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Saturday, December 20, 2008

Voices


Singing was one of the ways to get the voices out of his head.
Remembering those who struggle every single day with depression,
anger, mental illness, low self esteem, and emotional pain.
This was me at one time, but I am free. Free to sing, dance,create and praise!
Free to love and be loved. Free from voices that shame and blame.
Free to be me! Merry Christmas to all and may the Lord of heaven
bless and keep you through out the new year!

70 comments:

Anonymous said...

Okay, this is fabulous! What are you doing up? lol! I guess it's those voices that tell us to keep working...lol! Happy holidays, luv!

Beatrice said...

Cool illustration, very striking. You have a great blog!

Thanks for stopping by my blog, happy holidays!

GalleryJuana said...

Singing is an incredible release of emotion and stress. Powerful illustration.

elegraph said...

Lots to be grateful for. Have a blessed Christmas!

Lynn Alpert said...

Wow! I love this! Not only is the illustration great, the design - (the cropping, the type) is wonderful!

jazzlamb said...

I like the colours.Very very strikingly powerful.

P.S.- I wanna sing now.

Amy C said...

what a cool and funky dude - I do of course love the pink background too.
I am so glad I discovered your blog too, Happy Holidays and all the very best for 2009!

Anonymous said...

thank you for this post. the artwork is fabulous and the message is fabulous-er!

♥ mystele...merry christmas!!!

ArtSparker said...

Vanessa, this is one of my favorites. I love the composition, and the white teeth are a very effective accebt. Is this what Jung would call you "animus" figure?

Juan said...

Great piece Vanessa!
Happy holidays!

Peter Breese said...

Freakin fantastic my friend! That fella is all Shaft and Dolomite, he's screaming the 70's. Love it.

lucrezia said...

Really like this!

Laura said...

What a powerful image & post Vanessa, bless you for sharing it with us all.

May you & yours have the happiest of holidays!

isay said...

what a beautiful illustration

yoon see said...

Great idea and coceot. Loving the colour composition and style here. Just so beautiful!
Merry Christmas to you too!

Unknown said...

this is fabbo!!! I love it....wonderful work as always

Have a wonderful weekend!!!

Hugs
Diana

aimee said...

your drawings are stunning, vanessa. this one really blew me away!

Kathleen Rietz said...

Beautiful Vanessa! What a joyful and powerful post! You are awesome, my friend.

Tomás Serrano said...

Vanessa, I hope hear your voice in the chorus you sing. Perhaps in the new year? Upload a video...

Sabbio said...

I love your interpretation of the subject and you are SOOO right! Such a freedom to sing, let those emotions come out!

Have a merry christmas with all your loved ones :)

Asja said...

This is just brilliant! You are so incredibly talented!
Happy holidays!

Candace Trew Camling said...

this is wonderful! I love your style!!

Kate said...

I LOVE this illo!!!!!
Powerful, joyful, great colours.
So beautiful.

It certainly conveys what you wrote.

You are very talented and you have the gift. Enjoy and use it.

Happy Holidays!!!!!
Kate

nella gatica said...

Thanks for your comment in my blog! and happy new yearrrrrrrrrr!!!;)

Kelly said...

This is just wonderful! LOVE it!!!
SO inspiring!!!

get zapped said...

Sensational! Beautiful and real. I'm touched deeply. Thank you. We all deserve to find the voice that sets us free.

Happy Winter Solstice!

jane and the happy crow said...

You are the sweetest thing, Are you planning a trip to England? I only sing when I am VERY alone as I think my voice is awful or I just sing in my head but maybe I should just sing out loud! have a lovely christmas and happy new year.

Anonymous said...

I love the lines you have used to draw his facial hair - it is so effective & cheerful and very 60s.

Roberta said...

Love it..and the colors!

I am so glad that you're free to be who you are Vanessa. You bring joy and light to all that you come in contact with.

TX isn't too far from NJ to do lunch is it? LOL!
Happy Holdays!

Gwendoulash said...

WoW I love this guy !!!

Anonymous said...

Oh man...what can I say that hasn't been said? I truly love your art, you have an incredible gift!!! It really speaks directly to my heart!

I had a printer malfunction so I'm not sending out many Christmas cards, so I will just say "Merry Christmas" on your blog! I just adore you and hope you have a beautiful holiday!

ELLA ELVIANA said...

he he funny image, i like it. nice message too vanessa!

darrah said...

love this!

Anonymous said...

I really love this illustration. You've really captured expression well. I'm glad to hear that your battle with mental illness did not hurt you or your passion for art. I work in a mental health facility, and it's difficult to see so many hurting. Especially the children here. Have a Merry Christmas!

Eric Barclay said...

What an awesome illustration-- this made my day. I am so thankful for you and hope that you and your family have a wonderful Christmas.

Michelle said...

Wonderful work! Merry Christmas to you! I will sing your praises... You are a beautiful person inside and out!

Marco said...

Very special but this very beautiful work! Merry Christmas and Happy holidays!

bonaska

Mônica said...

Beautiful and powerful, Vanessa. I want to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a safe and happy New Year too.

I thank YOU for all your wonderful and encouraging comments and generous spirit. You are such a terrific and talented illustrator -- I feel like such a beginner, but I always get tons of encouragement from you! Many thanks, my friend!

Sylvie Van Hulle said...

Indeed, singing and all creative activities are healing. Very strong illustration! I like it a lot.
Merry Xmas!

Anish Daolagupu said...

very nice image... love the way you've drawn the hair, something i have a lot of trouble with...

i totally agree with you about singing... its such a nice way to forget things... incidentally, when jasjyot (jazzlamb) was making his entry for voices i was singing Lucy in the sky with diamonds behind him... REALLY LOUD!!! no relation to anything... was just feeling happy and letting off steam... don't think he enjoyed it though.. :O

i like pissing him off... :P

Have a great week and a happy holiday... :)

jennifer said...

You can't hear me, but I'm clapping. Another fantastic illustration.
I haven't been doing much blogging lately (busy with deadlines and such), but I always love seeing your latest creations.

Christy/Tiddly Inks Digitals said...

Gorgeous and perfect...everything!

I sing "Oh, Christmas Tree" (any time of year) to block out those voices. LOL

Here is to being free and enjoying life. It is too short as it is, I try to enjoy every day. :)

Peace and joy to you and yours this holiday,
Christy

Bella Sinclair said...

Darling, you make ME sing! This is pure emotion, baby. I'm really loving it.

How was your concert with your sister? Oh, I so wish I could have heard you. It must have been glorious, and I am giving you a standing O right now. I'm also glad to read that you've overcome a darker period of your life. You've climbed out of it and have inspired so many people with your art and your dolls and your heartfelt words. You keep so many of us going.

Merry Christmas to you and your wonderful family!

Meridth McKean Gimbel said...

Love this! You always have the most delicious color palette. I have to say that I have really really enjoyed our blog friendship and it seems to me that you are most definitely the gem of the blog world. I hope you have a Happy Christmas and just know that I think you are fan-freaking-tastic!!!

Sylvie Van Hulle said...

Thanks for your very sweet comment! It really means a lot to me, you can't imagine. I'm so full of doubt.
Happy holidays :-))

Lisa M Griffin said...

Happy Holidays! There is an award for you on my blog.

Andrew W. Moir said...

I like his hair with that crazy inky linework, plus the composition. :) Great work as always.

Kendra@Creative Ambitions said...

Cool Dude!! Love Him!! :) Merry Christmas Vanessa!

krisztina maros said...

so fine work, it's very expressive!

Vanessa, i wish you a merry christmas and a really happy new year! have a nice holidays! with love, Kriszti

Anonymous said...

Absolute gorgeous and powerful!!! My spirit is soaring looking at this wonderful piece.

You and our family have a joyous, wonderful Christmas, Vanessa!!

Fannie said...

Merry Christmas, Vanessa!

Love your post and illustration. Brilliant! Especially love your "freedom" phrases--"Free from voices that shame and blame." I can relate.

Enjoy your time with your family and friends.

You are loved,
~Fannie

Sandra_peinture said...

I wish you a merry christmas !!!

Eric Barclay said...

Hey Vanessa, just wanted to thank you so much for all of the kind words and encouragement you've given me this past year. I really value your friendship.

Your blog and your illustrations are so inspiring, and this is such a fun place to visit. You are such a gifted artist.

I hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas, and that 2009 is full of blessings.

Paola said...

Great!
merry xmas Ooh La La !!!!

Natura said...

Excellent, strong image.

Happy Holidays! :)

Sarall said...

The retro style of the line is fantastic!

Anonymous said...

this illo is soooo reminiscent of the pink panther cartoons. sooo fabulous.

merry christmas from the philippine islands!

soulbrush said...

what a fabulous image, will try to do something for this week still if i can. blessed xmas and new year to you and yours. hugs.

kim holt said...

Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful... I can totally relate. Awesome work and great spirit. Merry Christmas. Love the styling and colors and composition.

oximoron said...

With best wishes for Christmas and the New Year.
:)

Heather said...

Excellent design and very powerful statement. And based on the comments you really struck a chord.

Kimmi said...

My type of Man! Sing it baby (lol)

Kimberly

parisa mahmoudi said...

Merry Christmas and happy new year!!
Hope you have a brilliant holidays with your family!
I wish you heath and happiness in 2009!!! :)
Parisa

Momo said...

Loving your style not just in this illustration but the rest that I can see on your blog. Wonderful work!

Michael G. O’Connell said...

a belated happy christmas to you…

and what a wonderful illo… he seems so joyous and happy to be alive as should we all…

god bless…

Anonymous said...

Lovely illustration! Hope u have a wonderful holiday!

Tara Borger said...

this is beautiful, as usual! i love love love it!! happy christmas and a very merry new year to you as well!

Scooter said...

WOW- both "voices" and "Clandestine" illos rock! I love the design of this one. Awesome drawing and you got some God in there- you go on with yo bad self:) Pink eye huh??? Every time my oldest son gets it, he gives it to me. When I get it, it's not pink eye, it's ALARMING angry red eye:) Laters sister...

Simonette said...

Fantastical image, as always!

Happy Holidays to you!

e wainscott said...

such an awesome illustration...very striking!