As many of you know, I’m a retired illustrator. I have a Peculiar Picture Portfolio of images that, for one reason or another, have never seen the light of day. This illustration sprang forth from a doodle I was toying with a few years back. Unlike most of my work, this picture never found a home in a book or magazine. I think it says something about relationships, but I’m not certain what. These two people appear to have quite different agendas. What do you think is going on?
One wants to have a dialogue and the otter doesn't? A frustrated sort of image
ReplyDeleteHe's tired of listening to her, and is willing to cut his ear(s) off to keep from having to hear her any longer. She's casually standing there with a watering can, symbolizing her vocal talents are still growing.
ReplyDeleteWe can hear, but do we listen?
ReplyDeleteI, too, would think that it represents the lack of hearing/listening to what the other is saying. Your illustrations are amazing? Such a talent!!!!
ReplyDeleteSince it is the ear, I am guessing it is a lack of communication!
ReplyDeleteIt looks a little like conflict between old and new or good and evil?
ReplyDeleteThe tree is obviously a very sophisticated variety of birch, capable of hearing and speech. At the moment, the tree is expressing dismay as the man axes his question. The words must be rather knotty because the woman, handling a sophisticated vacuum, is taking the words right out of the tree's mouth (as if that never happens).
ReplyDeleteOn either side of the tree, we see its offspring. The pointy one on the left is obviously a son of a birch. The rest are just ready to leaf as quickly as possible.
Anon's response is very punny. But it looks like the lady has a watering can. She is the nurturer and the man has rather destructive behaviors. And the poor tree is caught in the middle and hears it all. I do believe you are very talented. It seems like a good illustration for Psychology Today magazine.
ReplyDeleteThe man better watch out- it looks like his own plans are about to collapse on top of him~
ReplyDeleteI looked at the picture before I read your description and all I could think was, "Yep, been there." So whatever it means it certainly strikes a chord with old marrieds. Very impressive talent, Stephen!
ReplyDeleteAh! I know EGGSACTLY what is going on.
ReplyDeleteIt's a representation of the philosophical question: "If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?"
Yep.
That's it.
heh heh
They're really at odds, aren't they? I think she's a member of the Green Party and he doesn't care about the environment. They need to listen to each other to learn.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
I'm sure it has something to do with Eritrea.
ReplyDeleteYou really are amazing! Love that illustration....I agree, he's tired of listening to her!
ReplyDeleteWoman: "You never listen to me!"
ReplyDeleteMan: "You talk too much!"
I think it's more like "women heal, men hurt"
ReplyDeleteNice. I immediately took it as "women nurture, men cut and run." It was interesting to read the other interpretations. I saw the ear next, and thought both of them probably need to listen better. Conceptual drawings are SO hard to do, but they don't have to tell the whole story, just suggest the question and get the reader interested. IMHO.
ReplyDeleteI see the man as destruction and the woman as nurture. There are always those that nurture and those that destroy.
ReplyDeleteHave a terrific day. :)
Women are nurturers. Men are chopper-downers. Yeah. I actually typed that before I read the other comments. Looks like many others had the same idea.
ReplyDeleteI think the tree represents her mother... but I may be projecting a bit. ;)
ReplyDeleteOh, and welcome back. We missed you.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Quirky's representation and will take it one step further.
ReplyDeleteIf a man speaks in a forest and there's no woman there to hear him, is he still wrong? ;)
I came back to see what others were thinking about the painting. I'm so glad I did because Mike Manz just turned that painting into the funniest thing ever! Bwahahahahaha!!!
ReplyDeleteThe comments are frightening. Funny but frightening.
ReplyDelete@Hilary. Good question.
ReplyDeleteShe: I'm just trying to get you to listen to me...
ReplyDeleteHe: Cut it out!
He's tired of listening.
ReplyDeleteShe's trying to get him to listen to her.
It's an old story. ;)
Were/Are you a paper or digital illustrator or both?
ReplyDelete