My very good friend Dennis DeFoggi asked me to participate. THANK YOU DENNIS!!! ;) (and also, thank you Jinny DeFoggi for being there just as much). I love you both.
I was given a little niche to fill as an altar for some person, some idea, or some group that has been lost.
Since one of my very best friends, Helene Quigley, also known to me as Arteer in Second Life, died in February, I chose her. Her death has impacted me so much. I have lost a lot of good friends and family. I had three incredible best friends. They were my confidants, my loves (not lover loves, but a tight bond- there are many forms of love), and it's unbelievable to me that for someone who has few close friends- three of them are gone. Walter Short- first, Mary Ellen Ryder- second, Helene in February, and also someone I loved, Afton Hansen, John's Mother, in August. Not to mention Grandparents and other family members and friends.
Helene's death hit me hard. It was quick and ugly. Unfair. We relied on each other. We goofed off... able to let off steam together in Second Life, we cared deeply for each other, and the rest you just can't explain. It's a bond. For someone who likes to write, that's all I can say, really, it was magic. The kind of friend you don't find every day and I knew from day one (and I told her so) that she and I would be forever friends.
So, I am going to try to document my process through creating this altar. I went shopping a couple of days ago and bought a few delicious items, non food, that already make me smile. They're perfect for her. Beads, feathers, fabric, roses, buttons, and bling. Not your ordinary bling, but antiquated, rustic, glamorous, sparkly in the right places- bling.
I am expecting a package from Helene's sister in a couple of days. That will contain some very valuable things for the altar as well. I'm especially excited for those homemade masks of hers. Just wait until you see what I have in mind for those!!
For now, I will share pictures of my portrait of her.
I have only begun as of this morning. I tried to get a nice mix between Helene's real life face, and Arteer's avatar face. I think that this kind of mix is exactly right, for I knew her as Arteer in body, and Helene in soul. They each existed as an entity inside of her, and unless you have saturated yourself in SL, you probably won't understand that. But I get it, she got it, and this is how she is being represented by someone who knew best- both sides of her. As close as anyone could, anyway.
Drawing step 1:
Here I am softening facial lines. Beginning the eyes and sockets, experimenting with her nose, and lips. I decided that Helene's nose in Real life was the one I would go after, however, if you look at her image of "Arteer," you'll see she did an amazing job of getting her nose onto her avie. So really, it was an easy choice.
For her lips I chose the "Arteer" version. She gave herself fuller lips as Arteer, and often, what you represent on an avie that tries to "look like you," is the detail of fantasy mixed with the real you. And why not? We are who we feel we are and how better to represent yourself than with feeling rather than what you were given without choice. I say, it's perfect. I did give her a hint of a smile. Her real image has that and I think it's lovely. It's my drawing- so what I say goes. :) Nyah!
Here she is much softer. Her shape is mostly formed and ready to be painted. I think I will use pastels. Soft pastel, which is intense and more like paint, and pastel pencil for detail... and who knows... I might mix in some oil pastel for intensity and passion. I'm just not sure yet.
Wish me luck. If I screw it up, I get to start all over.
Yikes!
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