The Lotus Eater.

This is my original piece created especially for this week's Art Explosion Contest.

It is week 50 of @juliakponsford's art explosion.

This week's theme is Tarot.

I had fun with this one.

The lotus eater appears in your reading as a representation of a spirit of carefree relaxation.

Content with a laid back lifestyle the lotus eater is not concerned with issues that occur beyond her own space. Consumption of the spirit flower brings her closer to her higher self and unconcerned with worldly possessions, quarrels or conflicts.

She sits atop her lotus throne, her loyal companion and Spirit guide The Sloth at her feet, maintaining a half lotus pose and containing the essence of the potent splendour.

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When read in reverse

It becomes apparent that all is not what it seems. While the sloth remains content in the up side down, the lotus eater appears entangled. No longer benefiting from the potion, now she is a slave to the plant that once she felt at one with.

The focal point has now shifted to the couch potato and lounge lizard who sit below her. They look upon her with displeasure. They were once her. They know that the lotus will eventually take her essence and shed what is left onto their couch which they are loathed to share with another.

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I did manage one progress shot.

I always forget to do these.
Today I was painting with my 4 yr old son. He does everything in the 10 minute activity blocks, so it was a case of speed painting. Half way through he was stacking away the paints and readying his bucket to fill with water to have a makeshift swimming pool on our apartment balcony. It is HOT 🔥. The bureau of meteorology says it's 31°c, it feels hotter, maybe it's the 80% humidity. I'm not sure how that translates, but it is hot and sticky.

Process

Sketched in pencil.

Then used marker to ink in.

Then finished with water colour paint.

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