As many of you probably know already, my main body of work is on glass. The backside to be precise, as I have described in "What is Hinterglas". I start with a pencil drawing and then continue with thin, transparent glazes of color.
In my recent works, I have put more emphasis on the drawing alone, as coloring it often pushes that part into the background... although it is actually a few nanometer closer to the viewer, once you turn the finished piece in the right direction.
Today I would like to present such a piece, where I only worked with graphite pencil and a light blue-ish gray background.
"Athena on the Sun Chariot" was a commissioned piece. Athena is the clients favorite goddess and I put her on the sun chariot, as that created a connection to his wife.
To me it was also important to not just depict another statue like Greek goddess or, god forbid, some fantasy movie like super being. But I wanted to bring her into our time. And she is a warrior after all, so she had to have a weapon. I figured, today she wouldn't throw around a spear, so why not use a smart phone instead?
Patience please, huge files ahead
Instead of the aegis, I gave her a semi mechanical armor:
Instead of the spear she is often shown with, I gave her the handle bar to steer her sun chariot in her right hand. Since she is associated with the "owl", I placed one on the device.
Did I mention that I like extreme vertical formats? I often use an aspect ratio of 1:2 or even 1:3. But here I took it a big step further. I usually associate ancient Greece with columns and therefore I wanted that to be an aspect in this painting. In the end, I found it best, to express that in the shape of it and made it 7,5x75 inches (20x200 cm), a whopping 1:10 aspect ratio!
If you look close enough, you'll see, that of course, she is wearing high heels... (just a hint for another Greek "goddess"... ๐๐ Ms @ruth-girl)
And before you get disappointed with the sun chariot, let me explain, that I imagined it as a futuristic flying "segway", and one can only see the machinery of it.
Of course, as with all my glass originals, I made the frame as well. The lower part is covered with aluminum leaf as a metal of our time. The upper part is olive wood, as Athena is also associated with the olive tree. The "crown" of the frame is made of five layers of olive wood and five layers of glass. In Tarot (I worked on a big artwork on the theme for several years) 5 represents the "divine" as in the V - The High Priest. Both materials together are 10, standing for destiny.
@mira13 and @sukhasanasister would be able to add a lot more about numerological aspects. To me the numbers represent major arcana of the Tarot and I use a more intuitive approach.
I enjoy reading your comments!
โค
If you like my work, of course I appreciate your upvotes and resteems
All photos/scans by me of my own artwork done in my special technique as introduced in What is Hinterglas?
Need some SOL?
Good morning darling! Wow that extreme vertical and the beautiful frame really elevate this striking piece! I wish I could see where the new owners of this piece decide to hang it. I am not the biggest fan of the smartphone, or the platform heels ;), but overall this is gourgeous. Iโm always in awe of all the clever detailds you โhideโ in your work.
Good morning ๐
The painting found a really nice home. On a wall next to the "Revelation", in a mansion not far from Munich.
Haha... the smartphone.. well, a lot of people think, she is taking a selfie. I never even thought about that until someone asked me if this is what she did there.. Oh, what I would give to see you in platforms (giggle ๐คญ)
Itโs in good company then :)
Iโm thinking she is just starting catfights on twitter, being the goddess of war and all ;) The only platforms I would wear are those gilded ones with wheels ;)
Haha.. great imagination!
Alrighty.. on my way to my workshop, to start carving those LadySkates for you then. Size EU 37 if I remember correctly ๐ฃ
Age hasn't worsen your memory๐
Kinda spooky you asked me about the owner... they just stopped by for a surprise visit! ๐ฎ
One day Iโll be the one popping by unannounced ๐
A smartphone as a weapon... :) And that aspect ratio is craaaazy!
Wonderful, the things you do...
(But I hope she is a warrior, and not a worrier :) )
Oups.. someone actually read the text ;-) Thanks a lot for pointing that out and of course a big thank you for your compliments! ๐
aside from the insane ratio, I love the frame!
On second thought, the ratio is not as crazy as first thought: there are certain places in a home where this (and nothing else) would fit perfectly.
also shared on twitter:
So, you live in a palace... I knew it! Thanks a lot, as always for sharing, Otto!
Thank you for mentioning me in this beautiful and symbolically powerful work. Deeply grateful.
This extreme vertical formats suits perfectly the theme, along with the colors of the frame. The whole futuristic idea is a kind of a funny profecy, as far as I see how the things are developing. Your humor always finds the way to be exspressed. :)
It is a victory card, but the victory is not guaranteed. If we want to succed we have to behave in a certain way. And it is so in every area of life. The suggestion of the card is to take a driver seat , meaning, take an action, or series of actions. The chariotโs journey is a gradual victory.
Just to put these two powerful ideas together is great, Sun Charriot and Athena as a charioteer. Well guided by your intuition. As it is a symbol for his wife, you sent the great message to both. Even when attraction is too high, like in the case when The Sun is the goal, keeping the golden middle is the key. I see your painting as a modern interpretation of aiming and keeping things within the neutralized opposities. Hard to achieve, but when, one is in one with everyone and everything.
Thank you so very much for your kind compliments and taking the interpretation to the next level. All that means a lot to me ๐ป
Another amazing piece. I love the way your mind works and that you have put the goddess in a modern yet fantastical context. So inspiring.
I also love the general shape of this piece, long and narrow, like she is slipping in and out of time or we are seeing her through a fantastical screen in the temple wherein we go to worship this Goddess.
The silver leaf against the warm wood is also so striking.
You always find such wonderful words with your beautiful comments and imagination. Thank you so much ๐
I'm glad you like them, it's truly the subject matter that inspires my honest response. I love that we are living in a time where I can peer into the mind and world of someone with your vision thousands of miles away.
Holla die Waldfee :-)
Absolut geniales Teil -
das Format ist cool ( ich liebe Hochformat schlank )-
das Motiv mal wieder TOP - Malerei meisterhaft
Du hast es einfach drauf - Immer ein Augengenuร :-)
Der Rahmen - ohlala- der Rahmen ist superb -
hast den selbstgestrickt - (eigentlich ne dumme Frage )
aber der ist ja sowas von unique,
der allein hat schon Sammlerwert
tolle Handwerksarbeit !!!
resteemed
Dank Dir recht herzlich, wie immer. Ja, der Rahmen ist zu 90% von mir. Nur das Grundgerรผst hab ich vom Schreiner machen lassen, weil ich mir bei dem extremen Format nicht ganz sicher war...
Hammerteil & Augenschmaus :-)
Dear Artzonian, thanks for using the #ArtzOne hashtag. Your work is valuable to the @ArtzOne community. Quote of the week: Art, freedom and creativity will change society faster than politics. -Victor Pinchuk
Thank you for your kind attention :-)
Brilliant. there are so many different elements in your works. Sometimes I look at them and believe that I already see the whole picture. Then I look again and discover something new again. And in this case I am happy to be wrong because each new surprise is a pleasant one.
Thanks a lot for telling me that. I really like such kind of art myself, when I can wander endlessly and always discover something new :-)
I LOVE this, the format to the painting is just so inventive and the shading work is amazing, so soft, I have tried so many times to do portraits and have just given up, its takes so much to get it to look right, you are so talented!
Hey, new profile pic.. almost didn't recognize you. The soft shading is a challenge, for me as well and particularly on glass. As to doing portraits, it just takes a lot of practice... I find hands even harder to do than faces.
hahaha yeah! Didn't like the old photo. I can imagine! I don't know how you do it! I think whenever I start one I want the finished product straight away and have no patience so give up! Need to work harder on that!
Beautifully designed. Very precise like clockwork. Thanks for explaining the meaning and concepts behind your work. The metal does speak of our time and love the connection to the greek column. The frame is slender and beautiful just like your drawing of the godess. Thanks for sharing :)
Thank you for looking at my work and for your kind comment :-)
I can't imagine the effort that went into this one on so many levels! Did anything in particular make you think of a smartphone when considering weapons?
The smartphone just seemed to me like the perfect device to control whatever else there might be...
Sehr schรถn und der Rahmen ist perfekt fรผr das Bild!
Danke, freut mich, wenn er Dir gefรคllt :-)
Die ganze Idee gefรคllt mir :-D
Silicon Madonna making selfi.
Brilliantly!
"Silicon Madonna" is great! Haha.. yes, everyone thinks she is taking a selfie..
Not a selfie? H-mmm... Ok, google... translator?
Haha... fashion blog ;-)
Natรผrlich) Da hab ich schon den obigen Text gelesen)
A long time ago you told me that a man can recognize the good artist by his pencil drawing skill. You are right, with no doubt! I love your mechanisms... Even I tried to do something similar to understand how you do it. Usually, I think a lot for the detail but this time it takes me even longer. When i post it, i will mention you in it, would really love to hear your opinion about it! Thank you a very much for keeping me in track!
Sehr kreativ und einzigartig. Respekt
Danke sehr :-)
Amazing!
Thanks :-)
This is so full of details, I think you made a great job at bringing her to our current times. She looks powerful. Thanks for sharing another wonderful work, you never cease to amaze me!
Thank you for stopping by and leaving your meaningful comment :-)
Excellent artwork. A goddess with smartphone... Rad :)
Hehe.. thanks ๐
This is beautiful Reinhard!
Thank you Jon, also for the resteem!
Very interesting and unusual idea! Perfect realization! Very beautiful model!
Thanks a lot. It was a long way actually to finally get this idea, and yes, the young lady who modeled is very beautiful and fit the theme perfectly.
it's an amazing photo, really.
you're really an amazing artist.
thanks for sharing it.
Thanks a lot for your kind words :-)
no, all the credit goes to you for sharing your nice works.
This time you showed the whole woman! I think that, despite the internal mechanisms, her soul exists, I see it to her eyes! I really like the picture frame. Did you make it to order?
Actually, I paint the whole figure quite often, just not in such an extreme format ;-) Yes, the frame was specially made for the painting.
Did you do this work to order?
You mean, did someone order this piece? In a way, yes :-)
Your one of the great artist here in this community sir. Lot of inspirations from your artwork. Thanks for always sharing your artworks. So much like this one piece coz it is the same name with my eldest daughter 'athena'.
Thank you very much for your kind compliments. I'm clad my work is an inspiration for you. I'm sure, your daughter is a little goddess for you too then :-)
Much welcome sir. Shes very happy when ive tell her.
Very pretty, and look at all these awards!!
Thank you sir. Yes she's always had awards on her study.
Echt originelle Idee mit dem Spartphone :-). Ich frage mich immer wieder, woher Kรผstler diese tolle Ideen nehmen. Deswegen sind sie aber auch Kรผnstler :-). Sonnige Grรผsse aus Bali
Tja, wo die ideen herkommen frag ich mich selber auch oft. Leider hat man es nicht unter Kontrolle :-b
Sonnige Grรผรe zurรผck... oups, ist ja gar nicht sonnig hier ๐
What an creative take!...it is a true make of an artist to take risks and imagine what already exists into new and inspired ways...I love all the symbolic elements. wonderful
Thank you very much. Love the way you express your thoughts, also in your poetry in your blog!
great art your post
Thank you ๐
Such lovely portrayl of Athena. She has been on my mind lately as I've been revisiting the narrative of Pallas.
Fine attention so delicately woven to interpretive modern detail. She is magickal.
And just a pencil. Shoot. Salut!
good evening.
so nice art.
i appriciate it.
go ahead
Very delicate pencil work, an unusual and elegant frame, a fun subject; this piece has a lot going for it!
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I really love your artwork. What flows through you is really quite astounding. We were together on the talk show radio with @aggroed, @stellabelle and @juliakponsford. Just now tuning back into your work - you really do have incredible skill.
What a wonderful surprise, thank you for stopping by and your compliments! Of course I remember you... oh god, the radio show, when my microphone didn't work ๐ค... but it was very interesting to hear all you other artists tell your stories! You also put up the art exhibition at the last steemfest, right?
So much good content everywhere here on steemit, and the day never has enough hours to visit everyone. Strangely enough, I always think of you, when I'm out in the nature! Taking your kind comment as a reminder, to start my Sunday morning with your blog ๐
Awe....it would indeed be a pleasure to have a Sunday morning coffee with you @reinhard-schmid!
You without the microphone really was a disappointment, but it gave me an introduction to you anyway, so success was indeed had.
I never get to all the rounds of Steemians I wish to visit. Keeping up with my own blog and all the art entires, plus the @museproject is quite the challenge already. So many incredible opportunities--gratefully they just keep coming.
Yes, too bad we are so far from each other... on the other hand, I'm thankful for this technology, as one might never find out about beautiful projects like your's without it.
We are apart...but we are also together. Sweet perfection @reinhard-schmid!