Grief - Depression - 11"x14" Framed Ink and Mixed Media on Sketch Paper

Introducing my newest baby, Shade Noir. Shade is a puppet who has no control over her life, her choices. She has big unblinking eyes that see all, yet no mouth so that she can have no say. It's no secret that Misery Black is a reflection of me. But, like most of us, there are many sides to my personality. Misery is, contrary to what her name suggests, a reflection of my optimism. She is my hope, love, confidence. Shade is the opposite - she is the "shade" or shadow self of Misery - of me. She represents my fear, sadness, powerlessness. Shade may not have a mouth, but she is certainly my voice.

Misery is usually the optimist and Shade is the victim. In a reversal, the optimism of Misery has been crushed and she doesn't know what to do with all of that, so she sits alone in the pit of depression. Shade, who has only known adversity, reaches out with her braids and even her strings in order to help. But surrounded by darkness and neverending noise of the world in pain, Misery can only withdraw and ask, "What good is a lifeline when you lack the strength to grab it..."

I didn't create much after the pandemic started. As the pandemic dragged on, it seemed as though the world was falling apart (TBH, it is still falling apart. It didn't stop just because we decided we were over the pandemic.) Every day it seemed like there was another tragedy, another scandel. Distrust, anxiety and fear was a cacophony. It seemed to be eveywhere, inescapable, palapable - but, then again, we were still in lockdown. Loneliness and depression are BFFs. Spending more time alone gave me time to work. But I still couldn't. Instead, I was sketching and journaling. All of it private and personal, raw and messy. I was struggling with fear and lonliness. But every time I heard, "Reach out if you're lonely." "Talk to someone"....blah blah blah....I just wanted to scream! That's not how depression works for most of us. Depression is insidious and jealous - it wants you all to itself. This is a page ripped directly from my sketchbook, not changed or embellished - raw and real. It is mounted with thumbtacks on crumpled craft paper with ink splotches, reflecting the numbness that came in waves. Who cares anyway? The handmade frame is painted black and decoupaged newspaper reflecting the battle between the overwhelming darkness and the noise of all the reasons that the world was on fire.

Original ink on sketch paper tacked to craft paper. Handmade frame is 11"x14" painted wood and decoupaged newspaper clippings, wired and ready for hanging.

Please understand that colors may vary slightly from what appears on your monitor.

"Shade Noir" copyright 2019 Georgie Pratt. All rights reserved.

"Misery Black" copyright 2015 Georgie Pratt. All rights reserved.