The Passage of Wisdom :edited:

*** full-view please***

My school art club entry based on the topic above in the title. We could interpret this statement however we wanted and this is what I chose. This has a lot of symbolism and deeper meaning to me personally which I will explain to anyone who is kind enough to actually read this part...

I know I like to explain alot in my descriptions... but it is only because each picture I do is for a reason and not usually drawn without much thought and concentration on my part. So if you don't care, I will just save you time, and you can stop reading here.

*****************
Artist's Comments:

To me the passage of wisdom is most clearly associated with growing up. On this theme I drew a symbolic representation of how I feel on this matter. The old, knotted tree represents the older generations and the hard years that have past, while the swing shows the younger generation and the future.

The lone pair sitting atop an open hill evoke a calm and serene picture, yet at the same time a feeling or wistfulness. I tryed to show the generations that have passed in this one spot where time stood still, and the many more that will eventually come to enjoy this peacful secluded place too.

Most of all, I feel, that with the passage of wisdom and growing older, also comes the realization of an innocence and simplicity in the world, seen through the eyes of children, that will be forever lost. To those who have grasped this, all you can do is guide the younger generations and share what you have learned, so that they will not take their shortlived and carefree childhood for granted.

All children want to grow up as fast as possible, leave their restricting parents, and never look back. Only when they are finally adults, do they realize what they have given up. Instead of the late curfews and freedom they expected from braking free of familial restraints, they recieved bills, reponsiblities, and a family of their own to support. In exchange for the things that were once handed to them on a silver platter, they have to fight to keep up with the real world. School is not a game to be wasted away... it is practice and training for what is to come... cheating, in the long run, will only hurt yourself. Once you are older, you can never go back. This is the wisdom I pass on to the world and anyone who will listen... if only they would understand while they still have the chance.

But I digress.

Finally, the book on the swing represents the knowlegde that has been left behind , only to be passed on to the eager hands of the next child who comes along. I also included, literally, a "passage" of wisdom... as in "a brief segment of a book." This quote was made by Rachel Carson and if you cannot read the cursive it says, "If facts are the seeds that later produce knowledge and wisdom, then the emotions and the impressions of the senses are the fertile soil in which the seeds must grow." I thought that particular quote went well with the topic and the picture.

************

About the art... if anyone is still reading. This was my first time doing an original picture without lineart on the computer. Also first time doing a real background and without people or animals. It was actually more fun than I thought it would be, but it took me most of the weekend.

No tutorials out there on how to draw trees... so I eventually decided to bite the bullet and made it up as a I went along. I will also mention that I didn't use any special brushes or textures and did everything by hand... and by that I mean no grass/fur brush, but me, with the sumdge tool, doing the grass by hand. My favorite parts to do were the clouds (although most are covered up by the tree) and the swing.

This project was such a learning experiance for me. I have found many new techniques... and quite a few of my own that I made up. My art teacher for the club is always telling us to "think outside of the box" and "go outside of our comfort zone." Now, by taking that advice, I have learned so much more and am more comfortable with different styles.



**2/11/07 EDIT - touch ups and multiple corrections