Friday, August 15, 2008

IF topic: Detach

I am posting this painting, "Next Stop, Wonderland," for this week's Illustration Friday topic, which is 'detach.' People on subways are all together for a time in a small confined space and experience, but they maintain their detachment. I love to take subway photos! It's one place where you can photograph people and they don't even notice. They are all safely detached in their own worlds.

I shot the photo that I painted this from on the Boston T. There actually is a T stop in Boston called "Wonderland" -  it's at the end of the Blue line. Though the painting was done from people I saw on the Green line, they just look like they should be wanting to go to Wonderland, don't they?


This painting now belongs to my daughter-in-law.

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wonderful painting. You've captured the unattached facial expressions well. It would be easy to be detached or hyper attentive amongst all those strangers.

Anonymous said...

nice illo - strange: when reading that "detached" was to be the clue for this week's IF contribution, i was thinking of some guys reading newspaper in the subway ...

have a nice week-end

e.

Willie Baronet said...

What a great post! I love that about riding the subway as well. Very cool.

studio lolo said...

Oh man I used to ride the T all the time when I lived in Boston! Nothing like skipping school and riding the T all day. Have you seen the movie "Next Stop Wonderland?" It's really good, also set in Revere.
Excellent drawing!

Connie said...

I love this moody, atmospheric illustration. Having ridden the London underground for a good many years I can attest to the fact that you've got it spot on!

erin said...

wonderful painting! that movie just made me want to take the train to Wonderland.

Jen said...

Very nice - love all the shading.

Christy/Tiddly Inks Digitals said...

I love the Boston T! :) You captured "that absent mindset" very well

steve said...

So very true, and I've observed this both in NYC and DC recently. You've captured this very well!

Bella Sinclair said...

This is an amazing painting! Love all that detached body language.

There really is a Wonderland?? How wonderful is that! I want to go there.

Anonymous said...

Saturday 8/16/08 2:06pm
My favorite parts of this painting are all the wrinkle lines in the clothing of the riders (I am also painting wrinkle lines in an art class and we have struck poses and observed where the wrinkle lines originate and where they go to)...easy to paint in oil but more difficult to weave in Tapestry...from Janet on the East Coast

K Spoering said...

I like painting the fabric parts most, too! Probably because I am truly a fiber person. I also like to weave fabric, I use hachure a lot for the shadows and wrinkles. In fact, I have a piece in my head, struggling to get out, that is mostly about that - a tapestry about fabrics.

L.C. Spoering said...

my painting! i smile at it every time i see it, i assure you. we're hoping your talent has passed onto your grandkids, kathy. ;)

K Spoering said...

Oh, no, Lorrie, the grandkids' talents will FAR surpass mine!!!

platitudinal said...

This is a gorgeous painting! It speaks of so many things, albeit unspoken. The passengers’ faces give us glimpse of their lives and thoughts. This painting tells various stories.

Nathalie St-Pierre Roths said...

Nice use of the medium. Looking at these people make you wonder what are their life and where they are heading... hopefully to Wonderland...

Nathalie St-Pierre Roths said...

Thanks for commenting my work. Yes, I am French-Canadian and I've been here in the States for (soon!) 15 years! Glad you had a nice time visiting my province.

Solvere volo said...

It's great how you captured the moment! Great painting!

Mike said...

Awesome take on the topic, and excellent work on the painting.

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