Ophelias.
Ophelias. from Linda Savini
Ophelias.

Talking of inspiration, I can't avoid mentioning the Shakespearean character of Ophelia.
Giving herself death struggling for love, I believe Ophelia truly embodies a lot of features which are typical of that complicated and introspective women's universe. Being particularly interested in the representation of women, this character used to give me inspiration for several artworks.
This is the first version of her I've painted. 
There is a tight connection between the element of water and the "female", related to archaic concepts of fertility and prosperity.
Hence I mostly like to catch and depict the ethereal moment of her death in water.
That is also probably the reason why watercolour painting is the technique i prefer. There is something fascinating in the flowing movement of the brush driving the water to create something magical.

"Ophelia.1".  Watercolour on paper "There is a willow grows aslant a brook,  That shows his hoar leaves in the glassy stream;  There with fantastic garlands did she come  Of crow-flowers, nettles, daisies, and long purples  That liberal shepherds give a grosser name,  But our cold maids do dead men's fingers call them:  There, on the pendent boughs her coronet weeds  Clambering to hang, an envious sliver broke;  When down her weedy trophies and herself  Fell in the weeping brook. Her clothes spread wide;  And, mermaid-like, awhile they bore her up: Which time she chanted snatches of old tunes;  As one incapable of her own distress,  Or like a creature native and indued  Unto that element: but long it could not be  Till that her garments, heavy with their drink,   Pull'd the poor wretch from her melodious lay  To muddy death."                            (W. Shakespeare - Hamlet, Act IV)
"Rest in peace , Ophelia." -Watercolour on paper
steps.
"Tiny Ophelia". watercolour on paper Sketch and final result
attempt to add symbolist/abstract influences portraying Ophelia. from my sketchbook. Watercolour on paper
"Drowning ophelia"; watercolour on paper.
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Ophelias.

Talking of inspiration, I can't avoid mentioning the Shakespearean character of Ophelia.
Giving herself death struggling for love, I believe Ophelia truly embodies a lot of features which are typical of that complicated and introspective women's universe. Being particularly interested in the representation of women, this character used to give me inspiration for several artworks.
This is the first version of her I've painted. 
There is a tight connection between the element of water and the "female", related to archaic concepts of fertility and prosperity.
Hence I mostly like to catch and depict the ethereal moment of her death in water.
That is also probably the reason why watercolour painting is the technique i prefer. There is something fascinating in the flowing movement of the brush driving the water to create something magical.

Linda Savini
London, United Kingdom