'Shanghai' Lady of Mystery

Norval Arbogast

'Shanghai' Lady of Mystery

This is a variation on that wonderful little art deco piece from Dover Publications copyright free archives that I used for ‘Hollywood Nefertiti’. I watched an old Charlie Chan movie the other night and it got my imagination going. I’m an old ‘B’ movie junky. I love them. So Charlie Chan eat your heart out. This is a vamp in the old Hollywood tradition only this time around in living color.
I have gone back and looked up the music I was listening to when I was designing this. The music was on one of those info-commercials. I found them on ‘YouTube’, my son told me you can find anything on youtube. The name of the group is ‘The Twelve Girls Band’ a group of super beautiful very talented chinese musicians using traditional instruments. This selection doesn’ emphasize the traditional instruments but I think it captures the elegant feel I was trying for with the artwork. I’m a fan.
link below, take a listen

The Twelve Girls Band

FEATURED ‘Music Inspired Art Group’
Top Ten-- ‘Signature Style’ challenge, Painted Ladies group

For that bright flash of color or as a conversation piece in your decor use a small ‘Mounted Print’ on a plate easel, chic.

Framed Print

'Shanghai' Lady of Mystery belongs to the following groups:

* Painted Ladies *, ! 100% !, ! Inspired Art !, "I Got The Music In Me" NO NUDITY!!!, Airbrush Art, All the Colors of the Rainbow, Decorative and Traditional Art, Dimensions, Ethnic Art, Featured Features - For Featured Art, Photography, T-Shirts, Writing, Music Inspired Art (M.I.A) music links/lyrics required, Vibrant and Vivid Color and Vibration in Art and Verse - VAVoom! Available for sale as

Matted Prints, Laminated Prints, Mounted Prints, Canvas Prints, Framed Prints and Posters

'Shanghai' Lady of Mystery by Norval Arbogast
'Shanghai' Lady of Mystery by Norval Arbogast
  • coppertrees

    coppertrees

    Just fantastic Norval and the colors snap!

  • Norval Arbogast replied

    Thanks, I’m pleased with the fabric, I tryed a new filter.

  • Adam Gormley

    Adam Gormley

    Brilliant artwork Norval, love the colours in this!!

  • Norval Arbogast replied

    Thanks Adam

  • Marsha Elliott

    Marsha Elliott

    Very striking piece!

  • Norval Arbogast replied

    Thank you Marsha

  • doreen01

    doreen01

    The tones is wonderful, the line draw great!

  • Norval Arbogast replied

    Thank you Doreen, I’m getting freer with the line work [ on the fabric ] but I’m still needing to free up on the actual figure work. Keep putting your stuff on, I’m studying them as an example to try for.

  • F.A. Moore

    F.A. Moore

    Stunning line and color, Norval. I especially like the blue reflections in her hair, shining back the gorgeous color in the background. Bravo!

  • Norval Arbogast replied

    Thanks, green against purple was a hard palette for me to work with. I tryed to pull it together with little touches like the highlights in the hair.

  • LeilaniMelayna

    LeilaniMelayna

    I love your beautifully orchestrated piece!

    Smiles Leilani

  • Norval Arbogast replied

    Thanks, I do orchestrate my work, especially the color, and hope I don’t hit a sour note.

  • LeilaniMelayna

    LeilaniMelayna

    Yes…it is obvious! You haven’t hit when yet so far! You’re welcome!

    Smiles Leilani

  • elenaoleniuc

    elenaoleniuc

    Very beautiful !

  • Norval Arbogast replied

    Thank you.

  • madvlad

    madvlad

    she is heavenly, meee too i love old movies-where they actually act and you hate them or love them when you are done seeing the movie, or better yet have been entertained, not insulted-nice art

  • Norval Arbogast

    Norval Arbogast

    I’m glad you liked it. And I’m glad someone likes the old ‘B’ movies besides me. I tryed to get my 11 year old to watch one-—-—-’ it doesn’t have any color???!!—dam it use your imagination!!!!!

  • Ming  Myaskovsky

    Ming Myaskovsky

    You’ve nailed it!! Love your styles and colors!! :))

  • Norval Arbogast replied

    Thank you Ming, your opinion means a lot to me.

  • Shanina Conway

    Shanina Conway

    This is fabulous, love your palette …I’m a B movie junkie too;)

  • Norval Arbogast replied

    Thank you, and I’m glad to hear I am not alone in lovivg the old ‘B’ movies. I wish they would bring back the old Saturday matinee serials. ‘Ted Turner’ I hope you’re listening.

  • MelDavies

    MelDavies

    Wonderful.

  • Norval Arbogast replied

    Thanks Mel, I liked how the fabric turned out.

  • Marion Chapman

    Marion Chapman

    what a wonderful marriage of asian and new and hollywood. fabulous face!!

  • Norval Arbogast

    Norval Arbogast

    Thank you Mel, and thank you for the favoriting.

  • bev langby

    bev langby

    Absolutly devine and great palette …..........

  • Norval Arbogast replied

    I was a little hesitant using the green, but liked the way it turned out.

  • bev langby

    bev langby

    i know what u mean im a bit the same with green but u seem to know when to use it so thats important….....

  • EvaLarsen

    EvaLarsen

    Beautiful image, very well done.

  • Norval Arbogast replied

    Thank you

  • ellamental

    ellamental

    Amazing color and form!! True beauty!

  • Norval Arbogast replied

    Thank you, and thank you for the fav on ‘Lady Australia’.

  • butchart

    butchart

    the colours just sing…. really wonderful saturation…...love the quiet energy that eminates from this…. bravo….......b

  • Norval Arbogast replied

    Thank you, and thank you for the fav. I like the way she turned out too. When I finish one and stand back, and the cerebral choice making is through, I’m always surprised.

  • Patricia Anne McCarty

    Patricia Anne ...

    how very beautyful!

  • Norval Arbogast replied

    Thank you, I really liked your ‘Fan Dancer’ and the two companion pieces.

  • izzybeth

    izzybeth

    beautiful work!!!

  • Norval Arbogast replied

    Thank You

  • tkrosevear
  • Norval Arbogast replied

    Thanks so much for the feature. I hope anyone viewing takes the time to listen to the music, it’s beautiful.

  • stephanie allison

    stephanie allison

    Congratulations! Your image placed in the TOP 10 in the Signature Style Painted Lady Challenge

    ♥♥♥

  • Norval Arbogast replied

    Thanks so much, especially to those fellow artist that voted for “Shanghai’ she’s a special lady. And will continue to be special [ I Didn’t Write Down All the Filters and the Order] and have not been able to repeat the look :-D.

  • Helen Chierego

    Helen Chierego

    Norval, you know how to use colour and composition. This is wonderful! :)

  • Norval Arbogast replied

    Hey, thats a real compliment Helen, I was a lettering artist, calligrapher by trade and always worked in black and white.

  • KEITH  R. WILLIAMS

    KEITH R. WILL...

    BEAUTIFUL

  • Norval Arbogast replied

    Thank you

  • Indelibly-Yours

    Indelibly-Yours

    I too am a B movie fan – and, a fan of your work.

  • Norval Arbogast replied

    I’m glad to hear that, and thank you for being a fan. My family thinks I’m weird. I just got through listening to the music for ‘Sunset Boulevard’, and the ‘Ghost and Mrs. Muir’, not ‘B’ but to of my most favorites of the oldies.

  • Indelibly-Yours

    Indelibly-Yours

    Lol – there’s a lot of great music with the classic movies.
    You’re not weird, you just have an eccentric Muse. :)

  • Danceintherain

    Danceintherain

    Love this!
    • Coy *
  • Norval Arbogast replied

    Thank you Coy, I just checked out your gallery, Bright and Happy, love it.

  • ellamental

    ellamental

    Fandamntastic!!!!

  • Norval Arbogast replied

    Thank you-——I think??? :-DDDD

  • Trish Woodford

    Trish Woodford

    Gorgeous design, very elegant, a really wonderful piece Norval :)

  • Norval Arbogast replied

    Thank You Trish

  • Frances Perea

    Frances Perea

    Very beautiful Norval! Love the brilliant colors in this!

  • Norval Arbogast replied

    Sorry in being so lat responding Francis, I have to start checking these older drawings more often. I really appreciate your nice comment.

  • eoconnor

    eoconnor

    Norvil this is exquisitly done , the music was very nice ,she looks like she is thinking of something very special.

  • Norval Arbogast replied

    Thank you, I love trying to get a feeling in my stylized heads.

  • Angie Muccillo

    Angie Muccillo 25 days ago

    Wow sooooo beautiful!! The colors are divine! :-)

  • Norval Arbogast replied 25 days ago

    Thank you, this is one of my favorites of my work.The color worked, I just wish I had written down how I did it :-D

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