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Cynthia-Blair β Syd Barrett
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Published: 2011-04-09 02:18:47 +0000 UTC; Views: 5099; Favourites: 105; Downloads: 0
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Syd Barrett, Pink Floyd"I've got a very irregular head..."
exploring some thoughts about Syd, schizophrenia and the psychedelic 60's..not sure if I've finished this yet...
I feel as though I really went down the rabbithole on this one. The original concept was Syd viewing a shattered mirror image of himself, as if he didn't understand what was happening to his mind. The smashed CD fragments were to symbolize shards of mirror as well as recorded music...it did scan in an unexpected way.
tech details:
10x20 mixed media on board
acrylics, oils, markers, pastel pencil, ground pastel dust, smashed CD fragments and a touch of pixie dust (glitter)
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Comments: 74
This is blooody amazing!! So is all of your other portraits!! Hopefully, I'll be able to be as fantastic at drawing like you, someday!
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Thanks!! I got quite a bit odd with this one, I don't usually throw in so many different kinds of media, but as it was Syd, I just went with whatever I was feeling about him. I had read quite a bit of research into his early life and his descent into schizophrenia...he was so intriguing. Surely the line between genius and madness is a thin one?
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You're welcome! Your portrayal of his life is right-on! I love all the crazy media along with his portrait! It's truly majesticβ₯ Yes, I've been a fan of Syd's for some time now, I read his biography, and man, was it a sad one
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You can use any pics I have...I hope I posted the one I used for Syd's in the artist comments...usually I do. But older rock stars, its always hard to find good sharp photos, I know! I should do Richard Wright, a nice tribute, he's been on my list for awhile
Yeah, Syd's was fun to do...a bit unusual for me, I could get deeper into an intuitive zone, nothing much was really planned out design-wise, I just kept adding to it as I was thinking about Syd, and the psychedelic era, and LSD/music/schizophrenia thing...Thanks!!
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Thanks so much! 
That's why you were able to capture the whole downward spiral of Syd's life and career, because you kept adding to your portrait as if you were in a psychedelic trance! I love it, that's what makes the picture SO Syd Barrett!
And, you're welcome!!
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Thanks! Yes, Rick was such a sweetie, awww 
Yes, I really did feel like I was channeling "Syd" just a little bit at some point, minus the LSD, of course. I'd like to do another of him, too.I actually ran out of space on that board, when I was working (I hate it when that happens!) It would have been fun to expand larger.
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You're welcome! He really was a sweetheart, not like many other rock stars 
Haha, yeah you can definitely tell that you felt like you were channeling Syd. You should do another one of him, though it's hard to find usable pictures of him. I still love your portrait of him!
How large are the majority of your portraits?
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Nick was hard to find a photo of...that one is 24x36, because it was going to a gallery exhibit in England, all those were the same size (Plant, Ozzy, Nick Mason and Carl Palmer).
Syd's is smaller, maybe 15x20" ?
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Yeah, there aren't that many good photos of Nick. That's pretty big, haha, I only draw on standard printer paper, lol. I still can't believe your portrait of Carl Palmer, it definitely looks just like the real photo! It's outstanding, well all of them are
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You'll find that trying different art materials will expand your outlook on what's possible.
most of my better pieces came out of experiments, or happy accidents!
yeah Carl's drum kit was awful to do, but I did love working in those colors. I had combined a few different photo refs to get that pose. I searched high and low for Nick photos at the time! I was looking more for "the musician performing his art" in those, rather than doing headshots.
finding Rick Wright photos might be hard, too
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I definitely believe in expanding one's art materials to gain new knowledge on what works and what does not 
Haha, really? Your best pieces came out of experiments? That's pretty awesome!
Yeah, your portraits of Carl and Nick are exceptionally magnificent!
Yes, I do think so!
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Yes, my best work has, for sure...and sometimes it's an evolution of thought that happens. What if I tried this? kind of thing. Usually it starts with being dissatisfied for one reason or another. Or seeing someone else using different materials, and saying "wow, I should try that."
Yes part of Carl's ref came from an old photo where he was flipping his drumstick up in the air, and the drumkit came from a photo in a totally later era, and so did the logo...I worked the idea up in Photoshop to see what was possible and how the design/composition would look before starting to paint.
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Wow, that's awesome! So, I guess it's true what they say; you learn something new everyday, (even when you're already a fantastic artist
Haha, that's so cool!!
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yes, painting is more of a challenge, because of using a brush and mixing color is also hard!
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Haha, that's what I thought... don't you also have to use special paper, or a canvas?
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You don't have to use canvas, but even paper needs to be prepared for acrylic or oil, there are papers which are.I use illustration board (very thick stuff) that I treat with a coat of acrylic before painting on. Illustration board is designed for multiple types of media and shouldn't warp.
Yupo paper is synthetic paper and totally non-absorbant, so it doesn't warp...but the paint slides around on it like crazy, which can be good or bad...depends on what you're trying to do.
I tend to like illustration board because it's smooth like hardboard panels (masonite or MDF) but much much lighter and you don't have to coat it with white gesso (most masonite is dark brown). There are artist panels which are prepared and white and smooth, those are great but expensive, and come in sizes. I like to get big sheets of Illustration board and cut them to size as I need them. But it's not cheap either - I use Strathmore 500 and it's $8.50/sheet for 20"x30"
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Oh, okay, I understand more about the painting process, now, thanks heavily to you!!
If I ever start painting, I think I'm going to try illustration board, although it is a bit pricey.
Thanks again for the advice!!
I am Ray Davies in dA's Celebrities Crew!
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I can get about 4 10x15 pieces from a sheet, at $2 each (approx)...not really too bad, I suppose. The thinner illustration board warps a little, it helps if you gesso both sides, 1 coat on the back side, maybe 2 on the front.
I just read an article in this month's Artist Magazine about Brom (dark artist/illustrator) he preps and uses board the very same way! Only his work is incredibly better than mine. And he also does an underpaint of acrylic, then oils over that, 2 or 3 layers. (who knew? I never realized I was doing that part right, at least!)
New inspiration!
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Yeah, that's not too bad at all.
Haha, that's awesome, that just goes to show you, that you know the trade of painting inside and out!
I highly doubt his art is that much better than yours; your artwork is fabulously beautiful!!
I'm sure his is amazing as well, but you seriously are the best artist I've seen on Deviant Art, though there are so many talented people on here!
Everyone has their own style of drawing/ painting, and that's what makes the world go round, the fact that we all see art, and the world itself in completely different ways.
I just try to appreciate all different types and skill levels of art, especially if the art is personal and sentimental.
Anyways, your artwork is bloody amazing!!!
That's awesome, that you found a new inspiration!
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This is a really great interpretation of Syd's personality, both the working, and the fragmented parts. He's one of my favorite lyricists; Pink Floyd was never the same without him. Amazing work here!
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Thank you so much! Yes, this artwork was very different from my usual style, both in the way it was conceived and executed. I really only started with the headshot and mirror image idea, and let the ideas come as I worked...I wanted it to be as spontaneous as possible. That's way some it of was more free-flowing and less perfectly placed, like the lettering. Ideas would come to me and I'd just find a way to put them in there
If I'd thought about all these elements and designed them into the piece from the beginning, it would have looked very different in composition...but then it would be more polished and less Syd. I just wanted to go with it as he might have done.
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thanks!!
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You are welcome great one
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aww...
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no probs misses
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This is by far the best art I've seen of Syd... I can't find a good poster of him anywhere, and I have no idea why.
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Wow! Thanks!! Actually, I didn't take any kind of normal design planning with this one...it was like he was looking into a mirror but couldn't recognize the person staring back at him...Alot of things in this painting were random afterthoughts, maybe I was channeling a bit of Syd when I did it
There should be wonderful art of Syd, he is so well loved and remembered. As an artist himself, he would like that
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Yes, Syd was really special
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Thank you so much...yes, indeed! I felt a bit mad by the time I finished this...I think I'm finished...not sure...maybe I'm finished...it's the Syd effect.
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Wow, the composition here is incredible. I love how the swirls of the background transfer to his clothes and face.
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Thanks! I struggled with the composition at first, so the swirls were my psychedelic attempt at integrating background and breaking up the very squared off portrait head space.
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Yeahh I think it really turned out well! Nice work
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Heey,
sorry for my late response, but my Ipod had trouble with posting so.....
I Knew all that (Schizophrenia), except for the drugs speeding it all up part...!
Interesting subject isn't it?
Good Idea huh,'bout Eddie?
Who's still on your "to paint' list??!!
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it's longer than my 'already painted list'
I have it divided into Classic Rock/Current Rock...but I end up doing 3 or 4 current ones to every classic rocker.
yeah, I did a little research into schizophrenia as a disease, before I did Syd...they know alot more now than they did back in the 60's...I was looking at colored brain scans of before and after patients, whole areas of their brain actiity seems to die off in many cases (this was from a legit site)...it was pretty wild. I was one of those people who thought he just did too many drugs and went over the edge, til I found an article by Roger Waters, where he was interviewed about Syd, also on the web somewhere, and other bandmates. So, I guess, never assume anything! It's fascinating. I don't know much about mental disease anyway, so it was interesting. poor Syd!
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I thought people are Born as schizofrenic?!?! But really your scanner is artistic too XD
I have a good idea: why don't you draw Eddie van Halen! Just throwing it out there!
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It runs in families but doesn't usually start to show up until middle to late teens (as I have read)...but the use of hallucinogenic drugs can speed up the onset of the disease.
Yeah, must put him on the list!
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WOW, it really is psychedelic!!!!
He throws those crazy eyes in your face
The color the CD's turned out is giving this work a more in space image, as if he used to much drugs!
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Yes, you're right
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Pretty cool...although I can't say I like the Barrett Pink Floyd, (I've only heard See Emily Play) but I love the concept.
Great job!
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I didn't know Floyd back that far either. My first album of theirs was "Dark Side Of The Moon"
Thanks!!
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I wish I possessed 1% of your creativity, it would be an instant improvement. The concept is very cool.
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It's a way of reseaching more, thinking deeper into every subject. Makes it more fun - I can add all kinds of hidden symbols and concept ideas. It's what I've wanted to do for awhile now. I get bored easily...once I can do something, it's on to the next challenge.
and if I totally goof it up - there's always a trash can handy
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Love. This.
I adore Syds work both inside and outside of Floyd, and this is a very fitting image.
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Thank you, I'm honoured. This was a hard one, Syd's such a Legend. I learned quite a bit about him that I didn't know while I was researching images for this, so I'm glad I did. I was one of those people who thought it was just another case of too many drugs, but there was so much more to his story, and I'm sure I only touched the surface.
Sad that there was no help for him...it must have been so lonely on the inside.
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Yeah I can imagine, and there is DEFINITELY more to him then either of us know, its sad really, because he must have had a fair amount of musical talent!
Indeed, the crazieness could have easily been like a cage.
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Ah this! I have no words to say how awesome this is. I really love what you did with it.
Those CD pieces are really clever.
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