Can You Keep A Secret?
Acrylic On Canvas
Was inspired to do this piece after watching the movie, “In The Mood For Love”. Set in the Hongkong 60s, it’s a tale of forbidden love, full of regrets and secrets. This painting is my personal interpretation of the following lines from the movie. “In the old days, if someone had a secret they don’t want to share what do they do? They went up a mountain, find a tree,carved a hole in it and whispered the secret into the hole. Then they covered it with mud. And leave the secret there forever.”


You can view and buy my other “Can You Keep A Secret” creations from my Zazzle Gallery:
Can You Keep A Secret? belongs to the following groups:
All Things Poetic, Artistic, Philosophical, Childhood, Cutest of the Cute, Fine Arts, Live, Love, Dream: , Safe Haven and Vibrant and Vivid Color Available for sale asGreeting Cards, Matted Prints, Laminated Prints, Mounted Prints, Canvas Prints and Framed Prints




bevanimage
I rather suspect that the alert-looking bunny knows how to get to that secret – and then it won’t be a secret for long! The young lady looks as though she isn’t confident of her hiding place either. It’s a lovely story Ellen!
udonchow replied
Bunny is curious about the secret of the room 2046 :D In the movie, it was the male lead who was the one who whsipered the secret into the hole and later stuffed the hole with mud and grass. But I thought the female lead feels the pain and regrets as much as the guy too :D
Karin Taylor
beautiful work Ellen, i love the concept, the direction this is taking, the colours are really earthy and beautiful, i love her dress and her expression, the bunny in the background and the vine around the tree trunk which contains the secrets
udonchow replied
Thanks very much Karin! I am just so in love with the movie, watched it 8 years ago….couldnt comprehend much actually, just felt it was visually appealing,delicate and sensitive. Just bought the dvd recently and everything is iluminated finally! Not the usual hollywood movie…it’s abit arty, minimal dialogues…and the movie was shot without a script so to speak. Director Wong Kar Wai is known not to write any scripts before shooting, he has a certain vague idea in his head and he gets inspired as the days go along and writes the script there and then with the fliming going on concurrently. That’s what makes his films very different from others :D
Waleska Luker
Lovely work
udonchow replied
Thank you so much WalesskaL! ^ _ ^
AnitaInverarity
LOVE IT- What a beautifu interpretation of the story- you are just getting better and better with this wonderful series- FANTASTIC xxxxx
udonchow replied
Wow, that is very encouraging, Anita!! This one’s really special for me as I feel alot for the movie…cos it’s my favorite actor and director. ^ _ ^
sparklehen
I love the slightly muted tones, and the styling here! Well done : D
udonchow replied
I was pleasantly suprised by the effects too, thanks very much Heather! :D
eseffpe
love this ellen, sounds like a great movie to watch!!
udonchow replied
Yes it is, Ava!! You will love the art director’s eye, the camera angles are superb and so beautiful and delicate!! :D
Kim Magee
oh wow ellen just spotted this on zazzle and thought hey a new painting and wellla! here it is
love her what a beautiful painting she looks a little like you is it a self portrait that bunny is so darn cute
cheers kim x
udonchow replied
The bunny was a last min addition….I dont know why…I guess I just feel incomplete without an animal in my paintings :D I have a red and blue chengsam too, but mine has big flowers on it :D
margaretfraser
awe lovely
udonchow replied
Thank you very much!! ^ _ ^
valzart
Absolutaely astounding work sweetheART and I love the lil’ story ..thats what I’ll do in future lol! ;} happy hippy hugglez
udonchow replied
It’s a very sad movie but beautifully directed and filmed :D Thanks very much Val!! :D
valzart
This should be in ‘Fantastic primitive art’ grouplink
udonchow replied
Thanks Val! It is in the group, already! :D
Caroline Fournier
These just keep getting better and better. I love reading where you find your inspiration. Beautiful as always!!
udonchow replied
Thank you Caroline! This one has a special place in my heart, love the movie tooooo much!! ^ _ ^
stephaniek
Very interesting indeed!! Wonderful work Ellen!!
udonchow replied
Thanks dear Steph!! Appreciate that! ^ _ ^
Lisa Marie Rob...
Beautiful interpretation of a beautiful tale! The colours in this are earthy yet so heart warming. The little bunny is so delightful peering from behind the tree, hoping no-one will spot him as he tries to get his hand on all those secrets. I love the way the curve of the tree follows the curve of the girls head… very clever! Fantastic work Ellen!!! =D
udonchow replied
The painting just feels incomplete without an animal, so I decided to add in the intruder :D I had many options about the tree, settled for this one, glad you like it, Lisa!! :D
cdwork
Wonderful, clever work- I love the tones and detail
udonchow replied
Thank you so much Chrissy!! Thanks to the movie, really touched and moved by it :D
Jakki O
Fabulous work and I love the inspiration behind it :)
udonchow replied
Thank you so much Jak!! Really one of the best asian film that was ever made I felt, watched it 5 times already!
Midori Furze
Love the colour you used!!
Be careful!!
Bunny is watching you!!
udonchow replied
Thanks Midori!!! I will go bribe the rabbit with carrots, hahaha! :D
genevievem
ooh, love this, love the commentary about the film too, will have to see it!
udonchow replied
yes, please go watch it, Gen! It was filmed in 2000 I think, hope you can catch it on the dvd :D
Lorna Gerard
This is gorgeous Ellen, I love your interpretation of the film. I think it is great idea to tell the tree, and I think the bunny thinks so also. I will try to get the movie it sounds good. xxoo
udonchow replied
Thanks very much Lorna! It’s a good movie in my opinion, visually arresting, very sensitive and delicate….it takes its’ time to tell the story….hope you get to watch this, Lorna! :D
sonjas
I can. Love it, it is so gorgeous.
udonchow replied
Thanks very much Sonjas! Appreciate that very much! ^ _ ^
udonchow
bahgoesthesheep
hmmm interesting concept. i’ll have to try and find this movie. i loove the colors you used, wonderful textures. oooohh! and a little bunny to top it off. :D i love this new series!!! keep up the great work. :3
udonchow replied
Thanks dear Joyceln! You are so sweet! Do check out the movie, it’s kind of melancholic but it’s visually very stunning!! :D
webbie
Absolutaely awsome, love the texture and idea of it…great job:)
udonchow replied
Thanks you so much webbie, you are so kind and supportive, appreciate that! :D
lily pang
Ellen, This is lovely. I like the colors! They are very warm and beautiful!
udonchow replied
Really happy I experimented wit using shades like these for this painting, glad you like it,Lily! :D
Kelly Connolly
I have to agree the warm colours here are amazing. Right away when I saw that bunny I thought “I bet he knows the secret” Like he had been there the whole time and is waiting for her to leave and he can go and tell all his bunny friends…lol Love it Ellen, another amazing piece of work. I get so excited everytime I see that you have something new up. I can’t wait to look at your work and ready the amazing stories that go with each piece of work that you do!
udonchow replied
Cool! You have a rich imagination too, Kelly! Cant thank you enuf for your encouraging comments, gotta start my 7th girl painting soon! :D
CazzieCreations
Ellen this series is just Devine!! you are so good at interpretting these stories!! Just love it!
Have to agree with Kelly I get excited every time i see a new peice from you my sweet friend!!
(((((((((((((huggles))))))))))))))
udonchow replied
Thanks for sharing my enthusiasm for this new series, I’m really glad you guys like this new direction I’m taking, it spurs me on! Hugs! :D
Sensiworld
Great work !
udonchow replied
Thanks very much Sylvia! ^ _ ^
Angel Warda
so sweet!
udonchow replied
Thank you so much AngelWarda! :D
Lucindawind
wonderful work ! its just so sweet
udonchow replied
I love the movie too much to want to paint this, thanks Elaine!! :D
Virginia N. Fred
What a cute design
udonchow replied
Thank you so much Gina! ^ _ ^
Dayonda
28 Mar 2009
udonchow replied
Thank you soooo much for the feature, I appreciate that! :D
Holly Ringland
oh! i love the story… the fable, the imagery… the secrets in a tree… and lots of red accents… just gorgeous gorgeous work.
udonchow replied
Thanks very much Holly! I love the movie by Wong Kar Wai and that was an inspiration for me to do this piece, glad you like it :D
Angela van Bo...
Would be great if you can do on t-shirt AND Please submit to our new group http://www.redbubble.com/groups/womanly-tee-design
for the largest Tshirt clothes line at Manly Beach!! Womanly @ Manly Beach!! as part of the Manly Arts Festival www.manlyartsfestival.com and the event is hosted by www.creativemums.com.au