"Depression Requires" -- Surreal Digital Art --...

I was slammed by synchronicity this morning. One of those "Wow! What aÂ coincidence" moments. I've been working on this image for several days. Then, this morning, after a couple hours of finishing it up and picking the name, I end up following a Tweet from @LaCurator that lands me on a poem expressing quite crisply almost the exact same theme. So, shared here is a miniature copy of my image (3 inch by 1.5 inch) followed by a link to the poem. Enjoyment is hoped for all.

"Depression Requires" - Originally crafted for print 24 inch by 12 inch @ 200 dpi.

"We Wear the Mask" - By Paul Laurence Dunbar @ PoetryFoundation.org

Blessings To All

Comments: 25

Pam Brittain Jan 10, 2013, 12:51pm UTC

I love this piece.

Bill's Spirit Jan 13, 2013, 10:26am UTC

Glad to hear it, Pam. :-) Thanks for the comment and recommend.

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Debbie W. Jan 10, 2013, 1:20pm UTC

I so get the artwork and the poem! Nicely paired.

Bill's Spirit Jan 13, 2013, 10:28am UTC

I had hoped the message would be pretty clear. :-) Thanks for the comment and recommend, Debbie.

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Angela A. Jan 10, 2013, 2:00pm UTC

Very beautiful, I enjoyed this art

Bill's Spirit Jan 13, 2013, 10:29am UTC

Thanks, Angela. Best To You :-)

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B.Lynn M Jan 10, 2013, 2:19pm UTC

Beautiful! I love this piece!

Bill's Spirit Jan 13, 2013, 10:30am UTC

And I love your response. :-) Thanks B.Lynn.

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Betty S. Jan 10, 2013, 4:38pm UTC

Very nice work!

Bill's Spirit Jan 13, 2013, 10:30am UTC

Thanks, Betty :-)

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Brenda Clews Jan 10, 2013, 4:41pm UTC

I think your image more brilliant than the poem, which is not to say that Dunbar's poem isn't good, its insights and cadences, its wrenching cry of pain, and it carries the history of the Black people in the States, surely, and so an important poem, and it goes nicely with your work. Yet to my eye your image has self-reflectiveness in its contrasts. Your image contains more of the Comedia delle Arte that Shakespeare, the grand master of masks, was so influenced by.

Bill's Spirit Jan 13, 2013, 10:37am UTC

Self-reflectiveness certainly is a component of this piece; as are the comedy/tragedy masks. Good eye there, Brenda. Certain passages of Dunbar's poem just seemed to fit so perfectly with the message I was trying to convey; the third stanza, most specifically. - Best To You

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Alison H. Jan 10, 2013, 9:50pm UTC

It's almost as if Dunbar was writing an ekphrastic poem for your art, which is so well-done...a fantastic pairing.

Bill's Spirit Jan 13, 2013, 10:41am UTC

Indeed, that is pretty much how I felt when I found this poem by Dunbar. Thanks, Alison. :-)

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Janet "Jax" B. Jan 10, 2013, 11:26pm UTC

very interesting....

Bill's Spirit Jan 13, 2013, 10:41am UTC

Thanks, Janet :-)

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Ann Marcaida Jan 11, 2013, 11:42am UTC

What great synchronicity! I agree that the poem is an excellent fit. This line seems key to your image:

"And mouth with myriad subtleties..."

The mouths tell the story here-- Happy on the right, sad/depressed on the left, and medicated in the middle (indicated by a flat affect and partly missing brain).

Tweeted!

Ann Marcaida Jan 11, 2013, 11:46am UTC

Thanks for sharing with Gather's Luminous Writers and Artists. Featured.

Bill's Spirit Jan 13, 2013, 10:49am UTC

Thank you, Ann, for the comment, recommend, feature in your group and the Tweet. :-)

I enjoyed your interpretation. Yes, the mouths are a key to the message, but medication has nothing to do with this piece. The middle face is shaped the way it is to represent a mask which is used by the depressed person to hide their condition.

- Best To You

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ʚϊɞ Carol ʚϊɞ Jan 11, 2013, 1:31pm UTC

I agree with Ann. She described the image exactly as I see it. Great work as always Bill.

Your brilliant piece is now featured at The Surreal Circus.

Bill's Spirit Jan 13, 2013, 10:51am UTC

Thank you for the recommend, comment and feature, Carol :-)

- Thoughts and Prayers, plus My Very Best To You

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Granny Janny Jan 22, 2013, 12:21pm UTC

Late but glad to see this pairing...much revealed in your art.

Bill's Spirit Feb 4, 2013, 2:19pm UTC

Thanks, Granny J.

Best To You

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René Allen Jan 31, 2013, 1:24pm UTC

Beautifully done Bill.

This is now featured in ART FUN!

You're an amazing Artist.

Bill's Spirit Feb 4, 2013, 2:19pm UTC

Thank you, René. Both for the praise and the feature.

- Best Wishes To You

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"Depression Requires" -- Surreal Digital Art -- Art Blog

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