The Blue Dress

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As good as finished but without a title yet, so for now, it is called ‘The Blue Dress'

oil on linen, 50x60cm




This painting was inspired by a condition called POTS, something I have lived with all of my adult life. POTS is a fairly unknown condition of the autonomic nervous system which makes you dizzy and faint, at best, and wheelchair/bed bound at worst. I wanted to express the feeling of dizziness and loneliness in a painting.

For this painting I looked at medieval art, like Fra Angelico’s architecture and drapery, Vermeer’s use of blue, and of light, I picked pieces from Blenheim Palace and my imagination to put this all together in a vision of Alice in Wonderland-styled confusion and dizziness.

For more on POTS, check out the patient charity STARS

Edit spring 2012: I did some more work on it, here is the final image:


Comments

  1. The weirdest (endo) sister of them all21 February 2012 at 23:28

    Thanks so much for sharing, Sophie. I love this painting- it articulates so much that is impossible to put into words.

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  2. Louise23 February 2012 at 02:12

    Amazing work! Thankyou for illustrating this hard to understand condition so fantastically accurately!

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  3. Louise23 February 2012 at 08:29

    Wow, what an amazing piece of art! Thankyou for illustrating so accurately the feelings of a sufferer of this hard to understand condition.

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  4. Sophie23 February 2012 at 13:32

    Thanks so much Louise. So glad you recognize the feelings.

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  5. Bhavna24 February 2012 at 08:52

    Stunning painting of a clever interpretation for every visitor. nice very nice!!!!

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  6. Sophie24 February 2012 at 09:13

    Thank you Bhavna, you say it so well. I appreciate you stopping by!

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  7. Faye26 February 2012 at 21:00

    Stunning Sophie....so atmostheric, and such beautiful colours

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  8. Sophie27 February 2012 at 17:17

    Thank you very much, Faye.

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  9. The weirdest (endo) sister of them all28 February 2012 at 02:36

    I'd love to hear more about what gave you the idea to convey the disorientation in the way that you did- it's just perfect. :)

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  10. Sophie28 February 2012 at 09:40

    well, just look in my head!! My own dizziness reminded me of images I had seen before of medieval paintings, Alice in Wonderland, Vermeer’s view of Delft, and Blenheim’s (and other Hawksmoor/Vanbrugh buildings) dramatic curves. Finally having a diagnosis gives me the confidence to express how I feel!
    (nice photo Kylie! ;-) )

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  11. Corina2 March 2012 at 09:57

    I love it Sophie! I love everything about it but for me the left hand reaching out to find balance is what immediately catches me. I could almost feel what this painting is about, you are a gifted artist. Thanks for sharing!

    Corina

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  12. Sophie2 March 2012 at 22:28

    Thanks Corina. I am glad it touches you.

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Hi, Please leave any comments here. Thanks, Sophie.

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