Peacock Princess

 The ‘peacock princess’ is a minor character from a book I tried to write a few years back. I might pick up the story again at some point, but no promises. Her green over skirt with its lace detail is supposed to reference a peacock’s tail, which is also why the underskirt is blue.

This illustration is actually the work of several years.

I made the original sketch a few years ago. I don’t know how long exactly, because it was before I started recording dates on my work. I think that at the time I thought it gave them a 'timeless’ quality?

Anyway, I scanned it into the computer, enlarged it, lightened the lines, and printed it to 'clean up’ the lace pattern in ink. At some point after this, I coloured the ball gown and the lady wearing it, and then left the picture in a drawer and forgot about it until I found it a couple of months ago.

When I found it, I realized her legs were out of proportion for a standing figure, so I put her in a chair. Then I decided she should be reaching for something, since she wasn’t curtsying, and added the side table and book.

That made the other side of the picture look empty, so I sketched the fireplace and the joint of the wall and floor - and then decided to go whole-hog and put a bookshelf recessed into the wall behind her, framed in wrought iron.

I’m pleased with the overall look, particularly with how the books, marble bookends, and geodes turned out. I think that not inking the books’ outlines helps them recede into the background, in contrast to the chair, the table and book on it, the brickwork inlaid in front of the fireplace, and the fire grille.

Colours are a combination of pencil crayon, brush pen, and coloured pen. The princess was inked in a standard blue ballpoint pen; if I were to ink this image again, I would probably keep that for her dress, flower, and jewellery, but change pens for outlining her skin and hair. On the other hand, it does make her the unquestionable focus point of the image.

Here is the original sketch, for comparison:

(This post has been cross-posted [link] on my tumblr account.)

Turtle Clothes

I think the turtle itself would also look good as an emblem on a t-shirt.

Angel Feeder

Please enjoy this pencil sketch of a cafe for angels that also functions as a bird feeder.

A friend of mine is somewhat fixated on winged figures at the moment. A while ago, we were socializing and decided to each draw a picture with an 'angel' theme. I made this and she made, if I recall accurately, a dramatic image of an angel on a cliff overlooking a high-tech city.

I think we both did pretty well. I used a plate and a ruler for the 'bowl' edges, but otherwise this was entirely freehand.

'Drawn freehand' does not mean 'free to use'. As the sticker states, this is a copyrighted image. If you would like to use it for something, contact me and we will negotiate.

Colour Compositions

Thank you for bearing with me and being patient while I sort out my new image editing software. There may be only one post a week for a while. (Sorry - it took just over four months, but I did indeed break my New Year's Resolution.)

I do still have several princess overalls to share, but for now, please enjoy these angels.

Here's how colour composition, commonly called 'colour comps', works: once you have a drawing you like, you make a few copies of it in a smaller size. Then you colour each version in a different way. You take your favourite colours and features and combine them into a single image. If you like it, that will be how you colour the final version; if you don't care for it, try again.

Valentine's Day Card

Here's in Ontario, we're looking at a whole five days' worth of culturally significant dates. First there's Friday the 13th, then Valentine's Day, then Flag Day, then Family Day, and then Mardi Gras. I shall be celebrating with cupcakes.

Business Cards

Happy Groundhog Day! I've never seen that movie, but I hear it's funny.

I thought I would take a break from the flower tutorials to do an opinion poll. I've designed a business card for myself, to distribute at craft fairs and conventions, but I can't decide on a colour scheme. If people could let me know their top three selections from the following options, it would help me a lot.

To vote, comment as follows: 1) [your favourite combination of text colour and background colour], 2) [your second favourite combination text colour and background colour], 3) [your third favourite combination of text colour and background colour].

You can just pick the one you like best, but I'm thinking I might get more than one colour combination printed, so a 'top three' selection format was more appropriate.

Voting will stay open until whenever it is I decide to get my first official batch of business cards printed! (Contact information will be on the back of the cards. I don't like the idea of giving out my phone number over the Internet.)

Snakeskin Bracelet

One of the greatest things about Shrinky Dinks is that the designs look a lot more intricate once they've been shrunk.

Handprint Reindeer

This craft might keep someone entertained for a few minutes ... or it might not. Especially if those few minutes are a delay while waiting to open presents. Good luck.
This picture is related to the 'Handprint Menagerie' I posted in October.

Gift Wrapping

It's a bit late for Hannukah and just barely in time for Christmas, but here it is.
Also, a funny note about the making of this blog post: I almost titled it 'Gift Warping'. That would have been something completely different!

Getting Carded

I assume everyone who's ever heard of cards understands the basic principle of folding paper in half and writing on it, but here are a few more suggestions to help ... refine your technique.

Handprint Turkey and Menagerie

Keywords: turkey, Thanksgiving (North American holiday Canada celebrates in October and U.S.A. in November), handprint, trace, outline, draw, colour, paint, peacock, elephant, jellyfish, tortoise commonly mistaken for turtle, running rabbit, bunny face, roaring lion, beehive (fun fact: also known as apiary), blue penguin, owl, arts and craft activity, for kids, those mature enough to appreciate childish activities, menagerie, zoo, animals.
You can also draw various flowers this way; I will probably share sketches of these at some point.