Melancholia by Rhunyc on Newgrounds

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Melancholia

HERE'S A TIMELAPSE OF IT:
https://youtu.be/ZWMCDYIhJd0

I'm calling this "Melancholia" taken from the title of a song I listened to on repeat while making this weird piece. Here's an explanation as to what inspired this piece.. It's all emotion-y and stuff so forgive me.

"Sometimes the ones who try to help hurt the most."

I heard those lyrics in a song the other day and didn't really get it completely, then I understood today. I really wanted to help someone out, and I tried to. I didn't realize until later, when it clicked, that I felt as though I wasn't helping at all, and instead I sort of made it worse in my mind.. And once you cross this line in your head and become aware of it, it sort of dawns on you that maybe you need to step away, because trying further will only continue the awfulness.. I can try to apologize, but apologizing seems to make things worse, because the anxiety kicks in and I can't tell if the other person thinks my apology is sincere or some round-a-bout way of shifting the tables in some way. And I can't mention I'm stepping away, because that too would cause additional strain on the current situation, afraid that it would be seen as a cue for apologies or remorse of some kind..

Then I step away.. And a whirlwind of weird emotions hit me all at once. Anxiety ridden emotions, of course, that seem to pull me in really weird directions that have nothing to do with the original destination I had in mind. It kind of broke me down a little. All of the outputs of the emotions I experienced sort of tugged at me a little too hard.. What if my sudden lack of communication is viewed as a hostile take-a-way? Or what if they begin to worry.. All I want is their health, but I'm too afraid to continue trying... All I can do is give it time, without words, to hope my absence will allow some form of respite that I was seemingly blockading prior. What if this is too much for me to handle and I break down emotionally?

Thankfully, I managed to bounce back from this, with the help of art and throwing shit onto a blank canvas while zoning out to tunes. I'm learning... damn it. But this was very therapeutic for me and I feel all better now.

And I'm very sorry, honestly.

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VicariousE

2015-12-20 02:17:09

Don't need a blacklight for this image! This might make a good poster!

shadowentity97

2015-12-19 17:18:25

You're doing a really good job!

etriuswimbleton

2015-12-19 05:42:24

Not the original dark somber skull I was expecting. Great job! Very authentic.

Big-Boss

2015-12-19 01:52:54

To start this off, I really like the colors you used. I think all the colors blend in well, but he green and pink blend together the best.

Next, the only color running down the skull's face that looks good is the red. I think that is the only color you should've had running down the skull's face, since it's the only color that would make any sense. Then it would look like the skull was bleeding and then it would have all of the rest of the colors coming out of the back of it's head, making it just look cooler and unusual. Strongly opinionated, I know, but just a suggestion.

Something I don't think a lot of people who view this will notice is all of the little details in the skull and the background. Very good job on that, but it's too bad that most of the people who view this probably won't notice that.

In conclusion, I do think this is a pretty cool painting, if a little messy.

P.S. I read your Author's Comments and I'm glad that making this painting made you feel better. I understand how you feel, when you're trying to help someone out, but you feel like you maybe made it worse. It sucks, but my advice to you is to find out for sure whether your advice to the person you were trying to help out really helped them or not. If it did, great! But if not, helping someone doesn't always work because sometimes people can only solve their problems on their own. Just remember that and hopefully, you didn't damage your relationship with that person. If you did, just say that you were only trying to help and I'm sure they'll understand. :)

Rhunyc responds:

Thank you for the lengthy review and the advice! It's definitely appreciated.

As for the colors on the skull, the reason why I included all of them, was mainly for funsies. The logic behind it was that each color represents a different sort of emotion/idea, and I wanted all of them to be bleeding out.. But I do see what you're saying. I just kind of got carried away with the colors at the end. As I made the timelapse, I rewatched the process of it and realized I could have stopped with the colors when I first introduced them.. But oh well. :P

Maybe I'll come back to this shortly and re-work it. :)

smilley696

2015-12-18 21:19:54

OMFG SO COOL!!!!!! :)

Rhunyc responds:

Thank you. :)