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balaa β€” Frailty of Memory

Published: 2012-07-16 01:55:08 +0000 UTC; Views: 31488; Favourites: 2383; Downloads: 0
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Description ~~~
"Frail is memory that once shone bright. The earthly body that faded then, has left her spirit from within to seek her place in hearts beyond. Recall the wind that blew her fore and held her aft. The sands collide and steal her breath so she may drown in lonliness.

But one persists when others cannot and lights her torch in memory, until the dawn and there still beyond. Persist frail memory when we cannot.
~~~

A personal piece and companion to: Persistence of Memory . Originally i created two concepts for the painting done for the magazine and though I chose one, the other still lingered and held me close. So between other projects I have been shaping this one, hoping to tease it's enigmatic visage to completion.

The story for both images is that of a spirit that shepherds memory, a white cheetah that lives in the heart of the Sahara. She wanders the lonely sloping dunes leaving the light of memory as her only tracks. But in the secret places where memory is being kindled into a flame that may last for eternity she transforms into a fragile lantern that fills the night with dappled dreams. And with the coming of the dawn she fades into the sand, her light lingering where she has walked.

I decided to slightly exaggerate some of her features for this painting, chiefly the long neck which is meant to cast her in a more supernatural light. The composition was deliberately more disconcerting than the open resolved composition in Persistence of Memory. Here her ritual has been interrupted by the viewer and she turns to look upon him. The viewer,with a mounting sense claustrophobia looks upon her with uncertainty, uncertain of her intent of the reason she shines.

Well anyway..that's what I was hoping to portray .

~~~
Tools: Photoshop
Size: 6200x3600 at 300dpi
Prints: Find prints in my store at [link]
_____________________________
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Comments: 105

xRainsong [2018-02-14 08:36:39 +0000 UTC]

this reminds me of a dream i had once, long ago very beautiful <3

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LeoDragonsWorks [2016-02-12 10:42:51 +0000 UTC]

I just love this lantern jaguar, the light spot effect is great!

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PleisarPup [2014-10-29 20:00:35 +0000 UTC]

I love the concept behind this and you've captured it beautifully!

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syd-f [2014-10-14 19:28:22 +0000 UTC]

he-he Namibia - link

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DrillRostrum [2014-07-24 22:38:37 +0000 UTC]

WowΒ 

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RenaisAngel [2014-04-20 02:53:44 +0000 UTC]

the way this is painted
It makes me think of acrylic paints
BEAUTIFUL

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Indianimations [2014-01-27 00:22:43 +0000 UTC]

This is one of the most beautiful pieces of art I have ever seen! Amazing concept, lovely lighting and brilliant artwork

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XenaTalhaoui [2013-12-13 13:26:30 +0000 UTC]

Totally fall for this picture Amazing work!

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walkthecreativepath [2013-11-02 16:46:14 +0000 UTC]

Marvelous work!

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LadyAnora [2013-10-08 11:18:54 +0000 UTC]

This is an amazing idea!

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Lunicc [2013-09-20 15:03:05 +0000 UTC]

oh my god...I fell in love with this *-*Β 

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Xx1Hope1xX [2013-02-21 06:50:58 +0000 UTC]

While drawing like the oictures caould you make a video so we can watch it?

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Shattered-Glass75 [2013-01-07 22:09:56 +0000 UTC]

This is amazing!

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jasonc2 [2013-01-02 21:16:18 +0000 UTC]

Awesome! Your skill with color and contrast is wonderful.

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ghiti [2012-12-17 09:42:58 +0000 UTC]

Beautiful/surrealism

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wolfofdesire [2012-12-14 12:22:46 +0000 UTC]

AMAZING

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graphiteforlunch [2012-12-10 23:48:07 +0000 UTC]

This is just so lovely. I'm so glad you offer prints of this. I noticed that at some point since I first saw this, you tweaked the design back to a more realistic neck, etc, and I like it even better now! Looking forward to seeing the results of whatever inspiration strikes you next.

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balaa In reply to graphiteforlunch [2012-12-11 07:29:43 +0000 UTC]

Thank you so very much for noticing that! It was something I had fought with for a long while and was just never happy with the other version. The composition and message just didn't work that way. I wanted her to look timid when she was shining, like you the viewer happened upon her as she is marking the place in time as a memory with thin trellising light beams. She is caught off guard as she looks over her shoulder to see you..and to you, the viewer, she should look so delicate..almost as though if you were to reach out to touch her, she would shatter. It is meant to be a contrast to the prior image, in which she appears to be more of a regular cheetah and is cast almost defiantly in glowing silver light. In that image she is meant to be more assertive, standing against the tide of time to protect this place's memory before it is swallowed by the eternal slumber of the sands. Anyway, rambling aside, thank you for spotting the difference and letting me know you like it better as well <:.

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graphiteforlunch In reply to balaa [2012-12-12 08:28:48 +0000 UTC]

It is such a gorgeous piece. Looking at her, I really do get the idea that it is just a fragile moment and about to dissolve. (Just the way her tail seems to be starting to blow away like sand gives that impression very well.) She seems delicate as a moth's wing and, when touch comes to mind, just as vulnerable. The contrast of the two images is part of why I simply had to order prints of both of them. Two sides of the same coin, two functions of the same being. The images together portray timeless resilience and and shimmering transience side by side.

It's a testament to the quality of your art that I should come back and look at it again from time to time. There aren't many pieces of art by other people that occasionally enter my thoughts when I am about my business away from DeviantArt, but several of yours do that to me. I come back for refreshment sometimes.

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Ashtara [2012-11-29 22:32:58 +0000 UTC]

I really love the way the tail appears to be almost blowing away at the tip. Lovely.

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MaTresBelleVie [2012-11-26 03:56:48 +0000 UTC]

very moving

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mirkolive [2012-10-23 18:23:10 +0000 UTC]

Omg Very Very nice, design & story..... fantastic

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DSteffi [2012-10-23 11:25:48 +0000 UTC]

Absolutely stunning!

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Claire-Lacaes [2012-10-19 11:29:04 +0000 UTC]

brilliant !

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Killer-Sweet [2012-10-17 17:30:46 +0000 UTC]

Stunning!

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ThiaminaTenn [2012-09-19 14:40:51 +0000 UTC]

I have to say, this is a super cool idea! and very nicely done!

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Irinn-T [2012-09-05 08:57:31 +0000 UTC]

фантастика!

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xxRiKu [2012-09-04 09:56:53 +0000 UTC]

lovely! sureal <3

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xxRiKu In reply to xxRiKu [2012-09-04 09:57:35 +0000 UTC]

surreal*

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DistortedReveries [2012-08-27 02:11:34 +0000 UTC]

This is positively riveting and beautiful .

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CheezayBallz [2012-08-27 00:12:40 +0000 UTC]

this is absolutly fantastic

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snowfox41011 [2012-08-26 21:48:27 +0000 UTC]

Very nice, I love the dunes that cover the buildings in the Sahara (I think..) The surrealness of the place is amazing and you did an AMAZING job conveying that!

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MJWilliam [2012-08-20 01:58:57 +0000 UTC]

This is brilliant.

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CelticBotan [2012-08-19 07:16:40 +0000 UTC]

LOVE both paintings and concept. So surreal and original, it's amazing.

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Khisakitty [2012-08-18 19:54:24 +0000 UTC]

I know I'm horribly biased as this wonderful picture features a cheetah - but this is so beautiful, the idea is amazing, and I love how you can bring your imagination to live on (digital) canvas and paper.
All your creations are witnesses of your vivid fantasy and have profound depth that whispers to be explored.

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PixieCold [2012-08-15 08:46:59 +0000 UTC]

its sooo magic and amazing... i cant find words for it!!!

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Blackneck [2012-08-09 17:02:30 +0000 UTC]

*saved*

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Blackneck [2012-08-09 17:02:23 +0000 UTC]

the playing with the lights of her patterns is amazing

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Blackneck [2012-08-09 17:01:58 +0000 UTC]

amazing

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SkApprentice [2012-08-08 14:49:45 +0000 UTC]

Surrealism AND a kitty disco ball? Life is complete.

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Michalesa [2012-08-07 08:08:57 +0000 UTC]

omfg, amazing!!!!!!!!!

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friendshipisfiction [2012-07-20 20:53:09 +0000 UTC]

beautiful as always ;-; and nice kitty too <3

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Heyriel [2012-07-20 16:44:34 +0000 UTC]

I'm not normally one for this type of...semi-surrealism but this painting is just gorgeous *_*

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merange16 [2012-07-19 12:44:06 +0000 UTC]

Beautiful work! Your concept is great, so imaginative! <3

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EffraSorbus [2012-07-19 11:34:49 +0000 UTC]

Gosh, this is amazing I especially love the way the light falls onto the sand and walls. Beautiful!

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Izilja [2012-07-18 12:07:27 +0000 UTC]

I absolutely love this! Pure awesomeness! <3

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EqualToYou [2012-07-18 05:01:36 +0000 UTC]

So awesome; like something you only see in a dream.

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rajasegar [2012-07-18 03:56:47 +0000 UTC]

Great piece of work!
Thanks for sharing...
Featured in Daily Inspirations at hangaroundtheweb.com

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rachhhhxo [2012-07-17 21:02:37 +0000 UTC]

Very beautiful, love the lighting- from the lantern glow of the spots to the moonlight on the sand. Awesome job.

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jonrea [2012-07-17 17:29:00 +0000 UTC]

Lovely image

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