Dienstag, 4. Juni 2013

IF - Sweet

This is the final illustration for my book of the fairy tale 'The Golden Hero Dragan'. In this scene the hero gets to marry the princess after the usual hardships he has to overcome to prove his being smart and courageous.

I always wanted to do a still life, even during my art studies. Though at the time it was the last thing to do because then 'Die Jungen Wilden' where the hottest thing. So we were not to learn any techniques but rather be inspired on our own (like the true artist...) and then learn the method required for the relevant project. So I missed a solid education in different art techniques. It also meant that my visits of the still life branch of the museum had to be done secretly in hope of not being detected. But I so admired how the ancient masters did fruit, especially grapes, plums and peaches. How could they convey the exact feelings of the different surfaces and the light?
I am still amazed at their skills. They may not have been innovative but it shows their love for the painted subject. I always feel the same when I am drawing (or should I rather say painting?): there can't be any ugly or inferior item. As soon as I get intimate with all the details, I begin to see it's beauty. It's almost like falling in love. Of course it requires a lot of time and effort and is not considered very much like art, rather like some craft or as a lector recently asked 'Don't you have anymore artlike stuff in your portfolio?' Uggh!

Sonntag, 5. Mai 2013

IF - Tribute


Much to my regret I learned that Penelope Dullaghan is not attending to Illustration Friday any more. I think she did a great job in launching this blog and thereby giving us all the opportunity to have fun in illustrating an issue every week. I especially enjoyed the quotations she gave along with them in her newsletter. Through posting and following other entries I also met some very interesting people I would be very sad to have missed. Knowing Thomas James from past times of Escape From Illustration Island (which was another favourite of mine) I am sure he will give this blog as much inspiration as Penelope before.

As a tribute to Penelope I experimented with this illustration. The rose itself was done for a Valentines's card some time ago. I have now added a texture as the 'pure' rose seemed somewhat 'naked' to me. As I have never worked with textures before, I am still in the process of learning how much is appropriate.

Freitag, 3. Mai 2013

IF - Farewell


This time I think the illustration says it all, there is no need to add any elaborate written add-on.
Suffice it to say: Farewell to you, my illustrations and may you be welcomed warmly to the world of books.

Freitag, 19. April 2013

IF _ Wild

This is not yet the finished illustration, it will follow later in the day.

Montag, 1. April 2013

IF - egg

This egg comes as a surprise: whenever one has cracked, another is appearing inside. Will the purple one be the last?
I have always been intrigued by Russian matryoshka dolls, so I simply had to make my Easter egg working after the same principle.

I also made some yummy Easter cookies including egg-shaped ones, which you can see here:
Everything just had to be some shade of green to at least feel a touch of spring inside the house because guess what I saw when I raised my shutters on Saturday?

That's a view you'd expect on Christmas, not on Easter. I hope that at least some of you have enjoyed a more spring-like Easter.



Sonntag, 24. März 2013

IF - Swim

This lazy little gnome is sort of a double feature as he enjoys swimming in a bubble while also wearing eye glasses.

On second thought I added some more colour to the water.
Which do you prefer?

I love garden gnomes (Though NOT in the garden!) and have already added one to an illustration for 'Heimat' (the English 'home' is not exactly the same) as it is one of many kitsch items representing Heimat for me.You can see it here:
On researching garden gnomes I stumbled upon this hilarious book: How to Survive a Garden Gnome Attack



Samstag, 9. März 2013

IF - yesterday

Yesterday this ruin might have been inhabited by knights and kings (who knows?). At closer inspection it is today's new home for flora and fauna.

Can you find the animals below?