teacher of mine had vacationed with her family in Hawaii. She brought this necklace back and gave it to me. (She's so sweet! ) She told me the shape of it, the image, the emblem, was called a koru, and that, like an uncurling fern frond, it signifies life and growth. (Or something like that---I could be botching it completely. )

And then I remembered The Wind Waker. You know, that Zelda game? You see that koru pattern everywhere. It's even on Link's belt buckle. And I figured, well that makes sense. Islander and all that?

That was my experience with it anyway. Is that anywhere close to what you were thinking about?

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

InuyashaWarrior In reply to Contraltissimo [2011-05-11 02:18:01 +0000 UTC]

That's awesome. I don't have anything with that much significance in my meager collection of stuff. But I do have a class-ring that my dad found while digging at a college somewhere doing installs. It's dated 1933, and has three initials in a very fancy styling in the inside band.

Yes, that's actually probably it. It'd have to be some series or something that I've seen or heard of before, because I don't actually do a lot of gaming. But that's just plain awesome...I want one. I actually need something to replace my old necklace that I got in the mountains...they have leather workers EVERYWHERE, and I got a handmade necklace with a 'ring' shape on it...it broke one day when I was being stupid, and I gave the leather chord away. But it was so awesome.... good times...

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

kokorotoyume [2011-05-10 02:58:32 +0000 UTC]

Jealousy rate... rising...

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Contraltissimo In reply to kokorotoyume [2011-05-10 07:05:34 +0000 UTC]

Wuh-oh!

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FjordMustang [2011-05-10 02:54:26 +0000 UTC]

it is a beautiful drawing- you show well, here. that focusing on simple images is often the best- you bring your message across in a very powerful and yet beautiful, simply-eloquent way

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Contraltissimo In reply to FjordMustang [2011-05-10 07:05:08 +0000 UTC]

Oh.... Your comment just makes me so.... happy.

Hehe, actually I was thinking about you a lot of the time drawing this.... especially the pile of books. There was no way I could leave that book out of my shrine.

Yeah, just made me think of you.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

FjordMustang In reply to Contraltissimo [2011-05-10 13:19:59 +0000 UTC]

Wow! You were thinking about me... and you are still alive. :-D

Oh, yeh! Starship Troopers! Heinlein. I am purring now.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Utukki-Girl [2011-05-10 02:29:57 +0000 UTC]

Wow, this could be my shrine, down to the last detail -- except I'm terrible at journal keeping and need to do better. I love the detail on the temple, and the Christus statue is especially remarkable because of how you captured the light reflecting off the marble - or porcelain miniature, as the case may be. Absolutely beautiful!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Contraltissimo In reply to Utukki-Girl [2011-05-10 07:00:48 +0000 UTC]

Hehe, yep it's a porcelain one.

And OH MY GOSH the little Temple.... Man, that thing was givin' me conniptions! So many details! But I'm glad I finally got it to look the way it does.

I'm so glad you like it! Thanks so much for your kind comments!


And it's never too late to start journaling more.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Eleanor-Aetheling [2011-05-10 01:12:29 +0000 UTC]

This is soo lovely! Very detailed. So VERY well done! Did you use a photo reference?

GAH! My heart's song! First heard that verse sung in a movie and loved it, but didn't know what it was. Then found Jars of Clay's version and had a fangirl moment! (Love Jars of Clay!)

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Contraltissimo In reply to Eleanor-Aetheling [2011-05-10 01:32:50 +0000 UTC]

Thank you so much! And haha, I wish! No, no, I had to stare and stare at the actual shrine over on that table behind the couch, there. No photo reference.

And oh, isn't it such a beautiful song? What movie did you hear it in?

And I've never heard of Jars of Clay! I'll have to look them up now....

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Eleanor-Aetheling In reply to Contraltissimo [2011-05-10 02:08:28 +0000 UTC]

I heard it in Love Comes Softly. It's the first movie I saw Katherine Heigl in. It's based on a Christian romance book series.

Jars of Clay did that song as part of a collaboration with other Christian artist. It's called the City on a Hill series. Three discs. Come Thou Fount is on the third disc called The Gathering. Of course, I like ALL of Jars of Clay's works! I hope you do too!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

SweetSunny77 [2011-05-10 01:12:00 +0000 UTC]

Ocarina. Of. Time. o-o

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Contraltissimo In reply to SweetSunny77 [2011-05-10 01:23:58 +0000 UTC]

YES. 8D

[link]

Holy crap did his prices go up? Hmmm....

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

SweetSunny77 In reply to Contraltissimo [2011-05-10 02:47:51 +0000 UTC]

That is so cool. o.o
Holy freakin' crap I don't have that kind of money, but it's still beyond epic. 8D

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Contraltissimo In reply to SweetSunny77 [2011-05-10 02:50:34 +0000 UTC]

Yeah I do not think they used to be that expensive. o.O Hm, maybe it's those fancypants boxes he's puttin 'em in now. I don't have one of those.

Or he's just grown extra proud of himself.

But yes.... the Ocarina of Time is.... very much fun and awesomeness.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

SweetSunny77 In reply to Contraltissimo [2011-05-10 02:56:30 +0000 UTC]

It HAS to be the box! Did you see how shiny that thing was? O.o

Have you tired playing the tunes from the game yet?

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Contraltissimo In reply to SweetSunny77 [2011-05-10 06:41:25 +0000 UTC]

Hehe, I got mine many many moons ago.... It's been a while since I've looked at that songbook.... Hmm.... maybe I should go fiddle with it again....

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

SweetSunny77 In reply to Contraltissimo [2011-05-11 04:47:38 +0000 UTC]

If a pony shows up then it starts to rain it wasn't my fault.

(I really hope you get that reference otherwise I'm going to sound like an idiot >.< )

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Contraltissimo In reply to SweetSunny77 [2011-05-11 07:02:48 +0000 UTC]

*LOL*

Well I tried this one song.... but I didn't get to try anymore because for some strange reason night fell really fast and I couldn't read the music anymore....

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

SweetSunny77 In reply to Contraltissimo [2011-05-11 20:59:50 +0000 UTC]

Lol that's the dangers of Ocarina playing. You might not learn more than one song. XD

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

forestfairyunicorn [2011-05-10 00:51:19 +0000 UTC]

WOOHOO!!!! Awesome work, miss!

And yes, I believe in Christ, too

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Contraltissimo In reply to forestfairyunicorn [2011-05-10 01:21:21 +0000 UTC]

Thanks so much!

Hehe, it makes me think of that sig, can't remember whose it was.... It just said " Jesus is my homie! "

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

forestfairyunicorn In reply to Contraltissimo [2011-05-10 01:33:57 +0000 UTC]

XDD

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Crownflame [2011-05-10 00:16:36 +0000 UTC]

OMG YOU HAVE THE SAME UGLY-ASS SPRING-LOADED TOOTHLESS THINGY I DO. XD

That fabric is so incredible. Like, you don't even know.

And again, your grasp on lighting... my gosh, it's so incredible. I'm jealous much. XD

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Contraltissimo In reply to Crownflame [2011-05-10 00:32:43 +0000 UTC]

YAY YOU SAW THE LITTLE TOOTHLESS!!!

Yeah, there was no way I could put together a shrine without putting SOMETHING How To Train Your Dragon in there....

Glad you like the fabric! It was tedious.

Gwaaa, thank you so much again.... I just love your words.... they make me happy.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Crownflame In reply to Contraltissimo [2011-05-10 06:05:33 +0000 UTC]

Of course I did. I knew there had to be SOMETHING HTTYD in there. XD I was on the lookout. XD

I bet! But it doesn't look like you did what I usually do and end up fudging it up out of boredom. It looks gorgeous, like you didn't rush any of it- it's really nice.

XD Again, never a problem.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Kali-Balekrone [2011-05-10 00:16:18 +0000 UTC]

*clicks second link and faints again *

Oh golly! THIS IS AMAZING!!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Contraltissimo In reply to Kali-Balekrone [2011-05-10 00:25:12 +0000 UTC]

Oh you are too sweet!

Thanks friend!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Kali-Balekrone In reply to Contraltissimo [2011-05-10 00:27:58 +0000 UTC]

Yur welcome!

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StrobinoArt [2011-05-10 00:12:13 +0000 UTC]

Nice job on the Jesus

👍: 0 ⏩: 1


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