Lady in Black

She came to me one morning
One lonely Sunday morning
Her long hair flowing
In the midwinter wind
I know not how she found me
For in darkness I was walking
And destruction lay around me
From a fight I could not win

Oh lady lend your hand outright
And let me rest here at your side
Have faith and trust
In peace she said
And filled my heart with life
There is no strength in numbers
Have no such misconception

Thus having spoke she turned away
And though I found no words to say
I stood and watched until I saw
Her black coat disappear
My labour is no easier
But now I know I'm not alone
I find new heart each time
I think upon that windy day
And if one day she comes to you
Drink deeply from her words so wise
Take courage from her
As your prize
And say hello from me
Uriah Heep - Lady in Black

For *bloodymarie-stock Victoria Francés contest. The idea was to make image look similar to the original (at the beginning at least, when I started) The original is: [link]

Why this image? Because, when I started to do it, I think, it was the most less "used" image. I like the way the rules were changed later but it was little annoying too as I did it with one thought what is wanted and now it is little different.

Dedicated to two fantastic girls and who had birthdays not long ago. Sorry, I was not able to make something for you before

This time I had really hard time to "cut out" the lyrics - all the words in that song seemed to be what I wanted to say. I think I managed to get the lyrics down a little but still keep the meaning.

This is a first time I managed to paint something more than just hair or some little details. I try to give you a little "tour" in the process.

Time: Over 30 hours
Layers: Many over 300 (there where little over 300 but after fixing and correcting some things, I get at least 25 more)

First, I started with the skirt. I wanted to keep the original stock and the same time get it more like on the original. I made the lace into brush and with my new best friend - wrap tool - to fit it, recolored the skirt and added glitter

Then, next morning I started with the jacket. The stock did not had any - so full painting. It was fun and take lot of time I enjoyed that fur, fun to draw

Then face - I tried everything but I didn't managed to make it smooth. Usually I can cope with even very bad stock quality (this time under lighten and very dotty). I think I spent many hours on face as it was much harder than jacket. I am proud of the lips, then hair - part I am familiar but I think those hair made me mad as I didn't get what I wanted. I think I then worked with the cross and hat (hat was another fun as I didn't get how it should be, so I just tried to make similar color dots similar places No idea of the shape. I adored the veil and feather brushes and enjoyed decorating the hat. After that, the clock was quite late, I had been overworked and I felt nothing good will come tonight.

Next day - crows. First tried brushes. The most little one is brush. Other two - brush and over painted And then - all day with the background. Do you imagine how hard it to get trees right? I think now... Anyway almost non-stop for with a pause for Formula 1

Conclusion - mostly paining, still manipulating, totally enjoying, so happy I was able to paint (until now I have tried but never succeeded). Original 3 larger than this.

Hope you will like it

And this won't be the only work for the contest. I have already plans for two more (there just cannot be more) - one with inspired by the another work of Victoria Francés but not one of those what are stated in the special stock + one totally my own imagination with details and objects seen many times in her works.

And one more thing. Every screen is little different - the settings, the model. I made this image much lighter than I worked as on my laptop screen the colors, lightness was ok. When I looked it at work, I saw almost no different in the jacket (no highlights, shadows) and on my home comp - it was just so ... cold, I would say. I have no idea how it will look on your screen so I still hope you can enjoy this work

Many thanks for all the stockers:
bloodymarie-stock | bloodymarie-stock | ro-stock | ro-stock | ro-stock | ro-stock | ro-stock | O---girlinred---O | InToXiCaTeD--StOcK | Falln-Brushes | Falln-Brushes

All the clubs at my journal have permission to show my art