I believe that no matter what size, shape, color or age we are,
each of us has an inherent beauty that is so much more than any physical trait. Redhead, middle-aged, black, white, skinny, fat, none of these words can capture who we truly are, even if they describe one aspect of our bodies.
Here is my post on this topic,
along with the illustration and page from “More to Love”
My illustration of Venus, More to Love Goddess is based on the amazing painting by Sandro Botticelli, whose Venus was blond and blue-eyed. I kept her blond and blue-eyed in homage to the artist.
I include women of various sizes, ages and complexions in my illustrations,
but recently started playing with variations of single images as well.
After all, Goddesses come in all colors as well as sizes!
I draw everything by hand (old-school paper & pencil) but paint everything digitally.
This collage shows changes I made within the painting file itself.
I have also been playing with creating a little application, that allows you to choose different hair and skin combinations for the More to Love Goddess, and print her out, maybe with your own name. When I get it figured out (!) I’ll post it on the “fun & free” page.
What do you think? Do you like the variations?
Should I create a series of these?
Here is a little slide show explaining how I create my illustrations.
I can’t tell you how wonderful it for an artist who is a white, thin, able-bodied woman to actually care about things like body size and colour and ability. It is so great to see that you think about these things and are trying hard to be as inclusive as possible in your work without erasing those things that make us unique. I would love to see some of your fun and free pages that can be for women of any colour.
Thank you Jen. I think all of us, no matter what size or color or ability, have been affected by our culture’s obsessions with thinness as a way to value women. If you are large: lose weight! If you are thin, not thin enough! If we look away from the media images, and look around us at the actual women in our lives, we KNOW that there are infinite ways to be beautiful, wonderful, and important.
They are beautiful Elizabeth. I say go for it!
a redhead goddess with freckles on her shoulders! *heart*
Wow, beautiful, hurray for the plus sized! Ahem!
These are great Elizabeth. I totally think you should do a series.
WOW these are truly beautiful! Found you on SITS and now following your blog too
These are stunning. I agree with the others; you should by all means do a series of these!!
I add my voice to the others–a series would be great. Love the variations.
Hi! I finally finished posting 6 different versions of my goddess on a site where you can order them in several sizes as prints.
elizabeth patch’s more to love shop Check it out, they are inexpensive and fun!