Reviews from

Oberon

Oberon in Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream

15 total reviews 
Comment from Gramelli


The colors and lighting are very nice in this art. Nice texture changes. I had a hard time following any story of the photo, but enjoyed it from a purely visual perspective.

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 Comment Written 21-Sep-2008


reply by the author on 21-Sep-2008
    Thank you so very much for your review and kind words. I admit the story is not understandable by the picture itself. It is an illustration to "A Midsummer Nights Dream" by Shakespeare. The person is Oberon, king of fairies. The location is a fairytale dream scape.Sorry for being to mystical here.
Comment from lil_nitelite /!!!/


This is really cool looking. Looks like melting paint over a frosted glass window. Love the colors and deep contrast here. Great work on the overall look to this. Well done indeed.

 Comment Written 21-Sep-2008


reply by the author on 21-Sep-2008
    Thank you so very much for your generous review.
Comment from BETS BETS


WOW, I didn't see the person at first, I think there is a woman there. The stark red and black swirels are such a contrast to the soft green. It seems a bit heavy to me, the black and red, but the piece works. I actually lover the small area to the far right, the red and black flowers.

 Comment Written 21-Sep-2008


reply by the author on 21-Sep-2008
    Thank you so much for your generous review. It's may a little heavy on the red and black. I did the swirls to symbolize the dark night and burning emotions of Shakespeare's story.
Comment from jesuel


what a great composition you have created here with a photo the color is great the design is great you have a really beautiful piece of art here great job

 Comment Written 21-Sep-2008


reply by the author on 21-Sep-2008
    Thankg you so much for your generous review.
Comment from Rockdoc


Very nice Mixed media and I can almost see a face in the light green portion. Looks like a girl with flowers in her hair. sounds like it was a labor intensive digital darkroom session in its creation and the end result is amazing. Thank.

 Comment Written 20-Sep-2008


reply by the author on 20-Sep-2008
    Thank you for your very kind review. Yes it was a labor intensive digital-darkroom session. [I like that sentence.] Thanks Heidi
Comment from ZenTrip


The only thing I can identify with here, Cleo, is Shakespeare's Oberon.

Try as I may, I just can't climb into this one. My senses are totally confused and benumbed when I try for any interpretation.

As my eyes search for something to focus on, I reach for the green face just left of center, if indeed it is a face, and perhaps I see her upper torso (Queen Titania?)

And perhaps everything else is representative of Oberon's magical power.

This in my estimation deserves a five, perhaps a six if I had better powers of observation, and could better relate to it.

But knowing your talent, I also know there has to be so much more than is visible on the surface that I'm not capable of understanding.

You've mentioned blurring, snack skin (which I've never heard of), handpainting, a cut out and transferred photograph, distortion brush, etc. This must have taken hours and a very concentrated application of your talent and skills.

So even though I will be criticized for even attempting to review this, I must - even with my limitations and admitted shortcomings.

The imaginative scope you've used is mind-boggling. And even though I can't quite grasp it - I genuinely applaud your effort.

Thanks for letting me blunder through this and I hope I haven't appeared to unsettling.

 Comment Written 19-Sep-2008


reply by the author on 20-Sep-2008
    My poor dear friend I know this would happen. Forgive me in baffeling you. You are so much in the real [human] world you look always to find real[human] things even in fairy tale land. No there is not much symbolic in this one. There is no Titania at least I didn't put her in. I have to look at the full size picture on my screen. She is a fairy maybe she sneaked in my mine and picture . You never know with fairies. OK I'm joking but I really like the Idea of Titania looking over Oberon's shoulder. Back to the picture: The only magical thing beside Oberon is the magical flower [in front of Oberon] he is using to cause all the trouble and a few fireflies [light spots] since Oberon's court [including himself and Titania] is sayd to change into them when traveling . I have to admit that I had an idea that the lighted creature [the curve with the wings on each side] beside Oberon's left shoulder could be Titania flying away from him wile having [a very human] domestic dispute. The rest of the background is just the magical forest.
    I have also to admit that I was playing a little with the mine of my viewers [as you - please forgive me] leaving room for imagination and fantasy. I just wanted to find out what a viewer could put in into a picture if he has enough room for imagination.
    And one last thing. I didn't wrote how I had the idea for this picture before: was designing Halloween costumes. For that I set Oberon on the black canvas and played with his appearances. For the costume I ended up painting Oberon's face hon the left side as an fairy [as in the posted picture] and the right human. But my Oberon remained on the black canvas demanding to be finished. So I did.
    Thanks my friend for your beautiful review and forgive me for confusing you. Heidi
reply by ZenTrip on 20-Sep-2008
    Thanks so much, Cleo. Confusion sometimes makes cowards of us all. But I gave it a try - just missed this time. It was an exercise in futility - but a colorful detour I enjoyed. Thank you for taking the time and caring enough to explain it all. I can still appreciate all you've done with this marvelous creation. As I've heard - the Tassel is Worth the Hassle, so as I adjust it over to the other side of my mortar board cap, I also hold in mind that although we cannot direct the wind, we can adjust the sails. Looking forward to your next confusion - and your willingness to let me try again.
reply by the author on 20-Sep-2008
    Thanks you so much.
    I promise I confuse and let you try again....
    ...but keep in mine next time you see a fairytale picture try to be 6 years old again. I won't put always the sorrows of the world in a picture. Sometime my inner kid needs some playtime.
reply by the author on 20-Sep-2008
    P.S. You didn't miss a thing and it was also an exercise of imagination on your part with imagining Titania you did an outstanding job here.
    I think imagination and fantasy are as important as the realistic view of the world. Were would we be without the imagination of the people before us? And were would we be if some artists wouldn't put mystery in their work [Leonardo da Vinci just for example]
reply by ZenTrip on 20-Sep-2008
    Thanks, cleo. Beautifully said.
reply by the author on 20-Sep-2008
    Thanks :)
    You won't believe this! Titania sneaked into the picture. I have other reviews were she was seen. Seams I'm the one who didn't see her.
reply by ZenTrip on 20-Sep-2008
    Thanks for the note on Titania's mischievousness. I'll check out the other reviews. That's her playful nature.
reply by the author on 20-Sep-2008
    You are probably right.
Comment from ARTHOUND


wow that sounds like a monumental task to put this piece together i like the blurred effect that you put in this piece the creation of the chariture's is really good i like the coloration of this and the creature that is shownlook's like carmen merand's head piece great presentation and story telling good job arthound

 Comment Written 19-Sep-2008


reply by the author on 20-Sep-2008
    Thanks so much Artrhound for your generous review. Yes it was a big task to put this picture together. I spend many hours but it was also a lot of fun to do so.
Comment from lorac1


Wow! You certainly have enviable technical excellence. This picture sounds like a lot of work! Your result is certainly beautiful. The initial impact is striking, and the center of interest seems very original.

 Comment Written 19-Sep-2008


reply by the author on 19-Sep-2008
    Thank you so very much for your kind review. Yes it was a lot of work but also a lot of fun doing it.
Comment from Snopaw


Wow Cleo, you really put a lot of work into this piece. This is really something else. I love the story that you provided with it and, of course, your great notes as to your process. Very nicely done. Shirley

 Comment Written 19-Sep-2008


reply by the author on 19-Sep-2008
    Thanks Shirley, for your kind comments an d generous review.
Comment from StRyCh9


Your abilty to manipulate a montage is indeed creative and the reults very pleasing to the eye! I especially enjoyed the color impact from this work!
Initial impact 6
Creativity of presentation 5
Colour Harmony 5
Center of interest 5
Technique 5
Story telling ability 5
A great pleasure to be able to view your work:)

 Comment Written 19-Sep-2008


reply by the author on 19-Sep-2008
    Thank you so very much for your generous review and kind comments.