Oak dryads pencils

I have been slowly working on this sketch and an update is long due, but I am not convinced about the face, expression and posture of my running away dryads...so I might make a few more changes before I start inking.
So sorry I have been incommunicado for so long...I have so little time, because work is extra busy and I had to work longer hours.
Hope to be able to post again soon. Ditto for leaving comments on my friends' blogs: I am watching but I cannot always comment right now...I'll be back, though! ;)

Of oaks...

Still waiting the right light for the final photograph of Yggdrasil...Meanwhile, I started thinking about another cosmic tree, the oak, sacred to Zeus and symbol of strength and endurance. In a sense its role overlaps with that of the ash, as there are many common aspects in the mythology surrounding these two powerful trees. I wanted this new drawing to tap into one peculiar legend distinctive of the oak, that has to do with dryads...I'll explain later...

So here are the preliminary sketches...^^

Almost ready...

Here is the latest stage in the Yggdrasil drawing I photographed...in reality the picture is now finished, but I am waiting for a nice day and a little free time to give it proper justice.

Hope you like it and thank you very much for your support!

Coloring the Yggdrasil

Where has March gone? Away with the freezing temperature and with my ridiculously persistent colds, I hope. I've been so exhausted and under the weather these past two weeks that I could not bring myself to do art. All my strengths were devoted to the bare necessities (= work, eat, take care of a very sweet but energetic 2 years old), as I was also alone home, since my husband went abroad for business.

 Not much to show, therefore, in term of progress for my Yggdrasil. After my husband returned and the pressure from my daily duties returned to normal, I finished the grey tones and started very slowly to lay down the colors (I switched to Copics for this second part).

To tell you the truth, I am not sure I am improving on it. It was kind of neat in its neutral palette, but I can't live without colors, so I was compelled to proceed. Right now, I am somewhat stuck at the three Norns, as I cannot decide on a proper color for their dresses...a super pale blu would work but I am afraid I don't have it in my otherwise rather extensive collection of markers....watercolors here would be marvelously useful, I think....

Probably tonight I will make a decision. :)

More Yggdrasil WIP

Here is the first layer of greys for the tree and landscape.

I used Prismacolor markers for this first phase, as the areas are so vast and I don't want to burn out my most precious markers. The colors I have chosen, in case you were curious are: Parchment for the bark, Warm Grey 10% for the leaves (although maybe a Cold grey would have been a wiser choice..let's see how it goes), Cool Grey 20% for the sky (I'll add heavy clouds an then highlight them with pastels). I'll use some earthy tones for the underground portion and the serpent and some cooler shades for the water maidens, the trees and the mountains.

I'll keep you posted!

Yggdrasil Inked

At last...I am ready to color this. I don't know why it took me so long to finish inking this time. Maybe it's the fact that I added details and modified a bit the original design. Maybe it's that in the evening I am exhausted and I just want to curl up and sleep instead of straining my eyes on small details. No matter, I am done and happy with the lines. Now, as usual the hard and interesting part begins.

You know I draw mostly while watching TV. I wonder if my choice of shows influences my drawings and possibly vice versa, or if it just by chance that I was watching Once Upon a Time, while drawing Sweet Home (my version of Hansel and Gretel), Fringe, while drawing Lotus of Creation, and the first season of Vikings while working on this latest picture. :)

PS: DO you guys think I should add a couple more branches in the top corners? Thanks for your suggestions! :)

February in review

I am working on my Yggdrasil picture and there is still so much to do. Maybe by Sunday the inking will be done and then I'll be able to show you some significant progress. For the time being, I made a combination figure with all the 29 Faces of February's challenge. This gave me a chance to learn to work with the brand new version of Photoshop I have...there is lots to relearn for me, I fear. 

Have a joyful weeked!