tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13313028.post4510865652353589586..comments2024-03-21T23:14:27.787+00:00Comments on Middle of Nowhere: DrakestailGretelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00399585879728373265noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13313028.post-31727424481909413612007-02-16T17:36:00.000+00:002007-02-16T17:36:00.000+00:00Gretel, Thank you for taking the time answering m...Gretel, <BR/> <BR/>Thank you for taking the time answering my question in such detail. It help a lot. I have been using the wrong pencils for the line … prismacolor pencils. They are so waxy and hard and funny enough it never occurred to me to try the watercolor pencils.<BR/>I have some Derwent Watercolor, Albrecht Durer by Faber Castell, and I also have a new collection of Carand'ache Neocolor II. These last ones are not pencils, they are soluble painting crayons and I want to give them a try.<BR/> <BR/>Your long illustration process requires so much patience and care. Building up layers takes time, and I can see how hard it could be when you are in a rush to meet a deadline. All your work pays off and your results are stunning. Love your color palette, it’s so special. <BR/> <BR/>Thanks again for your time.<BR/> <BR/>MaraAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13313028.post-19978799102217031352007-02-16T10:08:00.000+00:002007-02-16T10:08:00.000+00:00HI Mara, Thank you for dropping in. I use a combi...HI Mara, Thank you for dropping in. I use a combination of graphite/lead pencils for outline and shading, mainly the lighter 'H' ones, from 8H down to H, I sometimes use an 'F' of 'HB' for a bit of darkness but rarely anything heavier. I also use a combination of pencils, I have a pretty large collection of different types, (about 200) but the ones I use the most are soft watercolour ones which are lovely and bright and soft to smudge. I have a big box of Derwent pencils, (72 in all) and Carand'ache are also very good. The way I get lots of brightness in colour is to use lots of thin watercolour washes and build up layers of paint and pencil. Hope this helps!Gretelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00399585879728373265noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13313028.post-283404130367112592007-02-16T01:30:00.000+00:002007-02-16T01:30:00.000+00:00Hi Gretel, I love your work. I made a coment befo...Hi Gretel, I love your work. I made a coment before. I just wanted to know what kind of colored pencils you use for the line in your illustrations.<BR/>Thank you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13313028.post-25391434748938996482007-02-14T18:06:00.000+00:002007-02-14T18:06:00.000+00:00You are extraordinarily talented and I loved seein...You are extraordinarily talented and I loved seeing this.<BR/><BR/>Author/illustrator Will Hillenbrand has his art process online as a sort of demo for kids. It's neat:<BR/><BR/>http://www.willhillenbrand.com/artprocess.html<BR/><BR/>(I am hopeful that he will speak at my daughter's elementary school next year.)<BR/><BR/>Really, truly, I love seeing your process here. It's amazing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13313028.post-82884166346112725142007-02-11T09:05:00.000+00:002007-02-11T09:05:00.000+00:00Wow your work is amazing,I love the detail in the ...Wow your work is amazing,I love the detail in the pictures. Facinating to hear about lenghty creative process.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13313028.post-8505731893191930822007-02-09T10:57:00.000+00:002007-02-09T10:57:00.000+00:00PG yout getting too much of a Fan club!I can only ...PG yout getting too much of a Fan club!I can only add to the many comments here. Your work is truly wonderful and I really hope to see you up in lights one day, with me telling everyone that I used to blog with you! Will we see some delightful pictures of the snow?Cotswoldgenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05975961140007400390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13313028.post-20839721948801940752007-02-09T10:50:00.000+00:002007-02-09T10:50:00.000+00:00Absolutely wonderful! You are so very talented! I ...Absolutely wonderful! You are so very talented! I just love these.<BR/><BR/>tea<BR/>xoTeahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07198693392569881087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13313028.post-40419145778426439132007-02-07T11:41:00.000+00:002007-02-07T11:41:00.000+00:00Gretel, it's so interesting to see how you work an...Gretel, it's so interesting to see how you work and your finished illustrations are beautiful. I sympathise with you having to make changes- often it's the thing that you like the best that the art director wants you to get rid of!<br />Can't wait to see your Etsy shop..I discovered it at the weekend and cannot stop skiving and looking through it all for ages! So much gorgeous stuff to buy. xPeahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03358385854880557640noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13313028.post-75737782196777560192007-02-07T08:22:00.000+00:002007-02-07T08:22:00.000+00:00I love Andrew Lang, but hadn't come across this on...I love Andrew Lang, but hadn't come across this one. Your illustrations are just perfect, and this is a fascinsating post, thankyou.<br /><br />The people came out really well, they just fit beautifully. And yes, I like the 3rd picture best, the slapstick chaos is great.lettucehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13872380339261609060noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13313028.post-37926335049992868912007-02-06T22:23:00.000+00:002007-02-06T22:23:00.000+00:00I have loved your site for a long time, now, and n...I have loved your site for a long time, now, and now that I have been approached about being available for illos, I have become enslaved by your excellent conversations surrounding your process.<br /><br />Thank you, thank you!Aaron Paquettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07401418598802746504noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13313028.post-31073415204909616462007-02-06T18:48:00.000+00:002007-02-06T18:48:00.000+00:00Fab illos, Gretel! And well done getting the accid...Fab illos, Gretel! And well done getting the accidental red splodges out, I hate it when that happens! I love your flowing compositions.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13313028.post-20400556867105267702007-02-06T18:28:00.000+00:002007-02-06T18:28:00.000+00:00I admire you so much...Your work has such style an...I admire you so much...Your work has such style and color. It almosts pops off the page. I so wish I could take one of those pieces off your hands but tax time has made it tight for me also.<br /><br />I am waiting for my Pinwheel book. Looks like it should be released shortly.<br /><br />Take care,<br />ConnieAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13313028.post-61839481594718992362007-02-06T11:37:00.000+00:002007-02-06T11:37:00.000+00:00I Love your unique colours, i've never seen anyone...I Love your unique colours, i've never seen anyone else use them together, they are specific to you and your style, thats great.<br /><br />hope 2007 has got off to a great start for you!<br /><br />Sara xSara Garrardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06878964372995857322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13313028.post-82596538095210539852007-02-06T00:12:00.000+00:002007-02-06T00:12:00.000+00:00I'd never heard of Drakestail either, but your ill...I'd never heard of Drakestail either, but your illustrations have me really intrigued now. (They look beautiful, by the way. And had you not mentioned the disaster with the scarlet, I never would have guessed.)Soozcathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12549632685008663664noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13313028.post-37944572728167533072007-02-05T22:11:00.000+00:002007-02-05T22:11:00.000+00:00Thanks for sharing these with us - it's great to s...Thanks for sharing these with us - it's great to see the roughs and the finished pieces - lovely illustration! - G XXGailhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12480023031281581371noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13313028.post-40113936190391868352007-02-05T16:15:00.000+00:002007-02-05T16:15:00.000+00:00Gretel I should have known it was you! I have alwa...Gretel I should have known it was you! I have always loved your style! I must tell you that you have grown as an artist though, and it is great! <br /><br />Your hero links were fabulous. I now have some of them on my blog! <br /><br />Look foward to coming and visiting you blog regularly.<br /><br />Blogs are kind of like a huge yahoo group. . .Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13313028.post-89576916586967348442007-02-05T16:09:00.000+00:002007-02-05T16:09:00.000+00:00These are really lovely and learning about the pro...These are really lovely and learning about the process was very cool! Thank you so much for sharing.carrsterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09577396465027107426noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13313028.post-51725114707469170822007-02-05T10:50:00.000+00:002007-02-05T10:50:00.000+00:00What fabulous work - I love your style and the lum...What fabulous work - I love your style and the luminosity of your painting. You've reminded me why I never made it as an illustrator - it's so stressful keeping to tight deadlines especially when accidents occur and all of your will power is required to prevent you from just tearing it up and starting afresh - thank goodness you've got a good 'nurse' on hand! Thanks so much for sharing how you work.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13313028.post-77983374556797220682007-02-05T09:42:00.000+00:002007-02-05T09:42:00.000+00:00Gretel - I love what you do with your decorative e...Gretel - I love what you do with your decorative elements - the backgrounds especially are exceptional. It was fun seeing your process.tlchanghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10259427561396960607noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13313028.post-58538902691092047272007-02-05T08:11:00.000+00:002007-02-05T08:11:00.000+00:00Hi G, that was really interesting, thanks for sha...Hi G, that was really interesting, thanks for sharing the process. You certainly had alot of work to do in a short space of time.<br />I know that feeling when you drop paint on your artwork, I often do it, when I am happily painting my hand seems to become too relaxed and I often drop my paintbrush onto my artwork. Always manage to save the work somehow though.<br />I was looking at Drakestail by the river before reading about it, and wondered why the design had changed, I like your original beehive how it was, seems simpler without the extra trees.<br />The third card is definately my favoutite, I love the colours in this one, and the straw which looks to me like a doilly (as do the clouds in the other two)<br />The chamber pot made me laugh, it is the position of the bowl isnt it!<br />I really enjoy working for clients,(most of the time!)as you say you learn alot. I often end up drawing and painting things in ways I would never have imagined myself. Ghost illustrating (with permission of course)is very interesting as you have to really get into the other illustratiors style, colours, ways of mark making etc, I find that really pushes me and makes me look properly.<br /><br />I look forward to seeing the new work for your shop.<br />Penny.<br />xnatural attrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11932782598258944332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13313028.post-22364600280463330922007-02-05T05:56:00.000+00:002007-02-05T05:56:00.000+00:00I'm sitting here stunned...I'm not sure what I enj...I'm sitting here stunned...I'm not sure what I enjoyed more, looking at the drafts, the finished card or reading your step-by-step guide to how it all came together. I kept scrolling up and down, up and down and I followed every word. These are brilliant and if I lived down the road or over the bridge from Oxfordshire, I'd run right round to your place and buy one of the pieces you have for sale...and I haven't even seen them yet!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13313028.post-34757053670359883172007-02-05T02:23:00.000+00:002007-02-05T02:23:00.000+00:00Your work is so colorful! I have to come back and...Your work is so colorful! I have to come back and explore more. :)J Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16418645028718782130noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13313028.post-61449930594514408032007-02-05T01:32:00.000+00:002007-02-05T01:32:00.000+00:00beautiful work!beautiful work!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13313028.post-26458464884534951822007-02-05T00:25:00.000+00:002007-02-05T00:25:00.000+00:00Thank you for sharing some of the process of illus...Thank you for sharing some of the process of illustration! These are so beautiful - you should be so proud! I wish I had one one millionth of your talent - so wonderful!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13313028.post-27785088722545739842007-02-04T23:03:00.000+00:002007-02-04T23:03:00.000+00:00I thoroughly enjoyed being able to see and read ab...I thoroughly enjoyed being able to see and read about your process. Of course I love everything you do. Deadlines are my worst enemy, even when it's only for a swap or to get to the post on time....I am amazed how you handle these that are days long. (I suppose the paycheck has a lot to do with soldiering on) <br />Thank you for sharing this.<br />XOXOXOLisa Oceandreamer Swifkahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10447207923190618328noreply@blogger.com