The Legend of "Red Eye" | "Talent Tuesdays" in FreeCompliments Community

Hello everyone. I'm here again to share another project for "Talent Tuesdays". My current project whose theme consists of a mixed media art design that depicts a journey undertaken by an inquisitive group of men.

In the far distance beyond the mountain, the apparition hovered in the skyline. Paradise. At least that was the legend whispered by elders who'd ventured there in the centuries before. Only a handful returned. Of those who survived, only two could recall the details of the journey.

The perils foretold faded into the parchment. Paradise, as described by Horatio's scribbled words that documented the journey, burst forth and captured the imagination of the young and old.

The journey was reshaped and spun until every young male on the cusp of manhood held a burning desire to experience the ecstasy described in one elder's memoir.

Why not? One hundred twenty years was their maximum life expanse.The opportunity to extend it into the unknown was intoxicating. If only it were true.

The town dared not utter its name. Those who did whispered it as eyes sought to lock on to others, then nod. The phenomenon was known as "Red Eye".

Horatio, a youth of forty-five couldn't understand why. Only part of the take was revealed. It would upset the natural order of life as they knew it. But Horatio was determined.

He befriended the elder. It took months before the man revealed the secret of Red Eye. Could it be true? Horatio gasped as he held back his excitement.

But with the secret came a warning. Believe before you set out to seek Red Eye, and it shall be bestowed upon you. Otherwise, your journey will be in vain, the elder explained.

"Is that why only a handful returned," Horatio queried, excitement building.

The elder stared at Horatio, then glanced out the window toward the mountain.

Horatio shared what the elder told. His small group of friends doubted the old man's words. Still, he and five others set out to discover the missing piece.

They slowed to check their supply pack. They kept close as the journey measured forty miles. Reach the forbidden territory beyond the mountain known as "Red Eye" was their purpose.

Fantasy or not, they were determined in their efforts to touch the Red Eye and collect the blessing that would be bestowed upon them for everlasting youth.

Only Horatio returned.

In designing my mixed media art project, I utilized a female to depict the "Red Eye" fantasy and giver of eternal youth. The accompanying images I hoped would enhance my theme of a journey to find this phenomenon.

Images for various elements I retrieved from two stable diffusion programs, StarryAI, Nvidia and WomboDream.

To blend elements, I utilized Canva, my design program. Below are my steps in which I added layers of elements, removing backgrounds, resizing, duplicating, colorizing, and repositioning items as needed.

• To a blank, white canvas, I added the couch image. This provided a partial background;
• Added the landscape white mountain and flower image;
• Added the female and positioned her on the couch; then added the eye to cover her face;
• Added the flower images to the background wall and on the landscape;
• Added the men walking; removed background and duplicated.

^{Mountain landscape ~ FlowersInCave-Canvas-TreesSurroundBeautiful-Oasis-Gaugan2 ~ Eye_Of_The_Flower_TradingCard ~ Woman in maroon dress sitting ~ Chair, room, curtains ~ Doll with purple hair ~ Alien Ornament - Contributed to the #LIL by @eve66 ~ Angel - Contributed to the #LIL by @eve66 ~ Pure Fractal titled "Veil - Multicolored ~ Decorated eye ~ Brown flower ~ Crystal blue flower ~ Men walking in dystopia]()}