Work in Progress - 'Alice and the Flowers' Part 3

Slow and steady. I've completed almost half of the painting now!

She Certainly Seems Up To Something...

I managed to paint up this very sly looking lass a few days ago.

Work in Progress - 'Alice and the Flowers' Part 2

And the larkspurs have been added. Now I'm hard at work on the English Violets. I'm also getting a few small pieces done in between (it's much easier to work on a small piece while the kids are tearing up the house, so these have been coming out during the day and my Alice painting only comes out while the house slumbers peacefully).

Work in Progress - 'Alice and the Flowers'

Slowly but steadily working on my newest illustration for 'Alice and the Flowers'. Here I've painted in the pansies. Two are quite happy and even a bit amused by Alice, but one has had enough I think. Perhaps the larkspur will be next.

'Alice and the Flowers' ~ Watercolor Illustration

Here's the sketch for my latest illustration attempt. Last year I completed a triptych commission for a wonderful lady based on Alice in Wonderland meeting the flowers. I thought it would make a great piece for my illustration portfolio, but unfortunately the layout of the original (over 3 gallery-wrapped canvas and on music sheets) wasn't ideal for that purpose. Here I've reworked the entire piece in pencil on watercolor paper, changing the entire layout to fit each of the images together seamlessly. I'll be adding color soon!

Illustrating Away...

You may have noticed that my Etsy shop is sleeping away. This is because I'm working hard on my illustration portfolio. I am nervous, I am scared, but I am also determined. I want nothing more than to illustrate children's books. And so I'm sketching away, and fiddling with watercolors, and basically trying my best to leap over the doubts that are raging through my head. Here's the first illustration I'm doing just for the sake of working on my techniques. I started it early this year and finally got up the nerve to finish it. More to come!

'Time Has Brought Your Heart to Me' ~ Acrylic Painting

This painting is based on a line from another Christina Perri song, 'A Thousand Years'. It took quite a bit of sketching and trying out new techniques before I was able to get it just right. It is also only the second painting I've completed with a man in it! It measures a huge (for me) 16x20 on a gallery wrapped canvas. As in 'Jar of Hearts' I used paint soaked antique lace to add texture to the background.

'Jar of Hearts' - Acrylic Painting

I've been really touched emotionally by some amazing songs lately, and so inspired that I'm starting a new series of paintings based on them. The first has been eating at me for weeks, and I've finally managed to bring her to life. This piece is called 'Jar of Hearts', based on the Christina Perri song of the same name. That particular song is so powerful, with amazing, deep emotions. I couldn't help but be inspired by it. It is a 16x20 acrylic painting done on gallery-wrapped canvas. The background has been worked in whites and grays, and textured using paint soaked antique lace.

'Melody Joy' and 'Butterfly Kisses'

Inspired by a sketch I did several months back in my sketchbook, I recently painted a commission for a very sweet friend, a gift for a beautiful baby girl for her baptism. 'Melody Joy' ~ 5x7 acrylics on antique music sheet circa 1890's and canvas board

And now that I'm working in watercolors again I wanted to see if I could get the image down on watercolor paper as well, with some changes so it reflected my vision for the original sketch more closely. This is the result: 'Butterfly Kisses' ~ 5x7 pencil and watercolors on 140 lb. cold pressed watercolor paper

Beginning Illustration for 2012

As part of my New Year's resolution I have made a promise to myself to work on my illustration skills. Illustrating children's books has been such a dream of mine in recent years, and I would so love to enter this field of work. Here is my first attempt (obviously a work in progress):

I didn't base it off of any story, I just wanted to convey a sense of story with the painting initially. I had forgotten how much I enjoy watercolors.