Saturday, February 27, 2010

Her Walk for Water

This is a painting for a Juried Show in San Francisco sponsored by the World Affairs Council. It is an organization of people of all walks and professions who gather and discuss World issues and seek solutions. The theme for this year asked what the artist thought was a global issue. I know War, Food, Poverty are always high on the list but I decided to focus on water.

Did you know: Around the world, 884 million people do not have access to safe drinking water and 2.5 billion are without adequate sanitation facilities. Every day, nearly 6,000 people who share our planet die from water-related illnesses, and the vast majority are children.

Lack of water means loss of school time for children and many hours spent by women fetching water from many miles away from their home. My painting illustrates the daily trek made by millions of people who don’t have adequate have access to water.

We shall see if it gets accepted.



30x10 oil on canvas

45 comments:

gh said...

Oh, your in. . . .
If not, its their loss. I think this is strong for a few different reasons. Galleries and the art world love subjects with political and social meassges especially when it comes to life and suffering and raising awareness, etc. They often refer to those works as "important". However, that alone is not enough. the work must get the message across and and benefit from good aesthetic qualities as well as technique and style.
Your work has all of this, and more imo.
Its also a nice large size for viewing and impact and has your unique style signature all over it.
I wish you all the best, but I believe luck you will not need.
Is this your first endeavor into a juried show? I remember last time we communicated you mentioned you had not exhibited really much yet and wanted to eventually get out there.

Dean Grey said...

Sheila!

This is so simple yet so powerful!

I love it!

The jagged fork in the road breaks up this painting perfectly!

A great painting for a great cause!

-Dean

Sandy Sandy Art said...

P O W E R F U L and so full of emotion! Great job girl!

Mary Paquet said...

Sheila, best of luck with getting into the show. This piece is very strong. The design packs a lot of wallop. Having a long narrow format with the long path through much of the picture plane expresses the challenges of finding water, the most basic of human needs. The size of the person reinforces your message about an everyday struggle for many people in the world. You are producing a large and significant body of work.

Starr said...

nice sheila! I really like the unusual dimentions, it works well.

Linda Popple said...

Your painting pulls at my heart strings. It is powerful. Your format and interpretation is so good. Good luck in getting in the show - although I can't imagine why this painting would not be accepted. It has impact on a subject that affects so many people in our world.

Kaylyn Munro said...

Agree with all. This painting will get in and be a star of the show. This is your very best work yet...now we can't wait to see the next one!

Unknown said...

Sheila - I think this is the best of your paintings that I've seen, and a remarkably good painting in the world of art! I love it. All the elements of this painting support the central concept, which is a powerful one. Kudos!! If this painting doesn't get in, something's amiss with the judging process. You go girl!!

billspaintingmn said...

Sheila this is astonishing.
I think this is so universal !!
It says much at many levels.
Personaly, I can feel the weight on her shoulders,(water & burden)
and the struggle to deliver.
You are making some statements that only art can do!

Manon said...

What a powerful piece!!! It's terrific and says so much. I have to think that this will be accepted for sure but I'll cross my fingers for you anyway!! Good luck, girlfriend!!

dominique eichi said...

O YEA............... it is in. Just very powerful and beautiful.

Paintings by Irit Bourla said...

This is a winner, big time. You are in no question about.
What a painting. Very powesrful!!!
I wish you luck all the best and let us know ASAP.

Angela Elledge said...

Sheila, I agree with all here, very powerful, indeed. Beautiful contrast of color and fantastic use of negative space...it WILL be juried in without a problem.

Dana Cooper said...

I love this piece Sheila, your figure of the girl is fabulous and the long road she travels is simply but fully stated!
Good luck getting it to the show!

Celeste Bergin said...

I love this painting--super good concept--the path looks like water and everything about this says hardship and hope. My favorite of yours, I think.

Anonymous said...

When I saw this painting of yours- I was so intrigued by the scene- the sense of loneliness and burden. The dimensions are very interesting as well- really drawing the viewer into the long path. It feels to me like you thought long and hard about this painting- it is passionate.

Gwen Bell said...

Shelia, surely a painting this powerful and dynamic will be accepted. Incredible emotion, dramatic color and brilliant composition. Love the wonderful way the top arcs off into the darkness and equally appreciate the bright sunlight and strong shadow of the water bearer struggling to carry the weight of the world on her shoulders.

Jo Castillo said...

This is a great painting. It tells a story with feeling, color, and composition. Super.

maddsketch said...

all i gotta say is whoa! the message really comes across. The way the lighting kinda bathes her kinda reminds me of Philippines. Great work as usual.

Sheila thank you for your kind words in my blog by the way ^^ it helps me blog.

Elizabeth Seaver said...

Love the effect of the path in the background suggesting the long trek she has taken. This is a very strong painting, with great palette and so descriptive of your theme.

We'll keep our fingers crossed that the jurors see it our way!

Anthony Duce said...

The painting is beautiful and powerful, and has a great message. It would be great if it is accepted, but either way you've got a great painting.

Art with Liz said...

You've got my vote, both for the painting and the subject dear Sheila! Living here, we have the constant threat of water restrictions, and see many people daily who have to fetch and carry a commodity most of the Western world take for granted. Bless you.

Autumn Leaves said...

Sheila, I am watching your art grow by leaps and bounds. This one is a poignant stunner. I also thank you for those facts too. I hadn't realized the statistics were so high! I will be truly shocked if this is not accepted.

David Larson Evans said...

You are an artist my dear.

Catherine Jeffrey said...

Sheila, this is great. Your color choice for the background shows the intensity of conditions in her area and doesn't let the viewer think of nice sunny days. I think all of the cool colors here add to your statement of harsh realities. Again, you have captured the personality of the girl. She doesn't seem sad, but she seems to endure. This is a picture with impact, and I wish you the best of luck in getting accepted. (I feel even more guilty now when I take those long showers!!!)

Marie Theron said...

A winning painting if I have ever seen one! Your sense of community is very sharp and it comes out in so many of your works. It is also an unusual format and pleasing composition!

-Don said...

Powerful! Everything about this piece works on so many levels. Kudos on an excellent work of art.

-Don

Dean H. said...

A great concept to cause one to actually think, Sheila! A powerful work. You should be in..no doubt!

Love the Lego in the previous post! Looks like a tasty dessert! Love those natural color blends that are happening in it!

Unknown said...

Shame on them if this doesn't get in. It's wonderful!

Poetic Artist said...

This is such a strong piece..Wonderful painting for a great cause.
Glad I came upon your blog.
Katelen

Millie said...

Hi Sheila:
Your "From Forensic to Fine Art" attracted my attention, because I'm a fan of...Forensic Files :-)

Nicki said...

Sheila,

This is striking, powerful, and uniquely you. I can't imagine that it wouldn't be accepted, but at least you can rest easy knowing that this painting has been fully accepted by all of your loyal fans out in blog land.

Carol Schiff Daily Painting said...

Sheila, This is a fantastic piece and the viewer cannot avoid your message. Very strong!

Anonymous said...

Hi Sheila, What a subtly powerful piece! I agree with you, water is a huge problem. Wonderful!

Stephen Dell'Aria said...

Excellent painting. I hope it gets in because it emphasizes the toil necessary to sustain life.

jyothisethu said...

sheila,
you are a great artist...
also a great human being who has concern for the depraved fellow beings...
the composition, theme, and execution are great...
congratulations...

martinealison said...

Bonjour Sheila,

J'aime particulièrement cette toile. Je peux imaginer les trébuchements dus aux difficultés de se procurer de l'eau. Plein de symboles. Ces enfants en ont parcouru du chemin...
Bravo, tu as su saisir et projeter, avec ta sensibilité un drame trop souvent oublié.
Amitiés.
J'aurais voulu t'attribuer le sunshine award mais tu viens de l'obtenir. élicitations.

Ellen Burkett said...

Breathtaking. Just incredible. And I do know...did know. It's beyond tragic. This is a wonderful painting, Sheila.

Unknown said...

Sheila, I think you have done an admirable job on this painting and the subject you chose is so important for all of us to think about. Thanks for putting the focus on this dire need.

suzanneberry said...

Astounding painting.

Kelley Carey MacDonald said...

Shiela, you are right on. If there isn't water, none of those other issue matter one bit. Do not worry if THIS venue does not accept this painting - truly their loss. This will find it's niche, and will be successful. Congratulations on a beautiful painting.

Lokelani Forrest said...

How did I miss this. Yes, I've read articles on the water issues in third world countries. You have done a fantastic job with this piece. Very profound and strong. Definitely gets the message out.

Edward Burton said...

VERY strong image, Sheila. Good luck!

Linny D. Vine said...

I love your compostition, Sheila! Wonderful painting!

Unknown said...

VERY strong painting Sheila, incredible stats. Really strong sense of depth from the cropping, I really hope you get it exhibited.