Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Two Illustration Fridays - Remedy and Midsummer Night

A little act of kindness makes for a nice remedy!


 and here's my belated Midsummer Night piece..

This is a digitally enhanced watercolor...I added the little fireflies and made the shadows darker in the final piece as I realized that how could the fairy be reading at nighttime? There was too much "light" in the watercolor, so I had to add some "night" to it. I have a lot to work on regarding shadow and light..but just wanted to share this work-in-progress. Thanks for visiting and I will pop by soon to all of you! Shirley
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37 comments:

  1. Alexandra MacVeanJuly 6, 2011 at 12:00 PM

    Oh my gosh! Simply precious and amazing. LOVE that cute little fox! :D BIG hugs.

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  2. AnonymousJuly 6, 2011 at 1:35 PM

    I love the composition and the colors of choices for this wonderful illustration,Shirley! You captured the atmosphere of the belated midsummer night. I want to be there with all the cute animals!!!!! ^___^

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  3. Jenn BowerJuly 6, 2011 at 1:37 PM

    I love how the fireflies absolutely sparkle and your characters are always so darn cute. The composition is perfection, draws one in and kind of cuddles you there. Love it.

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  4. HeatherJuly 6, 2011 at 3:40 PM

    i love how you did the trees! this is really sweet.

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  5. Brooke Boynton-HughesJuly 6, 2011 at 3:51 PM

    I love the vibrant greens in this Shirley! What a lovely illustration! Thank you so much for visiting my blog... I'm always so happy to see that I have a comment from you :)

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  6. Distressing Delilah a.k.a. jennJuly 6, 2011 at 3:59 PM

    How dreamy and relaxing..love!!

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  7. uriJuly 6, 2011 at 4:00 PM

    Cute and beautiful illo!! I love the green:) and I like your illo☆

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  8. AnonymousJuly 6, 2011 at 4:03 PM

    Shirley, I love how the animals have their backs turned toward us and how the little fox seems to be joining the group! The framing effect of the trees is wonderful and the fireflies most definitely provide a special touch. As always, I love it! :)

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  9. Theresa MacNaughtonJuly 6, 2011 at 4:18 PM

    Oh this is SO beautiful!!!! How I would love to read faerie tales to all the woodland creatures. I am so in love with this illustration! The fireflies truly do make it extra special. :)

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  10. AntoanaJuly 6, 2011 at 4:57 PM

    Superb! And love the fullness & richness of coloures! Simply magical :D

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  11. LorieJuly 6, 2011 at 6:08 PM

    I love them both! Beautiful as always!

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  12. roberto M.July 6, 2011 at 6:47 PM

    Hi Shirley!
    two beautiful illustrations. Your creativity is endless
    one of the illustrations (remedy) excited by the sweetness
    simple, but says everything has to be said
    and the other picture has the climate of a story, really.
    A tale told with magic. That is what you passed me with your art!
    You always keep growing!
    Congratulations!

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  13. MrBibleHeadJuly 6, 2011 at 8:39 PM

    Hey Shirley. I’m doing a little catching up. Haven’t been able to comment lately. ... but it seems to be working today! I love your circus illustrations. Your elephants are the most adorable I have ever seen! Your midsummer night is fantastic! I love the way the trees make a tunnel-like frame around your sweet characters. Your remedy is so cuuuute! I love the characters! Glad I had a chance to swing by and comment. God bless :o)

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  14. HannahJuly 7, 2011 at 12:09 AM

    Beautiful work. The remedy piece is so sweet and simple. 'Midsummer Night' is charming. It looks so cosy.

    I have to say I love love love your circus pieces and will have to go back and have another look :)

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  15. Deepa GopalJuly 7, 2011 at 2:01 AM

    Simply Superb!!! Love both the works... but 'Midsummer Night' stole my heart with all those lilcute animals and fireflies...*sigh*

    Thanks for your motivation, Shirley:-)

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  16. Amanda DilworthJuly 7, 2011 at 2:38 AM

    Hi Shirley, I love your bunny in the Midsummer night illustration, he seems to be listening so intently:)

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  17. k.h.whitakerJuly 7, 2011 at 7:40 AM

    They are too sweet Shirley. I wanted to do both of those IF's but just never got to it ;) and you got in both! I need some of your tenacity, I seem to be dragging lately.

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  18. JaneJuly 7, 2011 at 9:10 AM

    2 wonderful pieces Shirley and so different. I love that cute "Remedy" but your mid summer night piece is superb. Your detail is wonderful, the little fire flies have certainly lit up the piece so that Miss Fairy can read ;0)
    Have a great upcoming weekend and thank you for your sweet words on my blog, it's always so good to see you there.
    Jane x

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  19. AnonymousJuly 7, 2011 at 10:19 AM

    That midsummer night piece is lovely, I so want to be in that forest. The greens and blues are lovely and convey the night time tone beautifully. The little fairies face is so sweet and the animals are adorable!

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  20. AtelierBrigitteJuly 7, 2011 at 11:49 AM

    They both are so adorable: the first one looks simple, but it really touches me. And that wonderful scene in the forrest - just lovely!

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  21. Laurie A. ConleyJuly 7, 2011 at 4:21 PM

    It's really lovely, and the fairy's face is so beautiful! Your hard work paid off because there is just enough of both light and dark. :) And the little fuzzies with the balloon in the top illo. are adorable.

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  22. micheleJuly 7, 2011 at 5:38 PM

    Awww, Shirley, how lucky are we to find TWO from you this week! Love your Midsummer Night and the way you enhanced it digitally. Just enchanting, all around! And how about that helpful big sister? It's always such a pleasant place to visit here! It makes me smile! Happy (early) Friday to you! :o)

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  23. Ces AdorioJuly 7, 2011 at 6:42 PM

    The Remedy illustration is so cute. I know how that feels because I am a little sister and a big sister too!!! I love the colors of the Midsummer Night. Hope you are well. Tsup!

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  24. kjJuly 7, 2011 at 8:49 PM

    'digitally enhanced watercolor'

    the very thought of doing this excites me, shirley! i barely paint anything and barely with watercolors (and a micron) but i see your magic and i want to learn this!

    your illustrations are great, they leave me smiling.

    ♥
    kj

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  25. lil kimJuly 7, 2011 at 10:51 PM

    lovely, Shirley! YOu've got great sketches too :)

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  26. Nicky LinzeyJuly 8, 2011 at 1:55 AM

    Fairies read by the light from the stars and the moon! This illustration is beautiful Shirley

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  27. theartofpuroJuly 8, 2011 at 9:26 AM

    Wonderful work:)

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  28. donny*July 8, 2011 at 11:38 AM

    This is wonderful, Shirley! Love the enveloping shape the trees make and the fireflies are an excellent touch. Also love the little illustration up top. Such a different style. Have a great weekend!

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  29. Brandon KallmesJuly 8, 2011 at 12:26 PM

    I love your style Shirley! I'm glad I came across your blog.

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  30. AnonymousJuly 8, 2011 at 9:50 PM

    I love your art work, I aspire to be able to draw and paint like you! I also love the fact that all your art is soooo cute :)

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  31. froggie is...July 9, 2011 at 4:55 AM

    just lovely, shirrrrrrley!!! (omg...i have that SONG in my head!) i like how you went about this one - if you really want to delve into shadow/light use, go back and visit the masters. it reeeallly helps. i'm back in school these days and we've been spending lots of time "redoing" master pieces, to understand the lighting and tone. REMBRANDT, SARGENT, CARVAGGIO,and my personal, more contemporary fav, LEYENDECKER, are all masters of light and shadow. you should borrow the composition of a master work, re-populate it with your own characters and ideas, and then light it. it's hard work but verrrrry helpful in understanding all the twiddly parts about using light and shadow. "-))

    i hope you are very well, too, shirrrllleeeeyyy! (eek!) and thanks so much for the visit! "-)

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  32. Francisco MartinsJuly 10, 2011 at 10:30 AM

    Sigh! ok that's it! I want to go and live inside of your illustrations. Can I?
    Shirley this is so beautiful and sweet and awesome. I'm really a big fan of your work :)

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  33. Morph WaffleJuly 12, 2011 at 10:05 AM

    The first one is just so darn cute and the second one is so sweet and pretty. Wonderful!

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  34. Elizabeth Rose StantonJuly 12, 2011 at 5:20 PM

    Both: wonderful!!

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  35. ~Lavender Dreamer~July 12, 2011 at 6:28 PM

    How pretty! I would just love to step into this painting! ♥

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  36. Andrew FinnieJuly 13, 2011 at 11:07 PM

    Greetings Shirley! Ahh you always make your images so inviting, it's warmth and happiness that emenates from them, like being as snug as a bug in a rug!

    You must have a kind and warm heart - and we are lucky your work glows with it!

    see you soon!

    hugs from here :) ! we are all so cold our noses are blue. I have had to put on my winter board shorts!

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  37. Vilt og vakkertJuly 14, 2011 at 1:51 PM

    Heisann! Wonderful post for these 'quotes'!

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