Christmas Card 2013

Last month several online newspapers featured a story about Dinovember. For the month of November, these wonderful parents place their kid's plastic dinosaurs in an evening escapade ala Toy Story. The settings are so creative, it's easy to see the parents are clearly having more fun than the kids. YEARS ago, when they were young, I tried to convince my kids that their dolls and stuffed animals came alive in the night by moving them around while they were asleep. It's a sweet memory for me. 

A couple years ago, I set this photo up to participate in a book contest. Since I'm very short on time due to the book commission plus the birth of our 17th grandchild last week, I pulled it out and used it for this year's Christmas card. 

I changed a few things (sorry Spidey).

I turned the day setting to moonlight.

And used both colored pencils and gouache to finish.

 A tribute to childhood wonder which has been my goal this year. 

Wait...YEAR! Where has it gone??

Christmas Card Final

I ended up going with a simple 4"x8" card in an envelope and then did some ecrue note cards for my clients and artist friends.

I would like to spend more time with this but need to get it printed. I do feel a sense of accomplishment designing our cards for three years running. It's getting a teeny bit easier each time. I did have to print this out fairly small so I could paint it quickly. I plan on printing out a larger one to paint after the holidays. I'm starting to like watercolor more and more. Doesn't frighten me as much as it used to. A little progress, perhaps?

Christmas Card Continued - 1st Watercolor Layer

Here's the first swipe of watercolor. Next I will go in with my super-magni-vison goggles and get the detail washes down. After that, the colored pencils to pull out highlights, deepen shadows and define some edges. Then I'll put down some snowflakes with white gouache and call it good.

(This scan is a bit blurry because the painting is stapled to a board.)

Christmas Card Study #2

UPDATE: Played around on computer to test out some colors.
Most of the time, it takes me a while to come up with an idea. Rarely do I have an "light bulb" moment. Well, the planets must have been aligned because, "Eureka!", this concept and picture just came together. I love it when the drawing comes so clearly in your head. Just wish it would happen more often. But I'm not complaining. Here is my second idea for a Christmas card and the one I will probably go with. Let's hope the painting part flows as well.

Color Study for Christmas Card

This is still rough but I played with some subtle color. Trying to keep it simple. Have one more idea that came to me yesterday that I will work up as well.

Christmas Card Study

It's that time of year again. Did this year fly by or what? Anyway, Christmas card time. Felt like doing something whimsical and magical. Here's the value study. As a child, I used to believe my stuffed animals and dolls moved around while I slept. Come morning, I knew they weren't in the same places. As a mother, I perpetuated the myth by going in to my kids' rooms at night and switching the arrangement slightly, just to keep them wondering. This illustration is a homage to that time. Have to find some words to put in the big blank spot.

Christmas Card Final

Here's my Christmas card for 2009. Found this older quote to go inside. Waiting for them to be printed. Also waiting for dear husband to write the newsletter to accompany it.

Christmas Card Continued

I felt the rabbits needed more variation in shape so I redid them. Changed the hat on the girl on the left. I've now printed this out on a sheet of Bristol smooth and will do a little colored pencil work on top, pulling out highlights and darkening shadows and then I'll call it good. Christmas waits for no man....or procrastinating woman.

One more Christmas Card Study

After visiting my son's blog and viewing a photo posted of their daughters decorating their tree, I tried another look for our Christmas card.

Christmas Card Thumbnails

Trying out some ideas for a Christmas card. Not sure about the poem. Just wanted to see if words would look okay up there. Might leave just the "JOY" in the shadows and include some carol lyrics inside the card. I know it's late and I probably won't get these off on time, but I figure the Christmas "season" extends to the New Year. There's something about the warmth of the more yellow one that appeals to me and I'm usually a blue person. Ideas anyone?

Another Christmas Card Idea

Yet another attempt at a Christmas card. This one is taken from some photo references I took of three of my grandchildren last year. I can see I need to fix some of the camera's forced perspective.

Quick Christmas Card Study

Every year I say I'm going to make my own Christmas cards. Yet in the busyness of the season, I get sidetracked and it becomes another failed goal. This year, I want to achieve the goal. Here's the study. Let's hope I get further with it.

Edit: Had some fun with solvent. It gave the image a sort of blurred look. Anyone have a good suggestion for a font to spell out "Peace" in the right hand corner?