I was commissioned to do a painting based on Cthuhlu. Some of you might remember when i posted about it when it was half way through. for those that haven't, here it is.
this is one of two paintings i'm in the process of creating based on Cthulhu by H.P. Lovecraft.
i was given a passage to work from. having never read Lovecraft, i assumed it was by him. i just found out that the passage i'm working from is part of a non-published work and the writer just asked me to take it down. sorry Sean, next time tell me that in advance!
since Cthulhu is a creature of madness, i can already find myself decending into the abyss being squeezed by his many tentacles. 
this is a raw image of where i am at the current stage. both pieces need to be done by 5/20/09. it is a deadline of 11 days.
anyone care to give me their impressions so far?
Well I have completed the work, and then went into photoshop and added stars and tweaked parts so that now I have a mixed media painting that is separate from the original painting while remaining similar to the original just oil work.
"Infinite Cthuhlu" by C.C. Miranda ©
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Comments: 46
I love the painting and the faces that suddenly pop out, but I wouldn't hang this in my bedroom. You have so much talent, CC, you're awesome.
that is creepy .... in a good way
So many faces of evil in the stars. Lovecraft at his finest. Since I am on the bizarre side of life it appeals to me and yes, it could grace my wall anytime.
Nice. I could sit here forever trying to see all the faces.
I like the color and texture. I think I've read too much Lovecraft. I'm getting the movie based on a book feeling that makes it difficult to appreciate this one for its own sake. Objectively speaking I know that your idea of Cthulhu is perfectly valid. I just see Him differently.
Now on to the Old Ones and Pickman's model.
Let's not forget "Brown Jenkin"!
This is very cool!!
Amazing!
It turned out really nicely!
Wow -- I'm not familiar with Lovecraft, having only read stories that reference him instead of his own stories themselves, but this is cool. I particularly like how you can see the eyes as independent of the faces, or as part of them, almost like an optical illusion.
it's supposed to shift like that. kinda like watching clouds in the sky and how they change every second
I love the mixed media version. It seems as if the evil in the universe is generating Cthulu and his madness.
Thank you for posting to The Surreal Circus. You are now featured.
thanks ann
thanks everyone.
You have the eyes of faces down beautifully, C C , and I love the overall effect, but you did ask for feed back........ The creatures eyes almost look benign, not overpowering or evil at all. Wanna borrow my albino ferrets eyes,lol? they are red and strange and scarey! :)
the feedback part was about halfway through the project. Cthuhlu is a creature of chaos and madness, which can also come in a benign form as you never know what will push someone over the edge. some of the scariest looking people i know tend to be the biggest pussycats while some of the most normal looking ones tend to be the most evil. i chose to let the forces surrounding him in his wings convey the madness and chaos that his presence causes.
That makes sense, CC. My ferrets eyes look very scarey but he is the sweetest thing
Your Cthulhu still gives me the urge to imitate art... as in Edvard Munch's The Scream. I want to cover my ears and scream in terror.
*shivers*
I like it, but you really should take the time to read a bit of Howard Phillips Lovecraft's work. I suggest starting with In the Vault (one of my favorites).
i will check into that
C.C. ~ As you KNOW, I admire ALL of your artworks. This is an AWESOME piece to put it mildly. This is also a reflective work that will take one into the depths (for sure). The KEY is to ASCEND from wherein it takes you.
I like it a lot. ~ TEN, and this is FEATURED in Artistic Minds®...
REMEMBERING that YOU were one of the FIRST ARTISTS to join us over here ~ HUGS to you C.C.
thanks Rene
HUGS CC ~ Your works are WORTHY of PRAISE . . . and plenty of FEATURES too! ~ L O L.
Marvelous CC
I hope this isn't one of the paintings you were stiffed on.
it was the other Cthulhu piece that i was stiffed on. i have it back in my possession though and i'm hanging it for sale tomorrow night.
Honestly I like the primary work as is. IMHO. The stars on the mixed media version look like someone tried to stress you out by distressing your painting. Something no one should ever do to you or one of your paintings. I put a lot of effort into making stars for my space scapes, so I'm jaded about this. I still don't think I have them just right and I reference as many space photos as I can. So, take my opinion or don't, it is your story after all.
most of those stars were put in with paint. i went back in and added a few more and some filters, but only about 30 were put in with photoshop. the other 400 were by paint brush. the photo came out slightly blurry due to my shaky hands which might be what's giving that distressed look to you.
Very lurking fear. Cthuhlu is not a subject to be taken on lightly.
i love it!
10 from me
...an all encompassing lurky-ness...though form-able... as though Cthuhlu could mold it's presence however chosen.
Highly disturbing. My family would welcome your work into our home with great joy.
Wow, that's really cool! I love it! Adding the stars really gave it another dimension to its creepiness! Very nice painting!
I like the addition of the stars. Stuff like that scares me though and I would not purchase because of my fear. It's a big step for me just to look close and compare the two versions.
It's a wonderful piece of art CC, I can see that:)
I love the mixed media painting...so many eyes...
CC: Wow. It is not just the eyes that move one. It is the brow line or nose, or evil grin. Muah-ha-ha-ah! So much fearfulness "lurking." The first one was stunning, and I'd love to stare at it (from the comfort of my bed; blankets pulled up to my chin, and feet tucked in.) The red to grey-black strikes me as more of a "christian hell" inner earth place.
The second one was also freakin stunning--in a different way--as the "universe" of evil.
And I do not hesitate to send Myriad Blessings your way...as a counterweight--or, rather as a palate cleansing...
Love it.
Wilka
An instrumental, it was inspired by the story The Call Of Cthulhu by H.P. Lovecraft. The author is a big influence on Metallica. His work also inspired their song "Thing That Should Not Be."
In the book, the story says that mentioning the name Cthulhu (Verbally or written) will bring him closer. That's why Metallica used the name "Ktulu" and not "Cthulhu" - for fear of the beast. (thanks, diego - Panama)
Written by James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Cliff Burton and original Metallica guitarist Dave Mustaine.
Metallica recorded this with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra for their 1999 album S&M. That version won a Grammy for best rock instrumental.
The working title for the song was "When Hell Freezes Over." (thanks, Nick - Paramus, NJ, for all above)
There is a bass solo buried in the mix starting at about 1:28, but with some EQ adjustments, you can bring the solo out a little more. (thanks, Justin - Rio Dell, CA)
Yes, i am quite familiar with those songs. did not know that was why they changed the spelling of the name though.