[New Piece] Lady Death

"Lady Death"  • watercolor, colored pencil, gold acrylic on watercolor paper • 16X20

I made this two or three months ago and just never got around to getting a decent photo of it until now. I like the concept but had some difficulty with execution and did some experimenting so I wasn't even sure if it was done or if I liked it, but at this point I know I'm not going to keep messing with it, so I declare it finished. And I am happy with it! Still working with my watercolor-prismacolor-pencil combo technique and loving the results. Some of the things I tried didn't work out and I wasn't able to cover them up completely (I tried to add some extra symbols in the white space) which means I won't be selling the original, but prints are available upon request!

Some background: the color yellow, when used as war paint, apparently symbolized that the wearer was willing to fight to the death. I started out with yellow for her painted eyes and switched to gold paint, which unfortunately you can't really see unless you have the original in front of you, but the idea is still there. She is a force to reckon with.

Unlike my other buffalo women (who you can visit in the gallery until I do a write-up on them), this one is not in spirit form. She is flesh and bone, and she bleeds (you can see the stains on her face and on the backs of her beastly brethren). So instead of being a sort of guide or protector to the buffalo, she is a representation of them.

Challenges | Hair is difficult. Making cool symbols hanging around in white space look like they belong is difficult. Making a pair of eyes the same size is difficult. Subtle expressions are difficult.

Victories | I love the way the color palette came out, and that little trio of Bison gallavanting through her hair. I'm also particularly happy with that blood splotch/splatter. I originally wanted it to be a darker red and went over and over and over it again with watercolor but I think the end result is great.

I'd love to hear your interpretations & thoughts! Leave a comment or contact me directly!

♥ Ciara Kay