Through the Darkness

Posted Nov 28, 2005, 1:25:40 AM UTC

I did this drawing as a gift for my grandmother who is currently fighting a losing battle with Alzheimer's.
This was originally meant to be a butterfly fairy of some sort, but I thought she looked better just in elf form. Please forgive the trees as I am no good at drawing them. I have tried and tried and this is the best I could do. Thank you so much Mallory for all of your help with this picture and for trying to teach me how to draw trees. >_< I hope it looks all right. I think the complete black makes her pop out . :lol: Of course that would make anything pop out. But anywhoo... let me know what you think, okies? :yes: All my love to you guys. ^_^

(For you Grandma... there is always a bit of light to shine through your darkness. :) )

Comments

Stealthnerd
Dec 20, 2007, 11:34:17 AM UTC
Oh, this one just gives me goosebumps. It's so haunting... and dang girl, I wish I could get my trees to look that good! Stark and barren and oh-so expressive. And I also agree with Red; the she-elf's expression really brings her to life. Another fantastic piece of art!
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dillema22
Aug 28, 2006, 7:43:46 PM UTC
This is a very good piece of art.And you did the trees well,they do look like birch trees.And the detail with the clothing and hair is great.amazing job
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- MissezNoll
  Aug 29, 2006, 4:28:42 PM UTC
  I bet you want to kiss her huh? Better watch out for the paper cuts though baby. I made her for my grandmother when she was having a bad time with her Alzheimers. >< And those trees were a pain to do. >< And the black is all done with a black layout pencil. I did it all by myself honey. Aren't you so proud of me? Love and kisses sexy bitch!
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590
Dec 3, 2005, 10:37:51 PM UTC
You know the detail you put in to this one is awesome... the trees look so real.. and she look awesome...great picture ....
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- MissezNoll
  Dec 4, 2005, 9:42:32 AM UTC
  Chas! *glomps* I've missed you! I haven't really been around too much on the computer lately, but I always wonder how you are doing. That aside, I just want to say thank you for coming back here to comment on this (as well as for your wonderful reviews over at FAC). You make me feel like I am an artist. I love getting reviews from you. ^_^ I am so glad that everyone is being so nice about the trees. I SUCK at drawing trees usually and I guess these look okay. Thanks again for your kindness all the time. Much love. ^_^
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Minimaid
Dec 3, 2005, 8:41:08 PM UTC
Perfect, luv. And the trees look just great! I think the one thing that would make them better is darker shadows.

This is so awesome, luv. I had to favourite it!
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- MissezNoll
  Dec 4, 2005, 9:38:49 AM UTC
  Thank you so much sweetheart. Especially for the fave. I am so happy that she is so loved. Heck, I'm happy I am so loved. ^_^ Those trees were so hard to do. I was nervous when I was drawing them because I am usually really bad at drawing trees. But these did turn out pretty okay. And I think darker shadows on them would look much better. Especially at the point where they meet with the ledge she is standing on. To me they kind of seem to get "lost" there. Either that or maybe I should lighten up the edge of the ledge (Ha! That rhymed!) to give them more of a "we're not attached to the side of the ledge" type thing. I'll see what I can do. Thank you so much for always being so wonderful to me. You always make me smile. All my love to you, my dear Mr. Butmer.
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Brethesen
Dec 2, 2005, 1:34:07 AM UTC
As Breth will be here just for few mins, so i'm going to be quick.

I love it, hun. All the little details and the overall look, it's just stunning!

Yarr! Teacher is back on class so Breth has to go now. Take care, honey!
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- MissezNoll
  Dec 2, 2005, 12:40:16 PM UTC
  Aww, thank you sweetheart. I wasn't expecting to see a comment from you, but thank you so much. And don't get in trouble for sneaking on-line at school, silly. Naughty, naughty. I will talk to you soon, okay? All my love. Mwah! ^_^
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MoonDemon
Nov 30, 2005, 7:18:17 PM UTC
Hey honeypie!! I just noticed I'm on 199 critiques and I wanted to celebrate my 200th on your pic so I'm adding another one SHES JUST 2 HOT!!! and since I didn't mention it before I want boots like hers they're awsome, LOL!!
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Lilimayhem
Nov 29, 2005, 8:03:15 PM UTC | Total Edits: 1 | Last edited on Nov 29, 2005 by Lilimayhem
I'm sorry for your grand'ma Kristy, all my strenght to her and you.

No i dont think the tree trun suck Kristy, in fact, they are rather nice. They remind me perfect of a tree a...(let me check in my dictionnary)...a birch! They even look as if you made it in water color! The face and pouting lips are awesome. The way you drew the light and dark, gives the feeling like there's a blasting light source in fron of her. Its really nicely drawn... I so love the look on her face!
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- MissezNoll
  Nov 29, 2005, 9:08:54 PM UTC
  YES!!! That's what they are called! Birch trees! They have that bark that is like paper and you just want to walk up to it and peel it off because you can't resist the urge to peel off that one little curled piece that is coming off already. Sorry... went a little sckitzo there. Anywhoo, I am glad that I am getting positive feddback on the trees. I was so nervous to draw them because my trees usually turn out un-tree-like. But I guess they aren't so bad in this. Woot!And the whole blasting light in front of her is the total effect I wanted for this. Which is also why I decided on the title through the darkness for it. And know what else? The blackened area is purely graphite. Albeit, a very darkened shade of graphite, but graphite none the less. Arkillian asked me over at Deviant if it was done digitally. Which I took as a major compliment of course. Just goes to show the effects you can create if you push down on your pencil hard enough. Thank you so much for the wonderful review. I simply adore you! All my love to you. Smoochies. ^_^
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  Lilimayhem
  Nov 30, 2005, 7:46:10 AM UTC
  Yay! Ah you see so your trees doesn't suck, if they would have i wouldn't have recognized them! But trees are hard to draw but i love them so much that i sit down often and just watch them, the way the trunk separate into branches and the branches in other branches...on and on.I love tree...im a tree hugger actually I think its the only way to really get the drawing of trees, observation. Well observation is the key to drawing, punto final! The blasted in light is really awesome, especially with the trunks behind her! (A+) I think this is one of my favorite drawing you did so far. The look on her face...she's naughty
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  MissezNoll
  Nov 30, 2005, 12:20:18 PM UTC
  Well thank you so very much for your encouragement hun. It really means alot to me. And I will study trees all day if it will get me to draw them better. All in all, I think this is my favorite drawing so far too. I don't know if it is because of the sentimental value of it, or if it is because I have actually accomplished something I didn't think I could with it. Either way, I really appreciate that you like it. All my love. Mwah!
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Saiyangirl4ever
Nov 28, 2005, 10:28:12 AM UTC
Wow.........This is breath-taking......
Wow...Really,I`m feeling very strange....I think this picture enchanted me...Wow....It`s very beautiful!!!And your intentions are really worth of applause,hun! This picture is very beautiful! Her look and expression just makes me to stop and look at her.She`s with one heck of an attidute! The picture is awesome! the trees are great,I don`t see why you don`t like them...And I know how they`re called,but in lithuanian...
Once again,great work! This piccy is very mistical and enchanting! And you`re really caring about your grandmother! I hope she will be alright!Great job,hun! All my love and warm feeling to you! 100000 hugs and kisses!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Mwah!
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- MissezNoll
  Nov 28, 2005, 2:47:49 PM UTC
  Awww.... thank you so much lovey. ^_^ You always make me feel so happy when I get your reviews. How can I possibly be sad when you make me feel so happy all the time? I am glad that you like it. And I can't wait to give it to my grandmother. I hope she likes it. Thanks again. All my love to you. Mwah mwah mwah! A million times.
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MoonDemon
Nov 28, 2005, 7:41:16 AM UTC
*cookies to go with cupcakes & a glass of milk to wash it all down* AWSOME!!!!!!! The trees make me even more homesick I don't know what they are called but thre are plenty of white trees in NW Ohio that look like yours, just B-E-A-utiful!!!!
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- MissezNoll
  Nov 28, 2005, 8:19:13 AM UTC
  Aww sweet! But I think I must tell you that I hate regular milk. The stuff tastes awful. Perhaps chocolate milk? Anywhoo... I have no idea what these trees are called either. But they were pretty and I thought they would fit in good with my little elf here. And you wanna know a secret? I cannot draw a tree to save my life. >_< Really I can't. I even had my friend Mallory help me and I still made them looking all funky. So I decided the mostly dead ones would look best. Heheh. I am going to give this to my grandmother today. I am excited to see what she thinks of it. And wanna know another secret? I have been to Ohio many times before. My younger brother and sister's family on their dad's side live out there in Toledo. Beautiful place. But I'd still much rather live back in Virginia. Whew! This has gone slightly off topic. Ah well. Thank you for always giving me such warm compliments (and cookies and cupcakes. ) All my love. ^_^
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  MoonDemon
  Nov 28, 2005, 1:35:01 PM UTC
  NO F_ING WAY!!!! I'm basicly from Toledo born there and raised in a hick town not far I was gonna give you a shot of JD instead of the milk but my buddy Jack doesn't mix well with cupcakes Back to your pic, the trees are fabulous and like u've told me don't get discouraged about it
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  MissezNoll
  Nov 28, 2005, 5:16:13 PM UTC
  That is so cool! Small world eh? Anyway, I once had a shot of JD and I thought I was going to die. I am such a wuss. I will stick to good old fashioned Peach Schnapps. Anywhoo, thank you for your encouragment hun. I can always count on you. All my love.
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  MoonDemon
  Nov 29, 2005, 3:04:12 PM UTC
  *SIGH* I don't know what to give you then chicky, schnapps is even worse with cupcakes than JD. Bar is OPEN take your pick
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  MissezNoll
  Nov 29, 2005, 8:59:20 PM UTC
  Well then I shall save the cupcakes for later and go straight to the good stuff. I am so going to hell. >_< Should be fun. All my love. ^_^
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  MoonDemon
  Nov 30, 2005, 7:26:23 AM UTC
  I'll be joining you there.
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zacula
Nov 28, 2005, 1:41:54 AM UTC
I love this. Excellent, excellent work! She is perfect, Her position and expression are wonderful. Hair, dress, boots all fantastico. +Fav.
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- MissezNoll
  Nov 28, 2005, 8:26:39 AM UTC
  WooT! Thank you so much Zac! ^_^ The worst part of doing this pic were the boots and the trees. I just couldn't get her foot position right for the longest time. And then I found that the laces kept getting darkened too much so I had to lighten them up. But the trees were the most time consuming part. I hate drawing trees. I'm really no good at it. Luckily Mallory gave me a little tutorial on how to draw them, but they still ended up looking frightful. >_< SO I founf the reference for these half-dead looking ones and I thought they would be perfect. I am glad that you like my little elf. Originally I was going to make her be a butterfly fairy since my grandma LOVES butterflies, but I thought it would be too overwhelming. So I left her as an elf. I am so happy that you like her. You always give me the most uplifting and encouraging compliments. Thank you so much. Much love. ^_^
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Okami
Nov 27, 2005, 10:46:32 PM UTC
This drawing is very impressive I love her expression, her hair, her pose... everything!
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- MissezNoll
  Nov 28, 2005, 8:56:00 AM UTC
  Thank you so much sweetheart. I saw that you did a drawing of Blue. You best believe I am going to head over there and give it a proper comment. I am glad that you like this drawing. This one is really close to my heart because I drew it for my grandmother. She is currently fighting with Alzheimer's and I wanted to give her one final drawing from me before she can't recognize what it is. It is so hard to see someone you love go through that. But anywhoo, I was really nervous about the trees. Trees are another thing that I can't draw very well. Let alone animals. >_< But I am glad that everyone is liking her. I can't wait to take it to my grandma today. I am excited. Thank you so very much for always giving me such kind words hun. It really makes me feel happy that I have such wonderful people that back me up and encourage me every step of the way. All my love to you. Mwah! ^_^
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Jilly
Nov 27, 2005, 9:09:32 PM UTC
I think this is totally great! Her expression gives the pic alot of life too. The trees are awesome so don't second guess yourself. I wish the best for your grandma I bet she'll love this.
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- MissezNoll
  Nov 28, 2005, 9:27:52 AM UTC
  Thank you so much luv. ^_^ And thank you so very much for the well wishes for my Grandmother. That means so much to me. As for the comment on the trees... I LOVE YOU! That is probably the best compliment I could receive because I find trees to be so difficult to draw. My best friend even gave me a step by step guide for how to draw them, but I messed them up so badly. Ah well. I think the skeletons of these trees look really good with the picture. Again, thank you so so much for all of your kindness and encouragement. I will keep your words in my heart. All my love. ^_^
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  Jilly
  Nov 28, 2005, 2:16:40 PM UTC
  No problem. Trees are difiicult and I think you pulled it off really well. Yeah my grandpa had parkinsons and he sadly didn't make it I was to young to understand then but now I wish I had the chance to know him better (He lived in the philippines) so yes I do wish the best for your grandma.
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  MissezNoll
  Nov 28, 2005, 5:23:13 PM UTC
  Thank you so very much for your positive encouragement. Well, like encouragement could be negative. Duh Kristy. LOL Anyway, I'm sorry to hear that about your grandfather. It is terrible to see the ones we love go through so much trouble. I really do appreciate all of your kind regards towards my grandmother. That means so much to me. All my love to you.
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BogusRed
Nov 27, 2005, 6:48:06 PM UTC
Nice work Lady Anime. Really. I think her expression is what gives it its attitude. And I'm sure your Grandma loves it.
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- MissezNoll
  Nov 27, 2005, 8:42:44 PM UTC
  Aww, thank you so very much Susie. I feel all warm and fuzzy now. ^^ I really appreciate the compliments hun. And thank you for being forgiving of my trees. I still am trying to figure out how to draw them. >_< I can draw nudey kaboodies, but I can't draw a friggen tree! Ah well. Practice makes perfect. Anyway, thank you again for always being supportive of me. You rock out loud! Much love. ^_^
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  BogusRed
  Nov 27, 2005, 9:37:35 PM UTC
  Hey I can tell that you are working really hard at it. I can tell you were referencing trees when you drew those. Your hard work is showing. So just keep at it.
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