New World

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Mixing two worlds. For this one I wanted since the beginning to color the animals and leave the rest black and white. Then I colored them and I thought I had made I mistake: the black and white version was better and I needed to keep coloring to solve the problem. Then I left the drawing sit for few hours, went for a swim, and now, looking back at it, I feel I am happy with it as it is :)

Two lessons re-learnt:

- In drawing, as in life, it is good not to take decisions in the heat of the moment

- In drawing, as in life, your first idea is usually the good one

Into a New World. Finemarkers and color pencils on smooth A4 illustration paper.

Happy!

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Today I've got the news I've been selected for an exhibition! 
I am happy about it and couldn't wait to share it :)
... But I will tell you more about it later ;)

Have a good Friday!

New projects

http://www.carolinadeluca.com/littleg

Hello, after so long! I think I was in need a bit of "inside" time to make some decisions!
You know, during this Summer I've been reflecting a bit, thinking on how to organise myself for the coming year, my own drawing, the classes, and everything else. And in the end I've gone ahead and have decided to put on hold the classes for this year, to give myself the time and space I need to focus on much more complex and longer projects that I've been putting aside for some time now. And as the start of school date approaches, and so my working days too, I grow more and more excited about all of it. I feel I have already recovered my physical working space, always full of students work, to be used only by myself from now on. If before I was still anxious about all this, now, drawing here, I am sure it was the right thing to do. Let's see then what this new school year brings on.

Animals, animals, everywhere

http://www.carolinadeluca.com/illustration

It's been a bit since I posted the last time. And I must say I've drawn more than I've posted, because yes, I am feeling quite lazy on the internet lately... also today!
So I won't write much, just... enjoy the illustration :)

Loving Autumn

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I love seasons and the changes they bring. I embrace them, and enjoy it. Every season  has its own charm. And I do really love Autumn as well :)

Running pal

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I think it was in my latest "little girl" post that I said that my dog had brought me closer to nature. This has happened in many ways but the most evident one is the passion we have developed, together, to run and climb mountains. 

More than a year ago, I started doing this just to give us a different walk. Because, really, every day, three times per day, doing the same three walks, for I don't know how many years... Oh, boy, I understand why people stops getting their dogs regular walks! We are lucky to live in the mountains, close to fields, forests and places full with trails with no cars around. So the option was obvious. We started with "special" walks, that then became more regular and longer, that with time became faster, with us running part of the time and which later became a real sport that we practise together. I even ended up having all the special gear, a GPS watch and one of these applications where you can compete with other people who passed by the same trail. 

Now, several days a week, we run and climb together the mountains and forests close by. And how much fun this is. I like the effort up, the speed running down, and the sound of my dog's sleigh bell around. These days, my dog is happy because cooler days are here, I am happy because he cares to wait for me (in Summer he's behind all times), and we both enjoy the mud when it rains :)

If he doesn't mind, neither do I

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Having a dog has changed my life in so many great ways. I would say one of the most important changes has been in my relationship with nature. Not only my dog has brought me to have a much more active life, but also to really enjoy Nature as it comes. Because, if he doesn't mind, neither do I.

Happy Easter !

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Welcome back, Spring!

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After a long winter break, she's back together with the Spring. I didn't do it on purpose, I guess I just had a great and busy winter :) And I guess that I am also happy to welcome back Spring!

Merry Christmas! 

December baking

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This is a busy month for everyone. Exams, deadlines, school parties, Christmas and holiday preparations... the list can go on and on. December is, also for me, a particularly challenging month. Because to the above list I still add a couple of birthdays of my own children. And, as every mother will know, besides the parties themselves, each child may need a cake for the family party, a cake to bring to school, a cake for his birthday party with friends at home... 

Today, while baking the fourth cake in a week, and seeing a fifth one coming for this weekend, I just felt this was the right thing to do!

Letting myself go

Drawing is for me, before anything else, a pleasure. And yes, in the end, in life, one must have fun. Because it is only by having fun drawing, that we will draw over and over again, and while drawing, get better. It is funny how often people think we can develop muscle to run a race, but not to draw. And, by "getting better" I don't necessarily mean, as often people think, to be able to draw exactly what you see in front of your eyes. It is more about developing your own unique way to express yourself. To give this special value to things. Think it this way: it is obvious we all have our own handwriting, all beautiful and unique in their own way. Why, if drawing is so much related to handwriting, should be different? 

If you like to draw, just do it. Without thinking too much. This is a free drawing I made yesterday night in one of my multiple "telephone drawing" notebooks, and doing it was fun, and it gave me new ideas for newer drawings that I might think better :) In the end, inspiration, creativity... is all about this. Letting yourself go. Free.

PS. When doing classes I am always faced with the preconception (or misconception!) that drawing well means being able to transfer the reality as it is to a paper with your hands. And how wrong is that. Maybe I'll get to show this one to my students so they'll also learn to let themselves go, without any fear or complex!! 

A special colouring book

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Back in Spring last year I worked on a project... Now, just this week, this project has been made public, and I can also share it with you! Because yes, there's sometimes a long time passing between the moment when I finish something and the moment when comes to light.

My part in all this was making a series of illustrations for a special colouring book for children, a book thought to encourage them to ask questions about the world, about its elements, about how matter is formed, about how and why things happen, and maybe, with luck, get few of them to continue asking themselves these questions in the future, as scientists, when they will be adults. 

The book is edited by the ATLAS experiment at CERN, the European Organisation for Nuclear Research, and they have posted a video here to present it: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jwkZ63eezY&feature=youtu.be

The whole idea of the book was to introduce the particles as ingredients using the analogy with a cooking recipe book. My work consisted of creating and illustrating the elementary particles we know the Universe is made from, in a way that young children will find them funny and engaging. Here's a taste of the elementary particles I drew:

The book is available here, for all children (and adults!). If yours are curious, or you are, and love colouring, maybe you can print it for them (or for you!): https://atlas.cern/colouring-book

Have fun colouring!

Autumn Rain

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It is in autumn, and only in autumn, when I reconcile myself with the rain. 

Have a nice weekend!

Click on the image to view it full size

Brainstorming

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Sketching ideas for a fast project, this little drawing popped up. It was a long long time since the last one I'd made like this. 

Summertime

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With small children my summertime is not much like this, but for sure it's how I will remember it when I'll be working again! 

Rain, you won't beat me

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Still raining here. After what it feels it's been forever. And apparently Summer is around the corner, but it really feels like it must be so far away, like we are still stuck in March. I went from being angry to being desperate to being depressed. Then I went out, I ran a bit with my dog, and I felt determined: rain, you won't beat me!

June rain...

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We have started June as we ended May... raining 24/7. And well, I think the image says it all!!!

Drawing Friend

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This one goes to my wonderful dog, Ludo, who's part of our family since a couple of weeks ago. I am his walking friend, and he's my drawing friend. I guess this works well for both of us :)

Finally some Spring sun!

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Today, finally, it seems we're getting a wonderful Spring sun for a few days in a row! 
And to make it even better, we have a long weekend ahead. Feeling good!