7.18.2011

the snake of good fortune-a painted cabinet card

What inspires your art? Sometimes I'm inspired by a memory from the past, from lines in a story or poem, or from looking at another's art. I'm especially inspired these days by oddities in nature, like albino squirrels and crows or snakes with two heads; they seem magical, wanderers from another realm.


Polycephalic animals, ones with multiple heads, are rare but according to wikipedia, turtles and snakes are the most common. And here's a bit of trivia for you-- In 1894, there was reported a two-headed partridge and in 1930, a two-headed kitten.

This is a cabinet card I painted, framed and gave my father for Father's day. I used gesso, acrylic paints and pencil directly onto the old photograph. The two-headed snake represents the enchantment I used to feel in the woods at night as a child wandering the Blue Ridge with my flashlight.

*click here for more two headed snake images

*And this next link has nothing whatsoever to do with polycephalicy; it's one to an awesome documentary about mothers who are artists and their struggle to make it all work. I recommend it to any artist, regardless of sex or whether or not you have children. It was inspiring and one I hope you get a chance to see. The movie is "Who Does She Think She Is?"

16 comments:

Geri said...

Well-done! Love it!

Heather Brush said...

SO cool! I love your mind my dear!!!

tricia scott said...

thanks, Geri!

tricia scott said...

Thank you, Heather! Hope you are well!

sonia said...

Girl, you come up with some of the most awesome, unique ideas. I agree with Heather, you have an amazing mind! Love you and love this!

gina louthian-stanley said...

OH, Looks like Donald Gene, lol. Great painting!

tricia scott said...

love you too, sweet friend! and miss you. hope you are well and singing, playing with those grandbabies!

tricia scott said...

hee-hee! Looks a lot like my dad too, when he was younger. must be something about those Donalds. :)

Dreama said...

This is so well done and very intriguing--I agree with all the comments before this one--love your thinkin' and creating! We briefly owned a beautiful female pointer (dog) who gave birth to a 2 headed puppy. Sadly, none of them survived the birth process. I am guessing that reptiles, born from eggs are more successful for obvious reasons. I will never forget that little puppy. Thanks for sharing this image.

Heather said...

This is so wonderful and has such a great feel and mood to it. As you might guess, I love old timey things. especially old portraits and photographs. I like odd bits of history, and learning about the mundane everyday. Things have changed so much over the years...yet we still have a lot in common with the people of days gone by :)

alicia - altered bits said...

he is magnificent! i absolutely lovelove him! i have a "thing" for two-headed creatures too. my son really wants a snake and i said "only if you can find one with two heads". i <3 your beautiful creative mind, lady!

Relyn said...

I can't wait to watch that video. I am intrigued. I've been a blogging slacker lately. Jeffrey and Sloane were gone for two weeks and I spent that time revelling in being alone, house projects, and silence. Now we are am on a looooong road trip. We're in Arizona now and I have a bit of time on the computer - finally! I was having withdrawls from being away from my blogger buddies so long, I tell you. I hope your summer gets better and better as it wears on. Love to you and yours.

tricia scott said...

oh, you brave lady! even the thought of having a snake in the house gives me chills. :)

tricia scott said...

glad to hear from you, my friend!

tricia scott said...

thank you, audrey. i absolutely agree that we are basically still the same, just shinier toys. :)

tricia scott said...

and thank you for sharing about the wee puppy. what an unusual memory...i can only imagine...