I have had things that live in the sea and float on the ocean on my mind lately.
Seaweed Sketches
I have begun researching and sketching out compositions for my next BIG piece in my Beasts series: a Humpback Whale. I plan to make it on two large square panels and include embroidered barnacles and lush colors.
All very timely, as I received my next mini-assigment in Make Art That Sells bootcamp with Lilla Rogers: nautical themes. I have been pinning images on Pinterest , cutting images out of catalogues like mini Boden, Vinyard Vines and others. Yesterday, I had a few hours to kill so I checked myself into a local library and perused the ocean section of the adult non fiction as well as the children's book section to see what other illustrators had done with the theme. I wish I could head into Boston to the Aquarium - one of my favorite places on Earth. I'm a bit afraid of the ocean itself and do not like being on a boat in open water since a boating accident a number of years ago. But, I am fascinated by all the creatures and life in the ocean. Of course, the boats harken back to my first series way back in 2006 of "Arks"...So, I am happy with my obsession as we welcome summer and all her loveliness!
"Voyage" Gouache and ink on paper and edited in Photoshop