Petals and Olives
and the Palestine sunbird
As I thought of how I should go about writing this newsletter, I realised that a lot has happened in a month. I bought a new digital camera, and there are so many photos that I’d like to share, but I think that will have to wait. Maybe an update for that would come in the next week or so. It’d be better to dedicate a whole post to it, I feel. I’ve learnt so much! But I’ve done two digital illustrations, and digital art will always be at the forefront of everything I create. Therefore, they deserve the priority. (I feel like a parent who’s playing favourites lol.)
Let’s start with the easier one.
During one of my lunch breaks, I decided to go to a nearby garden to have a walk. I strolled past a group of workers trimming a tree of some of its branches, and there were red petals strewn everywhere, sparsely, on the pathway. It looked to me like the tree was ‘bleeding’. That was how the idea for Petals of Blood came about. You’d see a tree in the back that’s bleeding away.
The main concern about this piece was whether I could paint those petals well. I didn’t want to spend so much time detailing every single petal. That would take too much time, too much patience, and I knew if I felt that way, I might give up eventually. It was embracing the imperfections, making sure that the shadows and highlights work together to give an overall impression of petals. I was worried for a moment, but as I got more into it, the more confident I got and I constantly told myself not to think too much.
I didn’t create a Youtube timelapse video for this, but I decided to make use of Substack’s video feature. I think a notable part of this whole process was how I chose to use a gradient map to change the whole ambience to fit the kind of premade book cover I have in mind at the end.
Yes, you heard that right! A new premade cover is here, and it’s ready for purchase on my website. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t partly inspired by Lies Hidden in My Garden, which is a South Korean television series I’d finished watching a few months back. The way it was filmed, and the colours, they all struck a chord in me.
Along the way, as I was painting this, I started wondering if I should include a reference to Palestine somewhere in the painting — but in doing so, I would remove the possibility of it ever becoming a book cover. I told myself to let this painting be, that there would be another chance, because I’ve already created one for Palestine before this.
“If the olive trees knew the hands that planted them, their oil would become tears.” — Mahmoud Darwish
A huge part of me wasn’t too sure if I should paint this. A huge part of me, too, didn’t think it would be a good idea to show my political stance anywhere on my art social media. At all. I was afraid of rejection, mean comments, all the nasty things. Things are different on my personal accounts though. I’ve been with Palestine since last year when I found out about Gaza, even read a book so that I could learn more about what was happening over there. It was still very new to me then. The one thing I knew at the time was the tension in the air among my Muslim and Christian colleagues whenever the topic comes up — when I, someone who doesn’t conform to neither religion, brought it up a lot without knowing any better. But even more recently, I finished The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine because it was important to me to learn the truth. No propaganda, nothing hidden. The US government has lied to so many for years and years. I wanted to know how it all started.
But I digress. I could go on forever, really. And this isn’t about religion. It’s about humanity. What’s wrong with standing up for humanity and fighting against oppression? Nothing. So I decided to stand up for what I believe is right and painted this.
River to the Sea features the Palestine sunbird and the olive trees that Palestinians so adore. I was shaken to my core when I came across a photo of a Palestinian woman hugging an olive tree that had had its branches cut off by the Zionists.
I have nothing much else to say except: learn history. Don’t take things at face value. Research from unbiased sources, then form your own opinion. Otherwise, you’ll be playing someone else’s game. I refuse to be a puppet, so here I am.
The truth always prevails.
Oh, one more update. As the new year is around the corner, I’ve done some thinking, and I’ve decided to no longer offer commission services. Instead, I’ll be focusing on creating premade content for sale in the form of zines, book covers — basically what I’ve been doing all along, but I’m intending to expand on that by including comics. It feels amazing to let go of the expectation of wanting to do commissions. Now, I can get that out of my mind and make whatever I like more freely.
Have a wonderful new year, everyone! I’m excited to see what’s coming next on my art journey.
My heart to yours,
Elaine