Empty Stage

LostBoy, 3 months ago

beautiful!...what kind of blood?

ENaLu, 3 months ago

up the garden path…....

Paul Compton in reply to LostBoy’s comment, 3 months ago

Thank you LostBoy. My blood – no, I don’t cut myself, I was just making use of a good nosebleed : )

Paul Compton in reply to ENaLu’s comment, 3 months ago

Indeed. I love stage sets and Victorian photographs so I tried to mix the two styles together. Thank you so much for the support ENaLu.

pinkyjain, 3 months ago

So beautiful, & so strangely inviting, reminds me of The Secret Garden, love the brish strokes, & the border, such a lovely vintage look. Hee hee love the ink & blood. Can we see the animation? Sounds wonderful

ENaLu, 3 months ago

easy love!

I enjoy your story making ways
how your images take you into a world
that you create

thanks for the invite

makes me think what kind of characters would live here?

Paul Compton in reply to pinkyjain’s comment, 3 months ago

The Secret Garden – a truly magical book. I would like to put up my animation on the web but I don’t know how. I might get a friend to help me one day. Thank you endlessly as always pinkyjain. xo

Mui-Ling Teh, 3 months ago

Was afraid for a moment that “Boy Drowning” was based on true story, and the blood belonged to killed boy; thankfully not (not that I’m happy that YOU got a nosebleed).

But I wonder if the title is meant to be literal, or metaphrical; like a boy drowning in his imagination or his dreams. The framing creates an interesting dimension; it really seems like you can walk into it and then once again walk into that mounted picture of the path. I really like how you’ve drawn the ground creating that sense of depth, and how the path creates an extended depth.

Paul Compton in reply to Mui-Ling Teh’s comment, 3 months ago

Thank you so much Mui-Ling. As to the title being either literal or metaphorical….that’s up to the viewer I guess. Thank you for your support and for appreciating this : )

Steven Guy, 3 months ago

Enchanting but ominously dark. Love this one !

Paul Compton in reply to Steven Guy’s comment, 3 months ago

Thank you Steven! Always great to hear from you : )

Mohamad Khaksar, 3 months ago

Another emphasized work from paul;
a real talented Visual artist with many rare works and worth awards…!
as always…..great mate!!

Paul Compton in reply to Mohamad Khaksar’s comment, 3 months ago

MhDkHr…....You always make me day! I can never thank you enough for your wonderful comments. Best wishes to you always : ))))

Lumineux, 3 months ago

Interesting medium for someting that first struck me as rather benign. But on further inspection I have to agree with everyone else, a rather clever and skillfully constructed image that reveals much more than first meets the eye.

Karin Taylor, 3 months ago

it’s very classique and interesting paul, i always love the use of unusual media and that surprise element draws me in and whets my curiosity….you can definitely feel that it’s going to be a dark day

Andy Mercer, 3 months ago

Nice one Paul !

So we are looking at an empty stage set reflected back at us through a mirror ? Shouldn’t we see ourselves in the mirror.. unless.. “shock.. horror” you/we are vampires ?

Well thats that sorted. This picture analysis is a doddle.. ;)

pbworks, 3 months ago

I would like to see the animation too… Your drawings are mysterious… great one !

butchart, 3 months ago

Paul… it’s like looking through the veil…. so absolutely enchanting and inviting…. the blood and inked surrounding is a metaphor for me…. what must we give to take that reflected path to our new place in destiny…........... you are gifted my friend…... thank you for this…..........b

Tina Hogg, 3 months ago

As soon as I read ‘blood and ink’, it reminded me of Gilbert & George. They branched out big time with fluids!
Another stunning artwork from you, I love the atmosphere in this – oh, and I love the frame!

John Douglas, 3 months ago

fantastic pual, the blood is an extra twist to it and really makes it special, extra extra special. Beautiful work.

Paul Compton in reply to Andy Mercer’s comment, 3 months ago

Ha, I really like your interpretation so I won’t taint it by adding my own to the mix. Thanks for the support Andy : )

Paul Compton in reply to butchart’s comment, 3 months ago

Oh what a wonderful comment. Thank you endlessly Butch. I love how you read such meaning in this. I’ve always been attracted by stage sets. When I was younger I used to act/sing in musical theatre. I loved how the sets looked so attractive to the audience but from behind the scenes I could see that they were incredibly fake, dodgily put together and not painted on the other side. That’s the ‘magic’ of the theatre I guess. Thank you for all your wonderful words, work and spirit Butch xo

Paul Compton in reply to Tina Hogg’s comment, 3 months ago

LOL! Indeed they did branch out “big time with the fluids”. I loved drawing the frame – repetition makes me feel very peaceful. Thank you so much for commenting Tambala, I appreciate the support : )

Paul Compton in reply to John Douglas’s comment, 3 months ago

Thank you immensely John. I appreciate your words and heart so much. xo

butchart, 3 months ago

paul.. i can see you bright eyed and awestruck as a child…. thanks for the vision….........b

Firedrake, 3 months ago

Blood!! I have nosebleeds sometimes too, often wondered what I’d do if I had one while painting! Does it dry brown?

Paul Compton in reply to Firedrake’s comment, 3 months ago

Yes. You can see big congealed dollops of it at the top of the image : )

Damian, 3 months ago

LOL, you really put yourself into your images :)
Okay, no-one else had said it!
It’s a lovely stage. I could imagine your images as wonderfully quirky animations. Boy Drowning sounds terribly tragic, but I can imagine it would be wonderful.

Paul Compton in reply to Damian’s comment, 3 months ago

Thank you so much Damian. LOL! Yep, a lot of blood, sweat and tears go into my work, well, maybe not sweat…....yet…... : ))

Talya Chalef, 3 months ago

paul, this on is fabulous. woweewah.
:-)

Paul Compton in reply to Talya Chalef’s comment, 3 months ago

Hee hee, thanks a billion Talya! : )

jase8812, 3 months ago

Awesome work

bchrisdesigns, 3 months ago

Very cool drawing!

Jo O'Brien, 3 months ago

love the ‘frame within a frame’ and the textures in this

Paul Compton in reply to Jo O'Brien’s comment, 3 months ago

Thank you so much Jo. I really appreciate the comment : )

Carol & Kev Ha..., 2 months ago

Seriously..ink and blood…I just love this image…a sense of “What’s Missing”, then you look again and realise there is nothing missing, just perfect as it is…..magical!!

Paul Compton in reply to Carol & Kev Haberle’s comment, 2 months ago

You are a treasure Carol. I can’t thank you enough for your comments and encouragement. Best wishes to you : )

Carol & Kev Ha..., 2 months ago

No thanks needed Paul…it’s a pleasure viewing your artwork…..THANK YOU for sharing!!!

wynity2, 2 months ago

Hey, Paul…’we pass this way but once…’! I feel that I have just glanced back to where I was before, but then realise that I haven’t been there and that this is where I’m going!! Love your style! And blood?? nicer medium to work with than John’s cat poo!! lol! Beth :-)

wynity2, 2 months ago

P.S. Is the fore-ground water? As in a flood?

Paul Compton in reply to wynity2’s comment, 2 months ago

Hee hee, any medium is better than cat poo! Is the foreground water? Well no but in the animation that I made the frame fills up with dark black water so in a sense you are right. Thank you so much for commenting Beth. x

wynity2, 2 months ago

I promise I won’t look into your head again Paul! But sometimes I can’t help myself!! lol!!! :-) x

frozenfa, 2 months ago

was wondering what blood you used when i saw the comment that you had nosebleed. hehe.. that’s cute. sorta.. that way your blood didn’t go to waste.. XD
love this piece.. the emptiness makes it look a lil disturbing. i like~ XD

Paul Compton in reply to frozenfa’s comment, 2 months ago

Hee hee, thank you : )

Sylvia Karall, 2 months ago

I love the theatrical feel of this work. Well, done!

BLYTHART, 2 months ago

Hmmmm … so you like the Secret Garden … another one of my favourite reads. Looking through your portfolio, I realised I hadn’t commented on this picture …....... it has a nice sense of depth to it that I like. Do you have vampires in Australia? Reading the comments tells me that a lot of people (myself included) were worried about where you got the blood from :)) For my own peace of mind I shall choose to believe that you do get nose-bleeds ;) Only teasing.