Jessica Shirley

[monthofloveart]

Lost Reception — Jessica Shirley “A mighty pain to love it is, And ‘tis a pain that pain to miss; But of all pains, the greatest pain It is to love, but love in vain.” —Abraham Crowley

9x12” gouache on watercolor paper 

[monthofloveart]

Reticence — Jessica Shirley

I was inspired by the fairytale of the Six Swans. There are actually several tales about a family of brothers being turned into birds by a curse. The youngest, a sister, decides to break the curse. In the six swans, she must remain silent for the duration of time it takes to spin, weave, and sew a shirt made of stinging nettles for each. (fun fact: nettle fabric is a real thing, not unlike flax or other plant based fibers!) you’ll have to look up the story if you don’t know it. The love she had for her brothers must have been strong to keep her dedicated to her task through all the trials she experienced to complete her task. The wings I painted are not the wings of swans, obviously, so this is a loose interpretation.  

12x16” gouache on watercolor paper 

[jessicashirleyart]

2019 “painful beauty” #art #painting #watercolor #gouache #peony https://www.instagram.com/p/CCWU_pIDXk8/?igshid=961csf487qj6

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2018 #flashblind #deerintheheadlights #art #sketchbook #graphite https://www.instagram.com/p/CB0zejkj1-Q/?igshid=vx9wxa7690mm

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This manly pink. #art #gouache #painting #knight #armor #pink https://www.instagram.com/p/CBzD3HuD4YL/?igshid=143tm9l7mpqtn

[jessicashirleyart]

Finished this #watercolor last month. I kinda want that #barrelchair for reals though. #inamood #yellowchair #blackhair #bluedress https://www.instagram.com/p/CBzCeT-js25/?igshid=1vddzq3i5ego4

[jessicashirleyart]

I just finished this lady a week ago #art #blue #girl #gouache #painting https://www.instagram.com/p/CAGC-OKD7up/?igshid=14c9qow6jxszz

[jessicashirleyart]

2018 #ink #art https://www.instagram.com/p/B_EGpQpDfhf/?igshid=2qo6avtbh2jc

[jessicashirleyart]

2018 #art #painting #knight #dragon #mask #armor https://www.instagram.com/p/B--Bm2yDnDq/?igshid=ki0g4ffljmu2

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2015 #mother #hands #selfportrait https://www.instagram.com/p/B-45gJADjJW/?igshid=19llfff9gnjlq

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2016 #wings https://www.instagram.com/p/B-sJHt9jMug/?igshid=122h7jq9oetxt

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2017 #ink #art #giant #storm #cloud https://www.instagram.com/p/B-mzTWdDPFj/?igshid=19r22g2y7s33h

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2018 #art #painting #woods #carvedhearts #reddress #littlebird #littlebirdtoldme #ribbon #secrets https://www.instagram.com/p/B-icQo4jo5N/?igshid=rgix6ncpbhdx

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2018 #painting #art #raptor https://www.instagram.com/p/B-fb2sEjrPD/?igshid=1sc5s2iyh5674

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2018 #ink #art #fire #burn #footprints #charred #smoke https://www.instagram.com/p/B-fO3JnDNY6/?igshid=29vrv6e7thlt

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2017 #ink #art #horse #rider #horseman https://www.instagram.com/p/B-d3PB-j30g/?igshid=o90038z1vtx5

[jessicashirleyart]

2018 time will decay #art #painting #carousel #horse #circus #skeleton #fullmoon https://www.instagram.com/p/B-dO4YRDE4K/?igshid=1tzwasajvn5my