This week's word challenge was 'Boundaries,' and I put off working on it all week. Originally I thought I would do something showing a boundary between light and dark or night and day, but I didn't have a clear enough vision in my head of what it would look like. So, instead I came up with something else entirely. My new idea was inspired by a sweet illustration I saw by Barbara Cooney in the 1949 book, "Read Me Another Story." It shows a little hen standing in the middle of a pen. Her world definitely has boundaries. In my image, a fence is a boundary that is keeping a little rabbit out of the lettuce patch (You can click on the illustration to see it larger).
I experimented with a technique I don't usually work in - a digital scratchboard technique. My original digital sketch was done in Painter 11. A few days ago I finally succumbed to an email from Corel with details on a special upgrade deal for Painter 12. I bit the bullet and purchased it and it arrived today. I could have finished this image in version 11, but I was anxious to get my feet wet with the upgrade so I finished the image in version 12 (more about it in a future blog).
On the right, you can see my original sketch. You'll notice that originally, I showed much more of the garden. As I worked, I decided to zoom in a bit and bring the viewer closer to the rabbit.
Below is the Barbara Cooney illustration that was my inspiration.
i like the dark background! and the technique you used on the lettuce
ReplyDeleteVery nice! I'd say your experiment was a success.
ReplyDeleteLovely! I feel for the lil rabbit... so close yet so far.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe you referred to that particular illustration in that book! I have a very old copy from my childhood, and that book was one of the few we owned. In fact, when I recently drew and blogged about books from my childhood, I was so mad at myself afterward because I'd forgotten to include it. Ive never, ever seen another copy of that book...I grew up in Indiana, so maybe that's the commonality?
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your thought process. I really like the feel of your lettuces (if one can say that). Plus the fact that it is a night-scene makes the images stand out even more!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful work, poor bunny I hope he can sneak a bit through the fence...
ReplyDeleteI always like your pieces with darker values. Scratchboard is awesome; one of my fav' doodling tools. Jump, bunny!
ReplyDeleteOkay...I bit and upgraded, too when I saw it on sale. Hee, hee....
ReplyDeleteI upgraded too but I haven't really had a chance to play with the new ellements of the program. I like the layout better, but it tends to crash more for me. I love the scratchboard look of this, now I may have to go play with painter myself. ;)
ReplyDeleteFor a last minute piece, this is so beautiful! I'm impressed. And thankful that you posted your inspiration, because now I am inspired too! B/W prints and scratchboard are two of my fav mediums... amazing what Painter can do. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI remember that illustration too! And since it comes without words in my head, must have been one of the few books I "read" to myself before printed words had any meaning (another in that category was Blueberries for Sal, which never had words until I discovered it again, reading to MY kids)
ReplyDeleteLovely, simple drawing, yours. So much said with so few lines. Great work.
Great illustration, your bunny is seriously cute:)
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