h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Photobucket just removed my painting of the sea-nymph Actaea because it violated their terms of use. It's because she's nekkid - even though I put some nice stars on her norty bits. Why don't stars qualify as clothing? Heck she doesn't show anything that can't be seen quite well on a non-nudist beach. Oh well.

I've uploaded some new paintings and sketches.

Discobolus/Discus thrower, a quick sketch just to stay in practice with proportions:

http://s360.photobucket.com/albums/oo45/WillemvdMerwe/My%20Artistic%20Creations/?action=view&current=discobolus2.jpg

Any bets on how long *that* is going to stay?

A small watercolour painting of a Siberian Tiger:

http://s360.photobucket.com/albums/oo45/WillemvdMerwe/My%20Artistic%20Creations/?action=view&current=TIGER2.jpg

I made this specially for a friend in 2003.

A portrait of Sarah Bernhardt:

http://s360.photobucket.com/albums/oo45/WillemvdMerwe/My%20Artistic%20Creations/?action=view&current=sarahbernhardt1.jpg

We spoke about her on the Klingon Opera thread, and even *before* that I'd found a nice photo of her in an encyclopedia which I thought would be nice for a 'practice' portrait study. It's the same photo as this - but mine is the mirror image. Wonder which one is 'right way around'?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sarah_Bernhardt-Nadar.jpg

A Sibyl reading a book of lore:

http://s360.photobucket.com/albums/oo45/WillemvdMerwe/My%20Artistic%20Creations/?action=view&current=Sybil2.jpg

I based this on the painting of the Erythraean Sibyl by Michelangelo:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Michelangelo_Buonarroti_033.jpg

Old Mike made his sibyl look very 'masculine' with thick limbs and joints ... I feminised mine somewhat. And careful study of the book of lore that she’s reading, will indicate that it contains stories of mine!

Manticore:

http://s360.photobucket.com/albums/oo45/WillemvdMerwe/My%20Artistic%20Creations/?action=view&current=Manticore2.jpg

(quick watercolour concept-sketch)

A manticore is a monstrous beast that I feature in my 'Wavendreem's Garden' stories. This one is depicted in a specific scene, where Valerie, Vivienne, Bridget and their friend Sia are trying to rescue the wizard Elzaggio. They've just blasted a hole in the wall of his prison cell, using dragon saliva, but one of the guard manticores employed in the prison, has entered - and it looks like a really mean one! Oh no, what will they do?

OK and my most recent 'big' watercolour painting:

http://s360.photobucket.com/albums/oo45/WillemvdMerwe/My%20Artistic%20Creations/?action=view&current=ons2.jpg

That's my Dad, me, and my Mom. I based it on a photo taken at the funeral of my mom's youngest sister. But I altered it slightly. It was taken in the parking lot - I removed roads and stuff like that so it looks more like a garden or a woods. Also, by then my dad had already lost his hair and his mustache - even his eyebrows. I put them back in.

Willem, you are so very talented!

That watercolour of your parents is just beautiful. You sister is very lucky to get it


lil x

I'm sure you can upload that painting to fb. It#s a shame it was removed. And silly, too, but then I guess it is a case of 'either-or', otherwise they'd have to argue with all those 'ladies' who want to post profile pictures etc.

I would if Flickr would accept it. It seems a bit silly and PC to me with all the stuff on the web these days.

Must go and look at your pictures, they are always a joy.

Websailor

Lovely picture of you and your parents. I loved the Amaryllis too.

Websailor

Hi folks! Thanks for your comments. It frustrates me a bit not being able to display a picture that as far as I can tell is really not at all 'filthy'. But well I see that it's difficult to come up with a clear 'rule' that would distinguish different kinds of nude art or non-art. But I thought the stars would do the trick. Sigh ... but apart from that, I like Photobucket! I'll try my Flickr site ...

, Willem. That's rough...your picture is lovely.

The problem is, they always ask themselves what effect this will have on 15-year-old boys.

15-year-old boys should be kept in cages, and not allowed to decide the level of discussion...

Most fifteen year old boys have seen, and seek out, far worse than that I am sure. Are they banned from art galleries too I wonder

Websailor

They should be, the wretches.

I remember taking Elektra to a Truffaut film, ages ago.

There was nobody in the little Pittsburgh art cinema except us and a couple of boys, just old enough to get in.

After they and Elektra giggled their way through certain parts of the movie, I said, 'I am not ever taking you to a French film again until you learn to behave better.'

Bossy Boots Of course you didn't snigger either naturally

Websailor

I did not. I was high-minded and artistically critical...er, or at least, I was quieter...

Websailor