Tuesday, November 07, 2006


When in a difficult and dangerous region,
do not weary of the journey;
should you do so,
turn back half-way.

36 comments:

Mary Stebbins Taitt said...

Mystical magical and evocatively scary! Nice use of color and mood.

Marco Bucci said...

Very awesome work. Lots of mood to it. This one is no exception! Love the palette.

tlchang said...

OK - by next fall, can I get a collection of your moody-scary work? All together. To look at while reading ghost stories in October. It's fabulous.

Anonymous said...

Hahhaaa. Every day do something that frightens you! Wonderful!

Anonymous said...

Hahhaaa. Every day do something that frightens you! Wonderful!

Anonymous said...

ARRRGGGHHH was that me AGAIN?

albina said...

Yes! Yes!

More, more, more...

Ops, that didn't sound right.

Great to see your work -- long summer without your critters and spookiness lurking to amuse us!

Cream said...

Lovely work, L! The colours are magical!
And the quote so meaningful!

Sebastien Gallego said...

You always put such a nice mood in your pictures! It's what I'm working on right now.
Beautiful picture.

Ben Reynolds said...

Thanks for the kind words. Your painting is quite excellent yourself!! Love the lighting in this one..it really draws your attention to the right places. Cheers.

JeN said...

Holy Guacamole! Your work is stunning.Very nice moods! I'll be back to see more. Thanks for your comments too. They are much apprectiated.

LDahl said...

Mary, I really appreciate your comment,thank you so much. I know you fit a visit to me into a very busy day. Hope you are feeling OK and are doing well.

Marco thanks! I'm so in love with your Amelie and Best Time of the Year... terrific stuff.

Tlc...the ghost stories were really good this year weren't they? I could tell you a few true ones.
Next fall? HMMmmm,interesting, what do you have in mind?

Anonymous,Anonymous,Anonymous
That should make you visible...or was that Beetlejuice?
Ok, I did something scarey today... and it saved me about 450 dollars! Thank you Aussieghost!
I once read that a lot of goodies in life were just outside our comfort zones. How true, how true...
Where did I read this? In my horror-a-scope!!! Hehehe!

DeeJay, that's because L Armstrong is not hiding out in any of my artwork...heheh! Just kidding you! Thanks for visiting me again.

Albina...it was a long summer on this side of the mirror too. Right now everything is so much better,back to where I belong. Lurking, mummmm lurking:)))
***Yes! Yes!*** You've been watching that shampoo commercial haven't you?...fess up!!

Cream, the quote is attributed to Basho as one of his rules of poetry. I think it makes for a good life rule. (Of course poetry was his life) Sometimes knowing when to turn back is just as important as knowing when to set forth.
(I got a recipe for gateau tonight. You trouble maker you!)

Sebastien,the best advice(which you didn't ask for, but that won't stop me:)) I can give for mood is, don't show everything to your viewer at once(or at all) let the viewer put their own ideas into some of the spaces...just guide them there, then use non-situation signs to direct their thoughts and feelings. Tolkien's writing is a good example of what I'm talking about... everyone knows what Gollum looks like, but Tolkien didn't spend too many words describing him. Forgive me if I've gone on too much, but it's a subject that interests me quite a bit. Art is such a magic show, one I still have so much to learn about. Your "Masterpiece" is a darling!

Thanks Ben! I'm really enjoying your cartoons. They seem so happy, with lots of personality and life. Delightful!

JeN...funny that's what I thought of your work! Thank you!

Todd Harris said...

love the mood and colors in this one! really do. great post.

LDahl said...

Hey Todd, praise from you is high indeed! Thank you from the bottom of my wee black heart:))))

Unknown said...

Hey Lilah,
greetings from Delaware.
Love the blue atmospher in this piece. For me it is the owl that looks weary.

Brian the Mennonite said...

I like what toni said about the owl looking weary. It's as if it's thinking, "What are you so afraid of...If you could see this place the way I see it, then you wouldn't be so afraid."

Nabeel said...

who's danger to who in this picture .. i.e. is the owl in danger or is he traveling with the person?

Andrea said...

beautiful!

LDahl said...

Toni,how was your weekend? Bless you, I can't believe you took time from your fun to visit me:)
Thank you!

Brian, Toni's pretty wise herself and you are too!

Nabeel... Maybe there is a Woody Spellcaster hidden in the dark.

Thanks Andrea! Always happy for your visits.

trowbridge chronicles said...

You draw and render so well. I can appreciate the subtle touches that went into this piece, the eerie quality that you've created. Very nice illustration.

Cate said...

Isn't that the truth!! I'm in the middle of NaNoWriMo, and I've grown weary, I'm tellin' ya of the journey. I'm going to stuff your wise words into my pocket, to propel me on!

Your drawing is fascinating. I am in awe of the ways that you use light and shadow to evoke moods and feelings. You are amazing!

Unknown said...

beautiful and mysterious!

LDahl said...

Thank you Bron, I have a 'Thing' for Venice, not that I will probably ever get to visit the Serene City, but I can dream. This little piece comes from my studies of Venice.

Cate!!! Open that kitchen in time for Christmas! Please? Happy to see you here, keep writing, but don't forget your friends too much.

Hi Alina, what great fun places are you visiting and sketching this week?
I'll have to stop by and see.

Chuang Shyue Chou said...

The colours, the controlled palatte. This piece must have taken quite a bit of forethought before you embarked. It's atmospheric. It's enigmatic. It's stupendous to say the least.

LDahl said...

Actually Chuang, I did spend a couple of years from start to finish on this one. :))) Not unusal for me ... do a drawing, put it away, bring it out and play around with it for awhile, put it away...get it out a year later and finish it in about fifteen minutes.
I always have a big stack of unfinished things waiting their turn.They're not forgotten, just resting:)))

Anonymous said...

it is as if the owl sees for the mime; wonderful image; the mime can not allow it to far out of his minimal sight -- but does the owl need the mime? thought provoking.

LDahl said...

ARA, ha... insightful! Very perceptive of you, now...is it a real owl or a clockwork owl? Perhaps the owl does need the mime...to wind him up.

Majeak Ann said...

love it, specially the expression.

LDahl said...

Thank you Majeak Ann (love your name)!

Anonymous said...

I absolutely love this illustration! Mood, lighting, content, exceptional. Looking around I found a lot to like!!!

andrea said...

This is deliciously dark and moody. Fanatastic.

LDahl said...

Thank you Andrea...I am very pleased that you like this piece.

Queen Tut said...

This image really does something to me. it's scary and yet intriguing. I always enjoy your work.

LDahl said...

Thank you Queen Tut! How was your move?
Are you settled and happy? I know I'm happy to hear from you!

LDahl said...

Rebecca....thank you, sorry I missed you , untill now!! Bad me! Bad!!!
Hope you are having a wonderful holiday season.
Thanks again, I really appreciated your visit!

Jose Ramos said...

Beautiful Blog LDahl, i like your works and i think that you got a big talent , i hope get back over here ,..

congratulations!!!

by the way , this pic i like a lot!!