Seedling ©nataliette, 2010. digital painting.

a sadistic mother is the worst of all children’s nightmares: my parents, who were fruitsellers, would supply me with all the watermelons i loved to eat. when i was a little girl of perhaps five or six, my mother sat beside me while i was chomping down on an especially juicy slice. she asked me if i had eaten any seeds. i warily replied yes. “oh, dear. you will grow a watermelon tree inside you!” she exclaimed. thus, over the course of the next few years i would occasionally check my nostrils and ears for any signs of peeking branches. one day when i was an older child, i went up to my mother and accused her: “you lied! there isnt any tree growing inside me at all. see, im fine!” my mother simply replied, “dont be silly. trees take many years to grow.” and then i spent the next few years living in paranoia again.

of course, when i retold this story to my mates in college, they laughed. then someone said that watermelons do not grow on trees at all. and i only realized this when i was 18…

this picture tells that story of my tortured childhood, being the daughter of my mother (whom i love very much of course, but she is a wicked creature!). the little leaves on the bottom are actually leaves of the watermelon plant.

The Ire ©2010, nataliette. digital painting.

please view the previous artwork first. as this is the tempestuous sequel.
the first was a portrait of a blissful naïveté and the excitement of secrecy; and this one the consequence of reality when it slaps hard in the face.

angry, i am angry. therefore she is angry.
no more foolish secrets.

work-in-progress animation here.

Cloudiness ©2010, nataliette. digital painting.

an ugly secret she has to share; clasped in her hand, hidden behind her back. what cause of worry, gloom or trouble might it be?

new painting! the story behind this was spun entirely out of my imagination. i love secrets, blanched locks, hairbows and vintage eyeglasses that simply sit on your nose. the clouds mean something too, look it up in the dictionary!

click here to see the work-in-progress!

THE BLACK WIDOW ©2010, nataliette. digital painting.

you dont know this, but im plotting your demise.

…may be interpreted as a loose tribute to my sister and her baby boy.
as for the man in the suit, he represents all her sordid past affairs.
i wonder whether she’d kill me or kiss me (ahem, metaphor only) when she sees this

andddddd here is the work-in-progress animation for your curiosity…

The Black Queen (of Spades) ©2010, nataliette. digital painting.

the black queen (of spades) was rumoured to be the third sister of the red and white queen. but she died before she was born.
fortunately, because she would be the most devious of all in wonderland.
for instance, she enjoys eating rabbit ears.

- – - – -
digital painting in photoshop.
obviously inspired by alice in wonderland! the fantastically surreal movie by tim burton.
also dont miss the work-in-progress animation! clickclick