Art Nouveau Piece - White Rose

[SidneyEileen]

I just finished this piece yesterday, and uploaded it to an art gallery site where I have a very active account. It has been viewed by a lot of people, but has received almost no comments or favorites. I really like how it turned out, but I create pieces in this style extremely infrequently (only three in the last year). Most of my work is realistic animal art.

I'm wondering if there is something off with this piece, or if the poor showing is mostly a product of people expecting completely different art from me. I welcome any and all C&C, no matter how brutal. I may create these infrequently, but I want them to look good when I do.

It's drawn on Borden & Riley Bleedproof Paper for Pens and measures 4"x10". The black lines are Micron pens of various widths, and the color is done in Copic markers.

Thanks!

[joatmon]

I for one think it is beautiful,. Maybe people arent commenting because she isnt stick thin emaciated? (seems to be the norm these days)
Its nice to see a representation of an actual woman for a change!! Great job, and thank you!! Your shading is perfect btw.
LeAnn

[MonicaB]

I agree with LeAnn. I mean, it's beautiful work -- the folds, the knotwork, everything.

[objectivistartist]

good folds, good colors, good knotwork.....
stick thin she's not, and that is good - but overweight, yes......

[michelle stone]

Reminds me of one of my very favorite artists work -Aubrey Beardsley but in color!The only thing I can see that may be off putting to people are her ears???I think they are interesting but the general public may not get it.

[virgo68]

I really like art nouveau but it is not everyone's taste, but I particularly like your use of colour - it is quite luminous. I agree with Michelle, that maybe when an art work is more stylized (or verging towards fantasy) you are only going to appeal to a niche market and maybe these people have not viewed your work yet! Is the venue you are exhibiting with fairly conservative and the customers wanting a "certain style" of work? I have a friend who does some wonderful spiritual/fantasy works and she rarely sells but creates more for her own well-being and benefit.

Sorry for waffling, but don't be discouraged, just look at why it hasn't been the best forum for displaying this kind of work, and look at alternatives next time! Good luck!

[SidneyEileen]

Thanks for all the feedback. I was more confused than discouraged, and the more I think about it, the more I think the poor showing may just be a result of the unusual subject - not just pertaining to my typical art style, but also in general. Fantasy is a niche sort of subject, and art nouveau is a niche style, but both are so well explored and have so many cliche's, that when I create either I want it to be something unique. Thus, yes, she is intentionally both an elf, and overweight. I think perhaps that combination is a bit too out there for typical perception of what the subject should be. For my part, I don't associate beauty in relation to weight unless the weight is so extreme as to be emaciated or morbidly obese.

I did create this for my own enjoyment, and for experimentation with new ground (I've been playing with polypropylene paper, which didn't take the inks I had on hand at all, so I finished this on traditional paper). I'm not even going to attempt to sell it because it is so unusual for me in both style and subject. The forum where I am showing it online is purely social, but I have a decent following there. To explain why I was a bit shaken, my works average 1 fave / 10 views, with the more popular pieces seeing as much as 1/5 and the less popular as low as 1/20. This one is showing at about 1/50.

Michelle, I am truly flattered. Aubrey Beardsley's work is beautiful and intricate.

[Bergere]

I think it is quite well done but then,, you always do good work!