Yes, (above) is an old picture from an old project. But it's a good prelude to the following post.
Having viewed Darren Aronofsky's Black Swan recently, I am entranced. I loved it. I was enamoured by the intensity of the performances and the poignance of Aronofsy's representation of an artist's descent into madness. In a nutshell, the movie depicts a dancer (Natalie Portman) losing herself in her role, striving to embody both the white swan and black swan in the famous ballet Swan Lake.
As an 'artist', I found myself completely relating to the character. I could feel her fears, her doubts, her perfectionism, and above all, her obsession. The intensity in her approach to her art - to literally lose one's self in one's own obsession, in the struggle to achieve absolute beauty and perfection - is something very real and also very frightening. It is a film that I think all artists, musicians, performers, and athletes can relate.
I have the soundtrack playing on a loop as I work. Clint Mansell's haunting appropriation of Tchaikovsky's original Swan Lake score is the perfect accompaniment to draw to.
Oh yeah, the work:
I have chosen to keep the project under wraps so as not to 'jinx' the work, but I thought I'd share some progress shots with you. It is no secret that I find inspiration from the male form, and that I often work with a male muse in mind. So if the following colour drafts appear to place heavy emphasis on my muse, then you're probably right. For it is my muse who inspires me to create, to guide my vision, the vessel for my thoughts on paper. It is my muse who drives me to keep doing what I'm doing. To do him artistic justice, it is my muse for whom I strive to achieve absolute beauty and perfection.
Obsession?
No.
Ok, maybe just a little.
S.
