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solocosmo — Cleopatra and the Serpent

Published: 2009-12-28 05:36:34 +0000 UTC; Views: 42464; Favourites: 651; Downloads: 0
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Description This is my entry for the "Ancient Egypt" contest hosted by feline-icitfeline-icity.deviantart.com/

I have found that entering contests sends me in a good direction as far as inspiration goes. This is the longest I have ever spent on a digital painting and I hope it really shows. It took FOREVER. I used a stock photo as the base so its part painting part photo manipulation work, the dress, the jewelry, the snake (all the way down to his scales) were painted in. I am trying to use less and less fancy brushes and instead try to rely on improving my technique. The background uses a stock texture though (see links and credits below). There is also a texture on the fabric of the dress from my personal collection.

I chose to do the older story of Cleopatras demise where she is bitten on the arm as opposed to Shakespeare's version where she is bitten on the breast. Also some older accounts say it was an Egyptian Cobra, others say it was an asp. This is more of the latter.

Model: mmb-stock (nude) mmb-stock.deviantart.com/art/N…

Background texture is a combination of painting and this stock image from dreamstime: www.dreamstime.com/vintage-dra… © Stephanie Swartz | Dreamstime.com

to read more about Cleopatra: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleopatr…

Other pieces in this series:

Nefertiti solocosmo.deviantart.com/art/N…

Hatshepsut solocosmo.deviantart.com/art/H…

For High Quality prints (sold WITH permission of my stock model) of my artwork, pocket mirrors and cards please visit my etsy shop found here ---> www.etsy.com/shop/solocosmo DISCOUNT PRINTS FOR DA MEMBERS (10% off) - use the code DEVIANT when checking out.

Please respect my copyright on this artwork, please do not use without permission!
© 2010 Jessica Grundy
All Rights are Retained by the Artist (me).
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Comments: 58

Imdraproc [2018-07-09 20:14:46 +0000 UTC]

Elegant pic with rich and beautiful colours - I particularly like the jewellery; Gorgeous.
Cleopatra VII seems to face her fate with a quiet, queenly dignity. The way that the snake is curled around her arms almost makes it look like it is a living piece of jewellery itself, or even like a part of the queen. 

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MRock91 [2014-11-19 10:35:26 +0000 UTC]

   

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DameOdessa [2012-03-07 12:24:10 +0000 UTC]

This splendid work has been featured here: [link]

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caska1979 [2012-02-02 02:47:17 +0000 UTC]

Featured here [link] !
You can show your support by faving this article. Thank you!

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solocosmo In reply to caska1979 [2012-02-02 02:54:51 +0000 UTC]

Thank you! I will check it out right now!

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caska1979 In reply to solocosmo [2012-02-02 02:59:53 +0000 UTC]

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iloveadventuretime15 [2012-01-26 01:53:29 +0000 UTC]

Hi! Can I use this picture for a social study project? I'll give you the credit!

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solocosmo In reply to iloveadventuretime15 [2012-01-26 03:40:21 +0000 UTC]

Yes I would be alright with that

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iloveadventuretime15 In reply to solocosmo [2012-01-26 03:42:22 +0000 UTC]

thank you! awesome job on it btw

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solocosmo In reply to iloveadventuretime15 [2012-01-26 04:00:35 +0000 UTC]

Thank you!

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asymmetricarcher [2012-01-07 04:52:13 +0000 UTC]

this is wonderful artwork. Really just amazing.

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solocosmo In reply to asymmetricarcher [2012-01-07 06:35:55 +0000 UTC]

Thank you!

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asymmetricarcher In reply to solocosmo [2012-01-07 06:38:19 +0000 UTC]

you're welcome!

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Audrina-Mystique [2011-11-18 22:50:20 +0000 UTC]

Of course, as long ago as it was, we'll probably never know, but I find a cobra more likely. First, a cobra's venom paralyses you and puts you to sleep, while an asp's venom gives you convulsions. Second, the asp was a symbol of the enemy of Amen Ra, while the cobra was the protectress of the royal family. anyway, very nice artwork.

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solocosmo In reply to Audrina-Mystique [2011-11-20 21:15:54 +0000 UTC]

That makes sense! I would much rather go to sleep than go into convulsions...

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Naaxa85 [2011-02-15 13:54:58 +0000 UTC]

Amazing Jessica!! I wish you'd had another necklace with this illustration (I hope you remember me, I've just purchased your Nefertiti Necklace) caude I will definetly buy it!! You're such an awesome artist!! xx

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solocosmo In reply to Naaxa85 [2011-02-15 17:23:41 +0000 UTC]

Hi there! I just listed a Cleopatra one actually, a round one

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DemonPrincesssmiles [2010-11-03 03:16:59 +0000 UTC]

I love it. I do think it would've been better with a bit more detail on her breasts. I love the realism of her face, her little beauty marks are lovely. And I adore the snake bites.

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Mishelangello [2010-09-28 16:13:28 +0000 UTC]

Very beautiful!

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solocosmo In reply to Mishelangello [2010-09-28 18:13:54 +0000 UTC]

Thank you again!

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JulieElizabethArt [2010-08-21 12:38:36 +0000 UTC]

Hi Jessica... I featured your beautiful artwork in my journal so everyone could see! [link]
Julie

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solocosmo In reply to JulieElizabethArt [2010-08-21 15:01:18 +0000 UTC]

thank you

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JulieElizabethArt In reply to solocosmo [2010-08-22 02:34:04 +0000 UTC]

My pleasure!

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Manwathiell-Stock [2010-08-21 02:20:21 +0000 UTC]

Hi, Jessica !

I took care that your prize to Julie was included in our winners blog here [link]

It's a magnificent print !!! And she is SO happy with it !!



Thank you VERY much!

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solocosmo In reply to Manwathiell-Stock [2010-08-21 02:34:31 +0000 UTC]

thanks! I was glad she liked it, it's actually my most popular print, and it was originally done for one of Kittys contests!

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Manwathiell-Stock In reply to solocosmo [2010-08-21 19:06:02 +0000 UTC]

I noticed!! I tried to submit it to the Featured Gallery (where the works given are shown), but it was already at the group. I thought I'd leave it there, on the contest folder ... and I placed it on the winner's journal anyway!

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Jenna-Rose [2010-03-14 23:19:57 +0000 UTC]

Featured here: [link]

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solocosmo In reply to Jenna-Rose [2010-03-15 00:20:14 +0000 UTC]

Thank you so much!

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mayoofka [2010-03-11 18:57:44 +0000 UTC]

finally all honorable mentions of ancient egypt contest has a feature in my journal [link]

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solocosmo In reply to mayoofka [2010-03-11 22:07:40 +0000 UTC]

THANK YOU!

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Dezhire [2010-03-09 00:17:58 +0000 UTC]

She is gorgeous! Awesome work!!!

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solocosmo In reply to Dezhire [2010-03-09 00:56:29 +0000 UTC]

Thank you!!!!

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Dezhire In reply to solocosmo [2010-03-10 15:19:24 +0000 UTC]

You're welcome!!

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Cattereia [2010-03-07 01:30:23 +0000 UTC]

Hello, I've featured this work in a news article: P is for Place

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solocosmo In reply to Cattereia [2010-03-07 01:38:16 +0000 UTC]

and thank you again!

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Cattereia In reply to solocosmo [2010-03-07 01:56:31 +0000 UTC]

You're welcome!

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Feline-icity [2010-03-01 09:42:13 +0000 UTC]

Your entry is "Official"!! Thanks so much for participating! I'm beginning the process of judging now!

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TheDutchesse [2010-02-05 01:36:54 +0000 UTC]

This is beautiful, the detail is simply astounding!

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solocosmo In reply to TheDutchesse [2010-02-05 03:20:22 +0000 UTC]

thank you!

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AchyJedi [2010-02-04 19:57:47 +0000 UTC]

Oooh! So delicate and beautiful!!!

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solocosmo In reply to AchyJedi [2010-02-04 20:10:55 +0000 UTC]

Thank you!

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AndySerrano [2010-01-26 00:23:57 +0000 UTC]

Superb and beautiful

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solocosmo In reply to AndySerrano [2010-01-26 01:31:10 +0000 UTC]

thank you so much! And thank you for the faves!

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sythesite [2010-01-19 05:58:28 +0000 UTC]

So amazing!

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solocosmo In reply to sythesite [2010-01-19 06:00:39 +0000 UTC]

Thank you so much!

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Feline-icity [2010-01-09 05:13:14 +0000 UTC]

This one too is featured in the same news article!! [link]

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solocosmo In reply to Feline-icity [2010-01-09 05:15:54 +0000 UTC]

And double great!!!

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Demevolist [2009-12-29 05:35:03 +0000 UTC]

Brilliant.

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solocosmo In reply to Demevolist [2009-12-29 06:35:54 +0000 UTC]

thank you so much!

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Feline-icity [2009-12-28 10:09:39 +0000 UTC]

OH MY GOD!!!! THIS is stunning hunny!!! Absolutely gorgeous!! Thanks so much for entering it into the contest!!

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