Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Miette – The Guest of Honor

Thanks for the inspiration Vanessa! I had been steadily working on this piece last week when this week's Illustration Friday prompt came up. I decided to paint little Miette, and now I'm able to present this piece which I enjoyed painting. Vanessa left me a delightful comment the other week which prompted this illustration, and this is what I came up with. In my mind, there are wonderful tea parties being held in the woods all of the time..and all of you are invited to attend. Can't you just taste the treats and hear all of the chatter?

Many thanks for indulging me in this! I've also included the initial sketch, the pencil on watercolor block, and the painting in progress, in case you might want to see. Also, many thanks to my little one, Noëlle who told me to paint the "balloons" as if they were made out of leaves...see them in the background? I just think that is an awesome thing for her to recommend. And thank you Sierra for all of your critiques as well. My little artists are my pride and joy!


38 comments:

  1. What a wonderful tea party! :) Very beautifully drawn and painted!

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  2. I'm calling you right now!!... I okay I called and you are busy he he he!!! It was good to hear your voice though. I just wanted to call to say WOW !!! thanks so much! Please except my humble thank you's! I'm so very honored and I just love the piece. It's overwhelming!!! I will admit, I cried! Yup I did!!! This is soooooooo awesome and I will cherish it forever and ever! Thanks again my very, very, talented friend. I send you great big hugs and many wonderful songs. Thank you Shirley!!!
    Hugs
    V

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  3. SHIRLEY!!! This is gorgeous! Whimsical, magical, soft and beautiful. I can't believe the incredible detail! I wish I was there with them right this very minute!

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  4. Oh Shirley this is beautiful!!! What a great idea from your little one, she is very clever indeed!! I love the composition, the details, there is so much character in this, a very joyful piece too. Oh and that little tortoise is adorable with his tiny part hat on!! Tee hee!!!
    Beautiful piece!

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  5. what an adorable little party, soooo sweet, I love the leafy balloons they are like pretty little artichokes

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  6. Oh my goodness, you all are so very kind...thank you, thank you so much! Ms. Vanessa, you are so very sweet - no tears..just a whole lotta smiles I hope. I'm SO sorry I was running into my daughter's class when you called..we will connect soon! : )

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  7. OOOOHHHH, Shirley! Your work looks like a classic already! So much sweetness and heart! All the little details are absolutely charming-- the teacups hanging from the trees! And that owl looks like he is taking his teatime etiquette very seriously! Oh my goodness, there is so much JOY in being an artist isn't there!

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  8. I love this Shirley, it is delightful. I was just thinking of doing a tea party scene myself with an invisible friend theme. I love the colors, all the little details, the lettering and well, everything really.

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  9. OMG!!! That is what I said very loudly when I saw this painting. You are SO incredible. I can't get over how wonderful, sweet, beautiful, imaginative this piece is. FABULOUS! It's really cool to see your stages of work before the final too.

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  10. Wow wow wow - this is wonderful!

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  11. Shirley, wow! This is truly incredible, you have such a gift with those watercolors! The details, colors and sweetness of the whole piece, there is so much to see - your daughter's idea was brilliant, I noticed them right away! I'm so glad the invitation turned out to be a fun party, and yes, I'm sure there are plenty going on right now somewhere! Thanks for posting the stages in your work process, it's always great to see how things progress - bravo!

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  12. my goodness Shirley!!!!
    are you a witch too like meeeeh????
    ahahahah :D LOL
    you DO magic!!!
    wonderful MAGIC, i must say...

    i send you kisses and hugs!
    :)))))

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  13. Dear Shirley, thank you very much to come and view my gallery on DA. And you're even coming to my blog for making comments about my work(since you can't commented on my DA)!

    I'm very happy that you like my work,and thrilled to find your positive respond =)

    About your post, wowww....I really like it! Like a cover of children book! very sweet and 'fantasize'.Did you illustrate books, Shirley?

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  14. I think I'll go have a cup of tea...

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  15. Lovely! Your watercolours are so sweet and delicate :)

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  16. Your little critters are always so sweet!

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  17. Hey Shirley, OMG how busy the both of us have been. It's been so very crazy around here and I have been working and running around doing this and that. I am so sorry that I missed both of your calls. I had to run out each time that you called. I hope all is well you and yours. I can't wait to see your master piece. It's going to be beautiful I know. Thanks again my friend from the bottom of my heart with lots of laughter, joy and respect! Thanks
    Hugs
    V

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  18. Shirley, this is AMAZING! And it was so great to see your work in progress, I love that. This illo is creative, dreamy and full of wonderful details!

    And I also love your illo for IF. So loose and simple!

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  19. it's always a delight popping in over here. this is another gorgeous illustration! and thanks so much for sharing the early stages!

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  20. i am in love with this cover! oh, what i would do to be able to paint a scene like this! i can't imagine all the work and thought that went into it before your brush even hit the paper.

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  21. Wonderful scene with such a delightful bunch of characters. Lovely...save me some cake and tea I'm on my way :)

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  22. Sorry for eavesdropping but why don't you and Vanessa call each other on your mobile phones? Okay now that I have rudely interrupted t]your tete-a-tete I came here to see what you are up toy. I will be away for a while so i did not want you to think that I was being rude or selfish for not returning your lovely visits and comments. Shirley, thank you for your visits.

    These drawings are exquisite. They remind me of my childhood which is good because it was a time when illustrators toiled and created some of the best artwork, nothing disposable in their quality, a lifetime instead and there to linger in your mind and spark a wonderful memory or two. Your drawings have that ability. Good luck with catching Vanessa. Hope you get to talk to each other.

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  23. So delightful! a tea party I would love to attend!

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  24. Your work is absolutely beautiful! A real inspiration, I'm so glad I came across your blog. x

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  25. What an absolutely beautiful piece I would love to be at that tea party.

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  26. Magical! If anyone were to ask me, what's so special about watercolors, that's the word I'd use. And then I'd have to send them to you for an example. You work the medium masterfully and bring out all the most powerful emotions it is capable of evoking! Pure magic! Bravo!!

    -Wilson

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  27. Ohhhhh, It´s so nice....
    Very cute, I like it :-)

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  28. Your work is so whimsical and beautiful and soft! I love your confidence with watercolor.

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  29. Beautiful art! :) Im glad I stopped by...Drop by for a visit...let me know what you think of my art. :)

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  30. Okay Shirley Girly, here we go!!! I have out my tissue to wipe my eyes. I was soooooo overwhelmed and shocked and excited and a bunch of other things to when I received your wonderful packages in the mail this week and on today. My husband I were completely blownnnnnnn always with all the delightful eye candy that you sent. I bow before your greatness. You truly are such a wonderful and talented illustrator. Such wonderful energy and boy could I feel the love that went into every single thing. Shirley I bless the Lord for special ones like you. They don't make them like you anymore. I honestly mean that. You are such a bright spot in the world and in mine. I am so grateful for you being my friend. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for the wonderful gifts of your handy work. For the calendar that I will carry around with me everywhere I go he he he he! You have shown me such love and I do appreciate your show of love and kindness. YOU ROCK!!! Thank you again and again. Thank you a million times my friend. Hugs and very much love,
    V

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  31. Is this not THE BEST WOODLAND TEAPARTY SCENE IN THE HISTORY OF WOODLAND TEAPARTY SCENES???? I'm tellin' ha. Is there an illustrator's equivalent to the Oscars? Cuz you deserve one. This is beyond enchanting. Miette is adorable, and the setting is gorgeous. Yay for the leaf-balloons! Genius, pure genius!

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  32. Oh, it is so magical and wonderful! I absolutely love it. The balloons are marvelous and Miette is the cutest thing ever (loving the bunny and the turtle too! Well, all of them!).

    iamemmamusic.blogspot.com

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  33. This is totally gorgeous! It's the kind of illustration that a child can lose themselves inside, like a magical world :)

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  34. This is just so lovely! I've been in to look at it before, but didn't get round to comment. Such a lovely scene with great details for the 'reader' to explore. The leafy balloons are great! She's a clever little girl. And Noëlle is a beautiful name, by the way!x

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  35. You should truly be proud of this illustration Shirley. Such a complicated, detailed image executed with such grace. Your characters are very special and have obviously captured a lot of hearts. :0)

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  36. For some reason, comments are not getting through..I'm sorry for the inconvenience, but if you'd like, please email me...I'd love to hear from you - thanks! shirley@shirleyngbenitez.com for illustration. : )

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