I dreamt #2

It feels so good to have time to sketch again. I made this drawing as part of the I dreamt series.  In the beginning of the year I mentioned I want to draw excerpts from dreams more often.  I haven't been dreaming enough it seems.  Will have to make more time for that. :)

New Book published: The Bridge

During August The Bridge picture book was published and distributed across Mozambique.  I have been so busy that I haven't had time to blog about it.  It is very exciting since the work is translated and will be published as a English, Portuguese & Shona version.  Literacy and to be able to read, is a wonderful privilege.  It enriches one's life so much.  I am glad I can be part of this literacy project and my illustrations help make the story come alive for them.

The published books will be printed in black and white (standard A5 size), but I also created a colour version of the illustrations to be printed as large print A3 size picture books to function as class aids.

Below are some of my illustrations in the book:

I dreamt

Hallo dear friends,

I read Aidan Koch's Blonde Woman recently & was intrigued with the idea of non-sequential graphic pages, where the focus of the page is an emotive one rather than a sequential narrative per se.  I drew this page in mixed media and would possibly like to expand it into a series: 'I Dreamt'.  We'll see what happens.  The experience was very positive.  I realised when I didn't have to focus so much on story, I could play more with space and quite naturally the gutters disappeared and 'scenes' flowed into eachother.

 For this page, I experimented with mixed media (graphite, gouache and coloured pencil).  I really liked the sensitivity of marks and colour one could achieve with the pencils.  But the coloured pencil doesn't scan that well - lots of colour and texture detail gets lost in the process.  And some areas appear 'white-out', which is a bit disappointing.  But that is part of the 'reproductive process' right?


Take care & have a lovely week
xoxo
E

I dreamt #1

Owl

Since I've made the last dove with a mixed media of watercolour and coloured pencils I've been asked to draw an owl with a similar process.  Herewith the results.  Hope she likes it. :)
May you have a wonderful day,
E

Duifie

 My sister requested a drawing of a dove the other day & it proved to be the ideal platform to try out a mixed media drawing.  I first painted a blue wash, followed by spontaneous areas of colour that became defined once I switched over to coloured pencil to add some depth.
I enjoyed it so much.  It turned out to be an interpretation of a dove more than a species drawing - hope she will like it.

a gift to Michael

It was my boyfriend's birthday recently.  I made this art book as a gift to him. I am sharing some of the pages here.  The project took longer than anticipated, but it was very gratifying to work 'unplanned' and in a multitude of media without trying to create a coherent whole.  Each double spread is treated as a composition of its own.
He was a wonderful recipient of this gift.  He's simply wonderful.

What is

It has been a while since I posted. As the year gains momentum time for personal creative projects are scarce.  Luckily I can look forward to a time of rest and thus more time to create.  Times of rest are necessary.  I am not sure what I will work on next, but whilst I'm letting my thoughts roam I decided it might be good to doodle and read: nothing that has a purpose beyond itself apart from giving joy in the moment.  Above is a page from my art journal.  I love the fact that it's inbetween scrapbooking, art, self expression and above all hasn't got the label of 'art' or 'design' around it.  It just is.

Breakfast

"I'll have another slice of that delicious man, please."