Ground Control to Major Tom – Out of this world artwork!

Ground Control to Major Tom, Copyright by Nikki Smith, All Rights Reserved. (Fine art prints here.)
Responsible pinning and social sharing with credit and a link appreciated.

"Ground Control to Major Tom" is a digital painting created stroke by stroke by Nikki Smith. This piece was inspired by the song "Space Oddity" by David Bowie, recently recorded *in space* by astronaut Chris Hadfield on the International Space Station in a captivating video:

(Thanks, NASA, for the reference photos!)

I love the lyrics of the song, too:

"Ground control to major Tom
Ground control to major Tom
Take your protein pills and put your helmet on
(Ten) Ground control (Nine) to major Tom (Eight)
(Seven, six) Commencing countdown (Five), engines on (Four)
(Three, two) Check ignition (One) and may gods (Blastoff) love be with you

This is ground control to major Tom, you've really made the grade
And the papers want to know whose shirts you wear
Now it's time to leave the capsule if you dare

This is major Tom to ground control, I'm stepping through the door
And I'm floating in a most peculiar way
And the stars look very different today
Here am I sitting in a tin can far above the world
Planet Earth is blue and there's nothing I can do

Though I'm past one hundred thousand miles, I'm feeling very still
And I think my spaceship knows which way to go
Tell my wife I love her very much, she knows
Ground control to major Tom, your circuits dead, there's something wrong
Can you hear me, major Tom?
Can you hear me, major Tom?
Can you hear me, major Tom?
Can you...
Here am I sitting in my tin can far above the Moon
Planet Earth is blue and there's nothing I can do"

(Lyrics by David Bowie)

After a recent trip to NASA with the kiddos I discovered that I hadn't yet shared this artwork on my blog. Shame on me! NASA was a great experience for our kids, who especially loved the "Angry Birds In Space" area. Way to make learning fun, NASA! Here is one of my little astronauts now: