This post is about my last spot illustration for The Princess Frog but in turn it’s also about how much I am changing as an artist. It’s only been a month but I am truly enjoying Carla’s Fairytale class and I feel like I am starting to develop a style of my own. Sometimes it just falls out onto the paper when you draw enough. This may change with our next assignment of sketching 100 flora and fauna!
I am so glad this class is a year long because that means that I will be constantly doing something creative. It makes it easier to keep ‘doing’ when others are ‘doing’ too, if you know what I mean. This group is incredible and so full of wonderful and encouraging words, plus constructive criticism when asked (that is so very important). The creations are inspiring and amazing.
It took a long time for me to finish this illustration as I had sketched it in many ways and then once I had it on watercolour paper it kept changing in my mind. I hadn’t quite figured out how I wanted to go about the background and what techniques to use. So instead of zooming ahead and just getting it done I would put the drawing away then take it out from time to time to see what I saw, meaning that I could visualize a moon over there, stars in the sky, a dark background. Things like that.
In the end it all came together and I am totally, totally digging’ the masking fluid!
The fluid comes off with a kneading eraser quite easily once you are ready. I didn’t soap up my brush this time before using the fluid and now that brush is not so good but at least I used a ‘not so good’ brush to begin with!
I am learning to slow down and reflect on my work. I am so used to having such a busy day that my art has been started and finished in one sitting so that I felt as though I was accomplishing something. But now, I have a bit more time (working less hours at night), and don’t feel so rushed. This is another reason why my work is changing and I am so thrilled about that. So fun to ‘work’ doing something you love – I’m just not getting paid for it (yet)! Haha!
“Oh, dear Tsarevitch, what hast thou done? There was but a short time left for me to wear the ugly frogskin. The moment was near when we could have been happy together forever. Now I must bid thee goodbye. Look for me in a far-away country to which no one knows the roads, at the palace of Kostshei the Deathless.” Then Vassilissa turned into a white swan and flew away through the window.
Oh wow I love it! And I really love hearing all this behind-the-scenes thinking and doing behind creating art – as a non-artist! Too cool!
Thanks, Charmaine! 🙂 I love to learn how other artists get to the finished piece – I learn so much!
Wow, love it! Your process is so interesting and I love hearing about it. So happy you are finding time to do things you love.
Thanks, Kim! It’s bits of time here and there but they don’t seem as rushed as they used to so more enjoyable. Also, I find the more I do it the easier it is to find 15 minutes here and there.
Oh, Tam!
This is lovely!
So much to love here!
Especially love to “hear” the excitement in your voice about creating your art!
<3
xx
Yes, it’s so wonderful to be back to making art. I feel like a kid again! <3
very unusual! i love this drawing
Thanks, Joyce! 🙂
This is so fabulous! The princess is both whimsical, and somehow a little eerie. I love how every inch of space has something to say in your work. It’s so thoughtful, and you manage to make something very intricate look simple. Unbelievably impressed over here! <3
Oh wow, Melanie, thank you. I can tell you’ve really had a good look at the piece. I used to see art and wish I could draw characters looking so simple, but then I realized they aren’t simple, they just look that way at first glance. I am falling in love with this style.
And yes, I find her a bit eerie as well. You would notice this! 😉 <3