So yes it's slightly late. Late to my own challenge, terrible ain't it? Any ways this is my first entry for the Artoween 2018 October Art Challenge. It's not a great one from me but I've never drawn anything like this before, so for a fifteen minute sketch I'm quite happy with it. It's called ''Sometimes You Only Need To Look In The Mirror.'' 

Mirrors are powerful vessels for spirit communication and I wanted to draw on this. In the picture a girl is mourning the loss of her mother in a funeral home but doesn't realise that right behind her, in the mirror on the wall, stands her mother. Her mother is extending a hand to comfort her but she can't feel it. I wanted to capture her sadness and the awfulness of feeling you've lost someone, and missing them so much, even though they are right beside you. That sense of someone being just beyond your reach. I hope I caught that. 

But of course the departed never really leave us. They just change form and visit new plains. And from time to time they do drop back in on us. And sometimes we can even seek them out, ask their advice, speak to them again and (if we listen) hear them speak back. Nothing loved is ever truly lost, I really do believe that. And I also wanted to capture that. I also thought that with it being Samhain for us pagan and witchy folks (as well as halloween) starting off the challenge with a piece remembering our ancestors would be a nice idea. 

I hope you like it, and I hope if you're taking part in the challenge you're enjoying it. Don't forget to share your artwork with me on social media using the hashtag #artoween2018


© 2016 Claire Frances Lloyd