Untitled

** Wonder Woman Ballerina **

I really like this concept, and thank the creativity of my friend Jenn B that led to this commission. As my blog on commissions states, if you give me the idea that will make you excited, then I have enough direction to bring it into reality. Therefore, I wanted to write this blog to discuss this newest of pieces.

I find the combination of a ballerina with Wonder Woman quite interesting, because both represent power balanced with elegance.

Ballerinas - I have always felt that ballerinas have been relegated to history. For example, I say ballerina, you think "The Nutcracker." The Nutcracker is from the 19th century, hence history. Maybe you thought "Black Swan" if you are a Natalie Portman fan, but even then that's a movie about ballet, not an actual ballet. Yet, ballerinas are still around, and they pushing their art form into new directions.

Wonder Woman - Interestingly, I have yet to see Wonder Woman, the movie with Gal Gadot. However, I have heard that it was wonderful, and plan on seeing it as soon as I can. Nevertheless, the impact that she has had on women around the world cannot be underestimated. In the DC franchise where nothing seems to stick, Wonder Woman was a breadth of fresh air. And it was their first female lead blockbuster. Not too shabby.

I started drawing Ballerinas to practice drawing ... flowing dresses. Gasp! Yes, it wasn't the human art form, that came along for the ride. I was curious on how to create the image of flowing cloth through the power of art. Somehow that always mystified me. This then naturally led to drawing the human form, which then led to drawing ballerinas who are doing beautiful poses.

My friend Jenn saw the ballerinas, and presumably, she as a powerful woman in her own right, decided that she was moved by my artwork. Moved so much, that she wanted a piece all to herself that brought out something special and original. She was a dancer in a previous life, she even danced on the Duke University team. Therefore, I think there is something in her past that truly resonated with it. Presumably Wonder Woman came from her being a superhero nerd (as is everyone nowadays). As soon as she mentioned it, I was tickled pink! So here I am now wrapping up the commission and writing a blog :)