SciFi and Fantasy Art: Broken Reflection

*first comment ooooo!*

Such a fascinating concept! And I read in a book somewhere that "Mirrors never forget." How would one be mean to a reflection? -- I suppose by being cruel to ourselves we affect the person in the mirror. That would make it no good to be over perfectionistic about how we look, when it's nothing that can or should be changed. Mm...you've caused me to be reflective (excuse the pun), I'll hav eto think on this for a while.

Excellent compostition. Even without the description or background story, it can take on so many different meanings, depending on what each viewer personally brings with them. That's what I love about abstract artwork -- it can mean everything and nothing all at once.

Barbara J. Wickham replies: "Thank you for your 'reflections' on this pic.

My Gran once told me that it was tempting fate to look at one's reflection too much, not due to vanity but because it gives power to your counterpart in the mirror and because one's counterpart is the reverse of oneself you could have big problems if the mirror should ever break and you found yourself confronted with your negative. I always pictured my counterpart to be a bit of a prankster. I would often imagine that I could catch her winking at me out of the corner of my eye whenever I turned away from the mirror.

Anyhoo, Gran's words stayed with me and when I one day broke a very old mirror I immediately decided to use the shards in this painting. This way I could keep an eye on the pieces with the help of the Guardian pictured here. I figured a mirror that old had a lot of build up and it was better to be safe rather than sorry.

I won't often openly admit to believing in such superstitions but I do have feelings of unease whenever I break a mirror and I always make sure to smile at my reflection every day!"

In taking a second glance at this picture, I see something that kinda gives me the jibblies. In the lower right hand corner, it looks like the mirror shards are a hand about to grab her arm!

Barbara J. Wickham replies: "Gah! You're right! That is so very cool. Now I'm kinda glad the camera didn't pick up better detail since that effect might not have been present.

See? Ya never know about what's really on the other side of the mirror... *shiver*"

It looks so watery....I think its an awsome effect

Barbara J. Wickham replies: "Thank you. *lol* I put this up because it's one of the few paintings I've done that fit the genre, however it's much prettier in person. I'm sure glad ya like it anyway! If fact, your not the first person who's mentioned the *watery* or underwater effect. I'll have to explore that further since this effect seems to catch people's attention. Thanks, again!"

wohoo!!! o_O i like the story.... mirrors.. uhhhh =S and i like the picture, is very original and... uh... the colours are great, youre so good, im just pathetic with oil, haha... n_n

Barbara J. Wickham replies: "*lol* I don't use oils very much these days. Too many chemicals. I would like very much to start painting again but I'll most likely go back to water-based paints. They are easier on the nose and I can safely use my fingers instead of brushes. I'll save lots of money and clean up will be much easier. I think of it as going back to basics when painting was more about the fun.

Thank you so much for your lovely comments!"

oooh... Too bad scanning doesn't do it justice... I love the lighting effects on the face.

Barbara J. Wickham replies: "I was a little worried about the reaction this one would get. It was a very personal vision as far as the pic itself goes. I would love to re-do the idea with the mirror since that part is what I find most effective.

Thank you for mentioning the face since I did focus on the light quite a bit. I just wish I could have given it more cohesion with the theme and broken up the light more appropriately. I'd say this piece makes a good rough draft for an idea that could go much further. Ah well...lessons learned. Thank you for the great comment!"

WOW! Mixed media pieces are amazing. I like the anime like eye too. Your stylized image is so different from the others of your drawings, you are very diverse. That is great.

That is a very unique expression of a fairly unique idea, but I can't help but say that the story made my mind go straight to Through the Looking Glass. I don't really know why - I never actualy read it, but I just thought instantly of it.

Your story is somewhat based in past belief. That is why in victorian times (and depending on those involved now) when someone dies all the mirrors are draped in black (so as not to capture the spirit trying to be promoted to glory)

This piece definately takes on a life and a meaning of it's own with or without your description. I am properly imressed with your talents!

Barbara J. Wickham replies: "Thank you very, very much!

I love experimenting! That goes for materials and styles, in equal measure. Really, I think the diversity in my style comes mainly from a need to emphasize that visual element which is the heart of the piece. In this pic I wanted the eye of the guardian to be what pulled in the viewer's gaze so I made it as large and deep as I dared. From there I hoped that the viewer would contemplate their own meaning to the mirrors.

My descriptions and stories are secondary to what others think. Much of my joy comes from hearing what ideas are sparked in the viewer's mind. Mirrors are fascinating, as is evidenced in all the historical and anecdotal information about them and the power our reflections hold over us. I can only hope that some of that fascination will transfer to my painting.

Thank you ever so much for sharing your thoughts about this piece. I get such a thrill hearing about what folks are put in mind of. I’ve never read Through the Looking Glass either but I do remember several other books in which the greatest adventures began with an innocent piece of silver-backed glass. *sigh* Mine at home must be defective. "

Interesting story behind this one. I like the colors and the movement. Nice use of lights and darks.

Barbara J. Wickham replies: "I love to analyze superstition, and a combination of that with the intriguing psychology of mirrors have led to many interesting ideas. This one in particular is my favorite to ponder.

This painting is in my usual freestyle of painting, but toned down just a bit. With me it's all about the movement, especially the brushstrokes, and the quality of light. Thank you for pointing these things out in your comment!"

Reading this description and seeing the picture sparked an idea the first time I saw it and it’s now been logged and tucked away in my idea notebook for further study later ... it’ll involve a character named Shatterglass ... I leave it at that for the imagination to run wild.

Barbara J. Wickham replies: "Shatterglass! I like that a lot!

Originally, what I liked most about this concept was that it could be the vehicle for many stories, almost like an anthology. Each shard she inspects could be a short tale of one kind or another. Again, I over-reached my abilities, panicked and dropped the whole thing like a hot potato. I’m such a flake sometimes. "