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labornthyn — Tree of Life, enhanced view

Published: 2008-04-27 19:38:57 +0000 UTC; Views: 10671; Favourites: 242; Downloads: 10
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Description Tree of Life version more true to the original than the first one I was able to post (which I will leave up in the gallery for a while for the sake of comparison). The text below is the same as in the other posting of this image.

double A4 Canson Bristol; 0.10 Rotring Rapidograph, black ink

The completion of this work was quite a saga for m personally. It was initiated in December 2000 in an apartment in the city of Tianjin, China, and worked on through an intense time into January 2001, after which for various reasons I fell into a depressed state, and the drawing was left only half completed. I ceased drawing for many months thereafter, during which I landed back in the States for a brief interlude, went on a mad bicycle journey through France, across the Alps and down into Italy to end up in Rome in October 2001, where I was soon able to find a job. I hadn't drawn for so many months, and I had to go to the art store to buy new rapidographs, which I had not even thought to pack in my bicycle bags. In a wonderful room in the Pigneto district in the southeast corner of the city, I began to draw again, this time an ouroboros.

Many months, and many strange times beyond this idyllic life, I once again found myself back in the States in December 2002. I was there to fulfill my fantasy of converting my grandfather's workshop, which had been collecting dust and rubbish for the 25 years since his passing, into my personal live/work/art chamber. Thus I spent 9 months in absolute hermetic solitude, sleeping on a reassuringly solid bed of pine planks I built to raise myself above the concrete floor, from which I could stare up at the deer antlers and old felt hunting hat of my grandfather. Nine hours a day, 7 days a week, for nine months, of solid drawing, drinking vodka and watching anime after finishing the shift at 12:30am.

The second half of the above drawing was begun soon after I acquired this domain, in January 2003, and completed in February. So a total of two years separate the top half of this work from the bottom. The completion felt extremely intense, and the ensuing isolation and focus on art was a revelatory time...

Many thanks to and his gray whiskered familiar...
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Comments: 75

Japankid [2012-04-27 05:37:12 +0000 UTC]

I like the patterns bro

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accebere [2011-08-25 08:57:56 +0000 UTC]

coolio

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alexandresama [2010-12-02 01:14:35 +0000 UTC]

this is disturbing.. amazing but disturbing

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Cerv00 [2010-07-26 00:10:10 +0000 UTC]

I want to thank you for sharing the passion behind your art.
I can truly understand what it means to live life trough and for art.
And it being what sincerely defines you as a person, while years pass by.
You are one true artist, thanks again for sharing not your art... but your life.

Amazing work.

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Neropheb [2010-04-08 17:09:24 +0000 UTC]

Hello.
This is amazing artwork.
Long time, I'm searching something, what can describe my soul and mind.
Please, can I use this as tattoo on my back?

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labornthyn In reply to Neropheb [2010-05-07 18:32:46 +0000 UTC]

Thanks for the kind comment. Feel free to use it, that sounds very exciting.

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ChelseaDrouin [2010-01-12 23:13:28 +0000 UTC]

seems to me its reflectings its inner peace and also its inner power. each time i look more into it, more little details i find...
its amazing

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doormatt [2009-12-23 13:17:07 +0000 UTC]

insanity!!! this is totally mind-blowing!!

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ForestWanderers [2009-12-20 01:01:53 +0000 UTC]

OH WOW!!! This is amazing! It should be a DD !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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ffufi [2009-10-22 11:08:27 +0000 UTC]

Mindblowing detail oO

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MHnyBee [2009-10-11 09:23:12 +0000 UTC]

This is just flat out cool, just like the rest of your gallery.

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AdrianBorgnine [2009-06-08 21:36:10 +0000 UTC]

The amount of work you put into it... Wow, I really admire you. Truly flawless, I love how you put your great effort to cover deliberately every single centimeter square of the paper. It seems like you really put yourself really into this piece.

And I really like that it isn't just an simple illustration of something. I wonder what thoughs about it have you devised during the time you spend on making it. I suppose vodka would be an enchacer for this kind of thought-streams.

One of the best pieces I have seen on dA since long, long time.

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labornthyn In reply to AdrianBorgnine [2009-08-28 22:26:28 +0000 UTC]

Thank you for this very kind comment. Glad you enjoyed the work.

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haleyhair [2009-04-08 16:07:54 +0000 UTC]

awesome

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sampoA [2009-01-14 03:53:08 +0000 UTC]

gah! i like this so much its depressing.
haha! an owl! i didnt notice it the first time...

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Valyrei [2008-10-27 06:50:14 +0000 UTC]

Truly amazing work, here. You must be very patient, something I admire... I'd never have the patience for something so elaborate and intricate.
All I can say is it's beautiful and inspiring.
Definitely +faving this!

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Sassafrasses [2008-08-27 23:13:07 +0000 UTC]

This is such a phenomenal piece and perhaps moreso because I've had the opportunity to study it at J's house...the mere thought of it, breaks my brain. The tiniest details, but the big picture....the forethought, depth, patience, focus, drive and passion that went into it's universe-like creation....I can't wrap my brain around it.

Damnit.

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deet-bug [2008-08-19 20:55:04 +0000 UTC]

your art is stunning...

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IveBeenShot [2008-08-15 09:54:27 +0000 UTC]

I tried to follow the laborthyn, but I got lost, then I got pissed off!!!!!!

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ZirconiumsBox [2008-08-11 16:27:37 +0000 UTC]

Motivating on a personal level.

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giorjoe [2008-08-08 06:39:39 +0000 UTC]

Wow! I have just read what you had to say about this work. You are quite a traveler. Wow. So what are you up to now? Do you still live at your grandfather's place? Or are you on another adventure? You don't speak much about these things in your journal. I hope everything is all right with you, and life still allows you to keep busy with your artwork.

The only time I was on a journey alone, was when I was 22 and visited Paris - Holland - Belgium and back to Budapest. It was a 3.5 week trip, where I went to see all the major artworks I admire by the Old Masters. I was especially glad when I got to see the work of the Utrecht Caravaggisti in person. Of course, the two main highlights of the trip were the Rubens Hall (with his Medici cycle) in the Louvre, and the Antwerp Cathedral. Probably the most influential experience was viewing the elevating Rubens's Assumption of Mary in the Brussels museum. I remember the trip as the happiest time of my life, and the Rubens Hall as the greatest experience.

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Piiyoh [2008-08-04 21:53:27 +0000 UTC]

I would really like to see this in person. It's nigh monolithic in its scope and gravitas. The amount of effort it took must have stretched your limits and judging from your description, the journey in making this work has transcended it beyond the mere aesthetics of the end product.

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G-Ghofran [2008-07-22 01:40:36 +0000 UTC]

Pure awesomeness.

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labornthyn In reply to G-Ghofran [2008-07-22 01:59:34 +0000 UTC]

Most appreciated!

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G-Ghofran In reply to labornthyn [2008-07-23 21:11:56 +0000 UTC]

Keep it up.

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nanshu29 [2008-07-21 13:52:14 +0000 UTC]

I suspect , What tools are you using? , it's interesting. ^_^

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labornthyn In reply to nanshu29 [2008-07-22 00:12:48 +0000 UTC]

On this drawing, I use Canson bristol paper, very smooth, and Rotring 0.10 rapidograph pen.

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nanshu29 In reply to labornthyn [2008-07-23 01:39:55 +0000 UTC]

Thanks.

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hybri5 [2008-07-17 16:49:11 +0000 UTC]

This is immense.

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labornthyn In reply to hybri5 [2008-07-22 20:22:50 +0000 UTC]

Thank you, I appreciate it...

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d-vega [2008-07-02 00:42:08 +0000 UTC]

Every aspect of this work is amazing and incredible. Personally one of the best pieces of art I have seen.

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labornthyn In reply to d-vega [2008-07-03 02:44:41 +0000 UTC]

Many thanks for your very kind words. I am very glad for your words on this piece. Am enjoying your gallery too, by the way!

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d-vega In reply to labornthyn [2008-07-08 09:31:58 +0000 UTC]

Really welcome man, its a beautiful piece.

And thank you for you appreciation! :ww:
Greetings

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zepangborn [2008-06-30 23:23:00 +0000 UTC]

dang, this enhanced view slipped by me.

it looks fantastic.

it's so frustrating being able to look at a only a portion of the image at a time.

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labornthyn In reply to zepangborn [2008-07-10 08:53:05 +0000 UTC]

It's all about the madness sanity of patterns, and love...

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DrizzleDrazzle [2008-06-30 21:59:58 +0000 UTC]

I keep coming back to look at this one again and again. Both for beauty and symbolism, I loves it.

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labornthyn In reply to DrizzleDrazzle [2008-07-03 02:34:51 +0000 UTC]

Great! I like to think it gets more interesting over time...

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Chadfuller [2008-06-28 03:27:10 +0000 UTC]

great pic ! I love the wild energy you have in this pic!

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labornthyn In reply to Chadfuller [2008-07-10 08:52:14 +0000 UTC]

Thanks for checking this out, and your comment, green man!

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Chadfuller In reply to labornthyn [2008-07-10 11:32:34 +0000 UTC]

your welcome!!

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nada [2008-06-23 12:48:27 +0000 UTC]

Holy SHIT.

The thumbnail in no way prepared me for the fullview. Not at all. Mind-blowing composition and detail [love the broken symmetry].

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labornthyn In reply to nada [2008-06-24 19:25:35 +0000 UTC]

Thanks for the great comment! Very glad you enjoy it...

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GrendelDemon [2008-06-23 08:29:55 +0000 UTC]

Simply amazing my friend ^_^

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labornthyn In reply to GrendelDemon [2008-06-24 19:22:20 +0000 UTC]

Thanks for checking it out, and glad you like!

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darthivann [2008-06-18 18:50:12 +0000 UTC]

I'm just dumbstruck! Incredible work... reminds me of John Coulthart's work... Totally meticulous and visually overwhelming....

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labornthyn In reply to darthivann [2008-06-20 18:14:27 +0000 UTC]

Glad you checked it out and that you enjoy it!

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darthivann [2008-06-18 18:47:38 +0000 UTC]

I'm just dumbstruck! Incredible work... reminds me of John Coulthart's work... Totally meticulous and visually overwhelming....

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ropeliker [2008-06-17 19:28:28 +0000 UTC]

little new age-feeling, but very cool lines

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labornthyn In reply to ropeliker [2008-06-17 20:38:56 +0000 UTC]

Yeah, if I were drawing this today, I might do some things differently, like the faces for instance look a little "flowery". But this is pretty much from the "beginning" of my real drawing life, so I was feeling my way through it, trying to figure out how a "symbolic" face should be drawn. But if I do say so myself, this one makes up for any stylistic weaknesses with a lot of heart and spirit. Sadly, I am much more cold and calculating these days. Thanks for honest comment, and glad you appreciate the lines...

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attack1997 [2008-06-16 10:12:17 +0000 UTC]

oh man, i feel so embarrased by my own stuff when i compare them to this (and other work of yours); not only am i unable to dedicate myself to a piece (not to speak to this extent) but i also lack the glamour in the process of making ; (
great piece; great story

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