Jeanne d'Arc Expression Study by Tea_Rex
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Description
As mentioned a little while back, I have a thing for portraits of literary characters, mythological beings and persona from ancient history. I have been working on a series of such portraits. & Yes, Mark, I have started working on Helen; she's coming along beautifully but will take a while still. One particular figure from history who has captivated my imagination and stirred my inspiration is Jeanne d'Arc. The initial question before beginning any portrait of a well known persona is what setting and/or moment in time to depict the subject within? With Jeanne d'Arc the first impression that comes to mind, and the most often portrayed, is her fully battle clad. Now .. show me a woman decked in armor and I'll swoon like any red-blooded male. In my view, however, this depiction does not explore the underlying motivation which makes Jeanne such a compelling individual. To portray her end, while dramatic, tells us more about the darkness and ignorance of the age in which she lived than it reveals anything about Jeanne d'Arc. What draws me to Jeanne, what I am trying to portray, is her encounter with spiritual vision. To me, this is the experience which makes Jeanne d'Arc a transformational historic figure. I believe that creative folk can relate to Jeanne to some degree. As creative individuals, if we stay with the process long enough, sooner or later we experience something truly inspirational; something we recognize as coming from without not within. Our experience may not be of the same magnitude .. but like a drop of water to the ocean it is of the same quality if not quantity. What must it have been like for Jeanne the first time she experienced a vision? This is what I am asking and trying to answer visually. Her expression is the fundamental support element which will determine whether I can get anywhere worthwhile with this exploration. I am feeling good with this initial stage after some work this afternoon. What I would like is a little objective input at this point. I tried Charley's 'Horizontal Flip' .. which did help. ;-) What I could really put into the mix now are your impressions. Keep in mind that it is the expression I am working on at this stage. Her face may look altogether different by the time I am finished; although I kinda like her look so far. Thanks for reading all the way down here and for sharing whatever seems helpful to you! Keep them dream fires burnin'! Terry
Comments (18)
mgtcs
Really excellent, amazing expression!
anitalee
Nice work
wysiwig
Jeanne was a simple teenaged peasent girl when she had her vision. I would imagine that her first reaction would have been one of fear and confusion until she became convinced of the vision's identity. I take this expression to be what she might have looked like during the first seconds, concern and growing fear. Excellent start. Your render reminds me of something I heard years ago. What is the difference between Noah's Ark and Joan of Arc. Noah's Ark was made of wood while Joan of Arc was Maid of Orleans.
pspworkshop
Excellent work!
5391151
Looks good.
pantalone
I'd have thought that the expression would depend on whether you view the vision as an external apparition or something that appears within. If it's external (tears from the Madonna and such stuff), I'd expect the features to be more relaxed than you have here. The seer is fixed on the subject and concentrates entirely on something outside herself. Maybe her eyes reflect nothing, as every aspect of the vision goes into her soul - after all it's meant for her exclusive consumption, innit? The position of the vision is important here, like eye direction when you're talking to someone; high=future, low=past, left=ideas, right=action....or something like that. Her expression will also depend on whether or not we, as voyeurs, can see the vision too. Is she the centre of attention or is the vision? If it's a vision in her head (in my view a halucination brought about by a lack of decent food, a cultural obsession with religion and the general psychosis of the teenage girl), then it's different. Gotta convey the full majesty and horror of the unseen, without her looking rather worried and not a little constipated. Ultimately, the expression just has to awaken something in the viewer's imagination. If you focus on the bits of the expression that do that, the rest is at best redundant and at worst confuses the message. So stick some of the face in shadow or leave it neutral and keep the message clear.
KaiArt
Wowwwwwwww!!! Excellent work!
Tea_Rex
Pantalone: "I'd have thought that the expression would depend on whether you view the vision as an external apparition or something that appears within." By her own account the "visions" were, at least, external and experienced via sight and sound. Her first experience was at the age of twelve and was purely auditory. Over the next few years she spoke of visitations by figures including the Angel Michael. "Her expression will also depend on whether or not we, as voyeurs, can see the vision too. Is she the centre of attention or is the vision?" My intention is a portrayal of Jeanne. To what degree and in what manner the vision will be included in the work is secondary and yet to be puzzled out. "... in my view a halucination brought about by a lack of decent food, a cultural obsession with religion and the general psychosis of the teenage girl." The truth of her claims and the causes of them have been widely debated for centuries. As for the cause of her visions being bad nutrition and religious superstition .. that would have made near to all of Europe visionaries in that period; they were not. The possibility of psychological disorder(s) has been kicked around for a few decades, most enthusiastically by the deconstructivist crowd whose motivations are so often impelled by self-hate. By varied accounts, at all stages of her later life, Jeanne was credited as being exceptionally competent intellectually and quite lucid. So capable was she during her trial that the proceedings were soon moved outside the view of public scrutiny. Another important factor to consider when questioning her sanity is her access to the French court which had good reason to be hyper-sensitive to accusations of insanity. The previous king was so off-the-wall that he was widely known as 'Charles the Mad'. It's more than unlikely Charles VII would have staked so much at such a pivotal time upon the rantings of a 'crazy farmgirl.' Then there are also the devoted accounts to her field abilities by the many captains who served with her. "Ultimately, the expression just has to awaken something in the viewer's imagination." These could be the words of my own guiding spirit for every image I work through. ;-) Terry
adrie
Very beautiful portrait work, also excellent expression work....love it.
Bossie_Boots
I would of expected a look of suprise maybe tinged with fear and a little miffed and i think you have captured it well superb work looking forward to seeing more hugs lou x
tamburro
Amazing character!!!! Hugs:)
virginiese
an awsome character and face morphs... Jeanne d'Arc is really a fascinatingwoman and I'm not surprised you have choosen her for your next image. Great expression !
psyoshida
I think her expression here is very good. I would guess she had been hearing and seeing visions all through her childhood, she was probably surprised to find others didn't have the same experiences. At the age that you show her, the expression feels more like listening intently and trying to understand what is being revealed to her.
JeffersonAF
Beautiful.
callad
Her expression is that of non-belief, non-comprehension of the thing she is experiencing. That would have been her initial expression and I think you capured that well Terry. On a darker note: when someone has such an experience at present day, be it visionairy, a burning bush or hears a voice not from within for instance, he/she is diagnosed as being ill.. Be it a mental disease, or a tumor in the head. There is no room for miracles in our soceity anymore, we do not allow that. It's a cold world we live in nowadays.
bebetoblu
great work !!! Super realistic expression!!
violet
Beautiful character....about the expression I would say....non-belief...fear...amazement...hmmm....something like that.... Can't wait to see the result !!!
summer1412
I agree with Charley, much to my dismay...today's world knows not of blessings, miracles and magick. I think they need to open their eyes a little wider and realize that miracles happen every day. And I LOVE how just because you're doing a rendition of our beloved Jeanne, it's brought up as a religious issue and turns into a circular debate. Why can't people just make art without the debate? That's what I'D like to know. I mean, art is a form of expression, and that in itself is beautiful and a miracle of the mind and heart. It should never be questioned, even if it is disagreed with. Oh well. Maybe I'm delusional. ;) GORGEOUS expression on her...love this, Terry, love it.