deviant art





Login
Join deviantART for FREE Take the Tour Lost Password?
Deviant Login
Buy Art Buy deviantWEAR Buy adCast Buy Premium Upgrade
Shop
 Join deviantART for FREE Take the Tour
[x]

More from *phoenix-karenee

Burnt Blood and Feathers Dream softly, there, nestled close to heart and breath
and rhythm of blood pulsing through close-bonded nest
of anchored expectation and hope bound to aspiration
where ruffling wind blows through
in sighs that lift feathers nestled close beneath limitations.

Pulse of my blood, wings of my heart, do not lift nor fly
when held so close where none might injure or despise.
Frail dream too weak to lift its head,
yet treasured still.
May as well be dead.

Give, give your heart in sacrifice to the Shaper of all
at such a price, this loss of claim feels like a fall
and tearing dreams to death, to give,
cut off from weakened will
release
Playing Pretend She plays pretend in the halls of home
being princess or mommy or both
in the sparkle of dreams within tangled waves
because imperfect is full of laughter
and love wraps her as she is.

She plays pretend on the streets
performing the lover princess
amid shells of dreams tried and discarded
because imperfect isn't enough
to fill the gaping need for love.

She plays pretend for magazines
a false-front princess for selfish eyes
skinned with dreams and disguised by art
hiding imperfection behind laughter and desire
because flaws mean love will not find her.

She discards pretense into holy hands
which raise her as princess of the kin
The Forgotten Young vacant eyes upon
the war-torn emptiness
of broken walls, grey dust.
Withdrawn.
Passed by, the wounded child waits
still wearing tears from long-flown days.
Seconds tick as dripping damp etches stone.
Deep grooves of past
and sand-scoured now echo the vacancy.
Oh, how the child wanders
frightened, frozen in the chill,
awaiting touch and hoped-for life.
But, lost and hopeless, hollow
cries echo silent in the wind.
Time folds around the wisp of red;
her fabric scarf hangs,
motionless in gusting breeze;
dead leaves drift sullen in the gloom
to pile against unmoving feet.
And memory forgets that she is there
when no eyes

Featured in Groups:

Not currently featured in any groups.

Details

October 2, 2009
2.3 MB
2625×3500
Link
Thumb

Statistics

Comments: 5
Favourites: 4 [who?]
Views: 249 (0 today)
[x]
:iconphoenix-karenee:
1453

Title – from the “Troparion to the Holy Cross,” a song favored in the Byzantine Empire.

Time stands still at the turning of the battle against the Ottomans. General Guistiniani is struck in the breastplate by a crossbow bolt.

The Genoese will retreat with their critically wounded leader, leaving Constantine XI to fill the breach with his own guard. The battle will be over by full dawn, and the city ravaged by its attackers.

Painted with basic brushes in GIMP with Wacom Intuos4. Three weeks of long hours interspersed with lots of research.
:icon:
Add a Comment:
 
Preview   Add Comment
love 0 0 joy 1 1 wow 0 0 mad 0 0 sad 0 0 fear 0 0 neutral 0 0
:iconmontag451:
*montag451 Jan 13, 2010  Hobbyist Digital Artist
Very moving piece, Karen--excellent! And my attention was drawn to the small green figure at the top--looks like a small boy but I cannot make out what he is doing. Coool! :-)
Reply
:iconphoenix-karenee:
*phoenix-karenee Jan 13, 2010  Professional General Artist
Ah, that's a kid who took his wounded father's crossbow and helmet and went out to help defend his city ... I figure those sorts of things probably happened during the battle, and I needed someone on that wall.

--
[link]
Reply
:iconmontag451:
*montag451 Jan 13, 2010  Hobbyist Digital Artist
Okay--thanks for filling me in on the details, Karen! And on this track, a new HBO series is coming up soon...SPARTACUS. From what I see, looks more like Gladiator or 300. For me, the only Spartacus is Kirk Douglas and that is that! ;-)
Reply
:iconphoenix-karenee:
*phoenix-karenee Jan 13, 2010  Professional General Artist
Either way we'll have to wait till the series comes out on Netflix, since I've managed to persuade David (my husband) that cable is unnecessary.

It's ironic that this caught your eye, since it is a painting drawn from the interests of the friend who requested it. I learned a lot about the history of the event during the process, but I must say I prefer less confinement in the exertion of my imagination. *laugh* All the same, I think the challenge taught me something about art, so I'd probably do similar work again if someone commissioned me.

--
[link]
Reply
:iconmontag451:
Mood: Joy *montag451 Jan 13, 2010  Hobbyist Digital Artist
Well, the new Spartacus series will be a vast, vast departure from the Kirk Douglas epic of the 1950's I'm sure. I may peek at it from time to time on HBO but I'm a bit skeptical, I guess.;-) Anyway, you never know--it might be GREAT. Take care and see ya here soon!
Reply
:icon:
Add a Comment:
 
Preview   Add Comment
©2012 deviantART. All rights reserved
About Us | Contact Us | Developers | Careers | Site Tour | Help & FAQ Advertise | Premium Membership Etiquette | Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Copyright Policy