Friday, April 11, 2008

Illustration Friday: Fail


When you paint happy pictures you generally don't have a lot of pieces that pertain to "fail "so I can only reflect on my own failures and there have been a few. Some are too personal and painful but the sting from this project has long dissipated. I talked about this in a post quite a while back and submitted a different illustration because I had to come up with several illustrations in a 24 hr. period. This illo was for Celine Dion when she got her gig in Las Vegas and was securing art for merchandise in her gift store at Caesar's Palace. This was something I thought she might like as she was a new mom, so I put a little boy in it and my goal was to create these vintage-like-Vogue-like covers that would emulate her and her passion for fashion. Obviously different from my usual fare, but the good part was she really liked them and I received an email telling me so. It was a very long drawn out affair and after a certain point I took a pass. It was good to know I could still stay up all night and crank out some art. For Illustration Friday's "Fail" theme
click on image for a closer view..

32 comments:

Ginger*:) said...

You never fail when you try something new or different. This is just lovely, warm and delightful.

NANCY LEFKO said...

this is lovely...hardly a failure...I echo Ginger's remarks....

Unknown said...

Not a failure at all...wonderful as always and each and every piece is created for a reason...had a special feeling...just magical...

Teri said...

Well gosh, its just so soft and beautiful!!

pati said...

Wow! It's so cool to have the opportunity of knowing the story behind such a lovely illo :O

Of course Celine would like it, Val!

Cheers,

Pati

Ces Adorio said...

I think this topic drove everyone to think or make up something that would represent it. I was wondering what you would come up with and as it turned out, something perfect for all the reasons. As for taking a pass, I don't think that's a failure but a "different option" and I am not making up some crap like we do at work, words that are suppose to represent some big concept but instead simply mean :"systemness" = don't ask for anything special or different, this is what you get; "look at the big picture" = we don't know what we're doing; think outside the box = we have no idea; "opportunities" = you have a lot of work to do.

Dot said...

ditto the above

And as far as the piece:
really different... i like it!

thefridayfrog said...

oh holey cow....what ces said, too! and this is LOVELY, val! you and that glow of color! :))))

Gillian Mowbray said...

Wow - that's a failure? Sounds like a positive outcome to me, if C liked your work.
I hate this week's theme but, as always, you've come up with a beautiful and quite stylistic piece. x

Ces Adorio said...

There is an award for you at my blog!

Ces Adorio said...

hey I just noticed. I tell you if it was a snake it would have bitten me long ago. Your text color matches the color scheme of your artwork! How cool is that?!

Anonymous said...

Valgal! I've only heard you talk about this piece but have never seen it. Totally great of course!

The flowers make me hanker for summer.... Today was really warm & sunny in seattle but it's not supposed to last.

Cant wait to see you!

xoxox

--dd

Anonymous said...

What an experience! Sounds bittersweet, but a good experience to have had...Your work is simply beautiful, and the yellow is perfect...I love this, it's so warm and gentle..nice work Val!! I owe you a proper email, doll!

a : )

Unknown said...

beautiful and love the graceful quality!

Vicki Smith said...

Nice colors and composition!

AscenderRisesAbove said...

she is the sun!

ascenderrisesabove.com/wordpress

bog_art said...

It is obvious why she liked it.. I love the way how you did the water.. great!!..

Anonymous said...

yes I agree with ginger...no fail if trying something different...
excellent work as usual!

isay said...

who will not like this? this is really beautiful. i also like the font you used for her name.

atomicvelvetsigh said...

its always nice to drop by your blog for some refreshing surprise! this is really beautiful..

just came from a vacation and missed out lots of IF posts.. so its really great to visit here. keeps me inspired..

emilayusof said...

Beautiful! Celine is so lucky to have you to paint for her!

Faruffa said...

This is so nice and really "chic", the baby is a touch of genius!!!

milanrubio said...

Wonderful and bright colorful palette! So warm picture, I like it!

Keira Mefiant said...

Wow! that's beutiful! how you do it? you draw exellent, I like it very much. specially the color n.n. the woman is like a angel xD..weelm, that's it, you are in my links! have a kiss!!
-keira-
PD: I'm not english, I'm from argentina, sorry for my poor english

Anonymous said...

a nice and inspiring story and a very lovely illustration!

Tony LaRocca said...

IT's an evil yellow eye - no wait, it's a sunny happy picture. :)

Roberta said...

You are so interesting Val! You have so much to share!
It's a beautiful illustration.

soulbrush said...

what a cute little drawing, i bet she liked it.
i loved your word 'verklempt' on tony's site...haven't heard that one for years. do you use other yiddish expressions? there is nothing like a good 'shlep' or 'tsimmis' or 'balabosta' to make the world right!

Bimbimbie said...

Hello, I'm looking in from Ces and her dishes. Your leap illustration made me smile and I love the story about the gypsy wagon*!*

merlinprincesse said...

I was sure Céline would love it! This is such a fresh and nice illo! And Céline is a nice person! :)

Ellen said...

So cheerful! Thanks for sharing, it's sometimes comforting to know everyone makes mistakes!

Lisa M Griffin said...

This is so lovely, my moms name is Celine, so it really caught my eye. Lovely work.