Mamsey Bear sews the Purple Waistcoat

It took 9 days.

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 But she  finished it.

My goal in storybook illustration is a combination of realism and unreality... does that make sense?

    . I don't want a cartoonish work, OR a realistic work. I like things a bit crooked, a bit skewed , slightly off kilter and yet, with a hint of reality......suspension of disbelief.( Mamsey bear just wants to get this jacket dismantled so that she can use it as her pattern.)

The candles have burnt down to molten nubs.

 

In some instances I will use proper perspective, and then in other places, I will deliberately abuse it.

 But Mamsey prefers perfection in her needlework 

 

I love old, crooked and ancient stairways... Mamsey's  house is full of these! Painting beat up wood, cracked plaster and   items that seem to breathe of old age, is a fun challenge for me in my books.  It is the world of Hopalong Hollow....aged rusticity.

Mamsey finally lays out her "pattern" on the rich purple fabric... it is the color the night sky.

 at least, it is supposed to be.

There is just enough of it for a fox sized waistcoat.

,None of these colors are accurate on my blog, some were photographs, others were scans .Ah, the trials of an artist trying to "MATCH" her real colors is disheartening.  This room actually has a nice golden glow and the background below, is not the orange color that you see... it is a nice mellow yellow ochre.

  I think most artists will agree, that the one of the biggest headaches we have is in achieving a good reproduction from our artwork.

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   This still has some clean up to do... but you can see where the text will go and although you do not know what on earth this book is about, I think you can get an idea of what this PAGE is about.

 Before I begin an illustration, I record myself reading the words. I listen to this over and over again and become immersed in the purpose of the page.

 It is probably foolish of me to think I can finish a page in a week, I don't like to rush things or I will become sloppy.  9-10 days is more accurate. Quality over quantity.

 

Here is this weeks TEA.....it is Mamseys favorite and she likes it strong, with honey.

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 This weeks soup Is Golden Squash Soup.  This is delicious!
 Here is how James made it:  Using a large Butternut Squash peeled and cut into cubes, 2 garlic cloves, one chopped onion, 1/4 tsp nutmeg, 1/4 tsp thyme, 2 Tb butter or olive oil, 1/4 cup brown sugar. Roast in oven at 375 till soft. Remove from oven and puree. Add this mixture to 4 cups chicken broth and 1/4 cup CREAM.  Heat to simmer and EAT IT UP!

Here is the drawing I must paint this week...

  We'll be back  in 9 days!  Or, maybe 10....

 We bid you Adieu, tell we meet again.