Mr. Octopus Goes to the Theatre
This is my collaboration with @Everlove's photo "Expansion"
Here is the original photo:
To me, I saw two spotlights crossing each other, like they often do onstage at the theatre. I used to work in theatre, as a scenic artist. But, way back in college in the early 90's, when I attended Santa Barbara City College and studied technical theatre, I worked backstage on many shows. And, for some of the shows I operated one of the spotlights (follow spots).
I also noticed in the photo - what sort of looked like octopus tentacles reaching towards the stage (at the bottom).
I created a watercolor painting depicting this scene...
But who should be onstage?
I decided to put this little ballerina that was part of the logo for my first small business I tried to start in the late 90's (that business never really got started, unfortunately).
I drew the ballerina, and my mom put the logo together for me (she was a graphic artist). "Munchkin Theatres" was a business I was trying to start with my ex-husband. I had designed a mini, portable theatre - for children to pretend/play-act. I was hoping to build several and sell them, or rent them for parties. But, unfortunately the prototype that was built had a major design flaw. The way I had designed the different scenery backdrop panels to slide into the structure - could've pinched kid's fingers, or their parent's. I never quite got around to re-designing it. I still have my little miniature model of it that I built, though. But, the prototype is no longer in existence.
Anyway, I figured the little ballerina was perfect here! I had to fix it up a little - I only had an old copy of the image.
I put it all together, recolored things a bit, and here you go!
At first I imagined the octopus was somewhat ominous, and was about to snatch the ballerina off the stage. But, as I painted him, he let me know that he was a friendly octopus, and was just there to see the show. (phew!)