Summer Souvenirs

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I am already starting to feel the end of Summer... a feeling which comes two folded. First, the nostalgia from knowing that before I realise, holidays will be over. Then, the envy to paint, to draw, and even to put in order my studio, maybe as a metaphor of putting also in order my ideas, and sorting out on which projects will I focus first. 

This afternoon I decided to make a sketch that, without realising, condensates these two feelings. These are four of the sea shells my children picked in Normandy, during our family holidays. A symbol of this Summer, yes, and also a way for me to get off, a bit, this urge for drawing that is already building up inside!

Detail of the seashells. And I have so many more to draw!

And the full sketch. Because when I finished with the seashells, I still wanted to sketch something more, and the watercolor box in itself is such a great subject!

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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! 

Holidays in Normandie

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Yesterday we came back from our family holidays in Normandie. We had a wonderful time, with even some days of intense hot and a bath in the sea!


Day 1: traveling, traveling

While Ernest drives, I draw, and time passes a bit faster. The whole trip was like 11 hours, with multiple stops for kids, dog, and ourselves. When we arrived we took our stuff out of the car and we visited the batterie allemande in Longues-sur-Mer, and the Plage des Falaises. It was high tide so we went back the day after.


Day 2: Plage des Falaises, and Bayeux

Low tide in the savage and beautiful Plage des Falaises, in Longues-sur-Mer. We found lots of small sea animals, dog swam and brought the stick back many times. Hot and sunny. Nothing like I'd been menaced Normandie would be!

In the afternoon, after an ice-cream, we visited Bayeux, its cathedral, and the ancient medieval quarter. Then my daughter and I drew a bit. This is a corner next to the cathedral. I couldn't draw the inside because at some moment someone closed the door, and it was getting late for dinner.

Day 3: Le Mont Saint-Michel, or "The Magical Mountain"

We didn't wait long for the Mont Saint-Michel, or the 'magical mountain', for the kids. While the kids and husband were visiting a terrarium in Beauvoir, I walked the 4 km of path between this town and the beginning of the passarelle of the Mont St.-Michel, with my dog. It was too hot though, and while I was looking for a place to draw, he was desperately looking for some shadow. In the end we found both, although I am left with the feeling that I have to come back in a more inspired day.
I had to wait for the family to come for a long time, so I drew and drew. The visit was great, we did it in the evening, so the mountain was quiet and we could walk around as we wanted. We had some moules there for dinner, and I could draw the dusk colors from the car. The Mont St.-Michel has indeed something magical in it, as do the long normand evenings.
Day 4: Arromanches and Plage in Asnelles

That day was super hot, we went to Arromanches, desperately looked for shadow after 5 minutes, but the windy north coast has no trees... so as soon as we could we went to the beach. Kids wanted to repeat the beach in Longues-sur-Mer, but then they also loved this one too. Next to Arromanches, the beach in Asnelles has some remains of the artificial port from the WW2.

Day 5: Honfleur and Étretat

Honfleur in the morning, some picnic lunch, and then we divide ourselves in two teams: husband + 2 kids go for a boat ride, daughter + dog + me go for some sketching. We find some shadow, dog lies down, my daughter draws one view, I draw the opposite one. Fun.

When everyone is done we take the car and go to Étretat to admire the coast. We draw the view of the falaise d'Aval and l'Aiguille Creuse. It's just magnificent. It's 18h and the sun is already coming down, the light is gorgeous. Then we walk along the coast and find some stairs going down in between the rocks, we take the path, go into a cave, and arrive to a stone beach, from where we can see the falaise de l'Amont. We spent some time there, what a wonderful afternoon.

Day 6: Caen

We are all set up, kids and dog in the car, house closed, back-packs ready. The car doesn't start, it's the battery. Fortunately we manage to get it fixed and we only get to Caen a bit later than planned. We visit the old city, the castle, do a quick drawing with my daughter and go to a park to watch some shows in the street. There's a big playground, show is funny, everyone is happy.

Day 7: Rouen

That day we managed to get out the house in the morning, and we got to Rouen by noon. Rouen is so beautiful, full of medieval houses "en pan de bois", all in different colors, and gothic churches and cathedrals. That day, with my daughter, we only wanted to draw everything we saw, and we spent like 7 hours in Rouen, and left with envy to draw a bit more...

Day 8: Barfleur, and beach

Barfleur is a small fishing town right up in the peninsula of Contentin. It is classed one of the most beautiful beaches of France, and it is true it is so authentic, with its granite stones and the harbour. That day was cloudy and windy, and after a bit of drawing in the breeze it felt a bit too fresh.

Later in the day the wind took the clouds away and as we moved back south we stopped in one of the long beaches between Quineville and Utah Beach. It was empty, low tide, and while kids looked for crabs, seashells and other beasts, I put my foldable stool in the sand, everything on my knees, and drew them in action. Quickly, and afraid I would drop something into the water...

Day 9: Pont L'Évêque

At this point I think we were tired of driving, and we had started thinking of the long drive back that was awaiting us at the end of the corner, so we spent the two lasts days a bit closer to where we were staying. That day we payed a short visit to Pont l'Évêque, the little town famous for its famous cheese. Pont l'Évêque is full of ancient medieval houses, and crossed by three rivers. Husband took the two small kids to one of these rivers, while my daughter and I took the dog to do some more sketching.

Day 10: Port-En-Bessin

Last day in Normandie, we went to Port-En-Bessin, the town next to where we were staying, a beautiful fishing town. We strolled in the harbour, and also along the cliffs facing the sea. A wonderful day to finish our trip.

Day 11: Traveling, traveling... back home

Driving, stopping, driving... We managed to get out at the time we wanted to, and didn't find major problems in the highway during our trip. At noon we were already passing through Paris, where we got a glimpse of the Eiffel Tower, then we did a longer stop for lunch in Auxerre. Kids played in the river, I took the dog for a walk, and stole him 10 minutes for a quick sketch. Auxerre surprised us, it was welcoming and beautiful. 

 After lunch it was Ernest's turn to drive, so I took my shoes off and did the last sketch of the trip. In the car, as I had started 10 days ago. It's been a great vacation, and I've enjoyed so much sketching shoulder to shoulder with my daughter. 

Finally, Yvoire

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Last year I went to Yvoire for the first time, when my family was visiting, and I told to myself I'd go back to do some sketches.  And it was only today, now bringing in some friends, that everyone got to draw a bit, children, and adults, starting from my 3yr old son! So I also got myself a bit of drawing, finally, in Yvoire.

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Last drawing class before the Long Holidays

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Today, for the last class of the year, I brought my two best girls to draw in situ. I'd been telling them we'd go for a long time, during winter, when spring comes and afternoons are longer, during spring, when it is a bit less cold, when it doesn't rain, when, when... and like this we got to the last day! And yes, it was sunny, we found a quiet spot proposed by one of them, we could sit in the shadow, and we had a wonderful time.

Lastly, and most important of all, girls were very happy with their sketches :) And hopefully also motivated to bring their notebook on holidays with them!

... and I also got to sketch a bit ;)

Girls in action!!

Sketch 1, by Sarah

Sketch 2, by Maitane

And my sketch below:

They are good these girls, aren't they? 

Sketching houses

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Life is full of unexpected things. I started going out to sketch, just to have fun, to pass some nice time, to have a break in between projects... for many reasons, but definitely not to sell my drawings, or to make sketches on command. It wasn't the goal, but it came with it, and I welcome it! And I can't avoid thinking this came up because I was just enjoying what I was doing, without getting stressed out with it. Because yes, when we don't think too much, sometimes things get done by themselves, in their own nice way.

This Spring I didn't go out very often, at least not as often as I've been thinking I'd do during the cold winter months and I used to imagine how much I would sketch when my feet would not be freezing after 10 minutes. But in the end again things turned out to be different: I had work I had to do indoors, it was raining for two months with almost no pause, and then I had some houses to draw on commission for which I profited every break the rain would give us. 

Below I share two of these sketches which I did during this last month. 

The first one is another typical old farm. This little house is part of a row of houses in Thoiry, the full row is beautiful, and one day I'll draw it all together, house by house. In the same property there are other nice corners too. I am lucky I got to meet the owner, a retired man who is now taking care of the property, and he welcomed me to come back and draw whenever I want to! :D

Old farm now a house in Chemin de Baizenas, in Thoiry.
For an family from the EEUU who lived there over the last year, and who are soon coming back to their house in the US.

The second sketch is of another quite typical kind of house in the region I live, a wooden chalet. And yes, in the end I live in France, but very close to Switzerland, where houses like this one, in the mountains, are often seen. This drawing forms part of a series that I'll do over this year's four seasons. Next one will be coming in August. 

Typical mountain wooden chalet, in Crozet. For a couple that has lived there over many many years, and who will have a series of their house during this year's four seasons, starting with Spring 2016.

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!

Day #2 

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This morning we had some sun, and rains are announced again for this afternoon, so I decided to put work aside for a couple of hours and took Ludo to a sketching walk. Oh, he definitely does not like it! After 10 minutes he was whining, huffing, and making all sort of noises to see if I would get it. I went again to the Rue du Jura, in Crozet. Rue du Jura is the most ancient and main road in the little village where I live, and it has so many nice corners. I attached him to my waist, and drew for a bit, I didn't put all color because I was feeling guilty for my dog, but the important things, the blue sky, the blue door, the blue fence and the blue shutters are there, and that's all that matters :)

After sketching I took him to run a bit, I made a mess inside my watercolor box, but dog was happy again!

Out with my dog

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Today, for the first time, I went out to sketch with Ludo, my wonderful dog. I hadn't been out since before he joined our family, because really, it is so rainy lately! But this afternoon it hold, so we came back to where we'd been yesterday during our evening walk. I've been sketching here before, back in September. It is a very little road that goes over the river l'Allondon, maybe the road is only 100m, not much more, but it is one of the most beautiful places around. So many nice angles concentrated in such a tiny place!

I had to sketch very fast, because after a while Ludo was whining because he wanted to continue with our walk :)

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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!!!

Wedding anniversary watercolor

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Lately, between work and rain, I have no occasion to go out just for the fun of it, but I profit every moment of sun to go out and make progress on the various Spring commissions I have. 

This portrait of this beautiful ancient farm I did it early this month, and it is being given today to the house owners, as a present for their 30th wedding anniversary. They do live in a gorgeous house, don't they?

Poppy Flowers in Crozet

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The good thing about the changing weather are these wonderful afternoon skies. This, combined with the fields getting full of blooming poppy flowers... an irresistible combination!

Lazy Friday Tea

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Some Friday afternoons it becomes hard to focus on real work, specially if one doesn't feel a lot of pressure by coming deadlines. This afternoon I was a bit lazy, I did some turns before sitting down at my table, I made myself a tea... and I ended it drawing it.

Have a nice weekend!

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 :)

A village by the sea...

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I don't have any idea yet about what we'll be doing this summer for holidays... but it seems like I've already, unconsciously, started thinking about it...

Birthday Watercolor

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Spring, as in autumn, is one of the seasons when I have more watercolor commissions. This one is for a man whose birthday was yesterday, and has a beautiful house in St Jean de Gonville, a little village few villages away from mine. For his birthday, his children wanted to offer him a watercolor of his house and garden, with himself, his wife and their two cats. 

After they first contacted me, one of their neighbor friends walked me through the garden, and we decided the view. Then I went back one sunny day, when the owners weren't around, and did a sketch of the house in my small sketchbook. The final work I did it in my studio, copying carefully the original sketch into a larger size, and inserting the birthday man, his wife and their cats. And yes, details are very important, so even if that small, they are dressed in their clothes, sitting in their chairs, and in that very same spot when they usually drink coffee.

House and Family in St Jean de Gonville, May 2016. Approx. size 40x25cm. Watercolor.

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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!

Bored ... 

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When I am bored usually it is not that I have nothing to do, but more that I am in a state of mind where I seem to be blocked: I do not want to just not be doing anything, but I don't want to do what I could be doing either. So I just remain recreating myself in this boredom, and (at least for a bit) complaining about it.

Today I had one of these afternoons, but after a moment of boredom recreation I went to my drawing table. And I wasn't bored anymore when I'd finish pouring it into the paper :) I had said before drawing is the best thing against headache... well, it is also the best thing against boredom!

Little Princess

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This one is about a little girl who's turning 4 years old, and her most wanted wish is to become a princess, at least for one day. Her favorite color is pink, so she dreams about herself in a pink princess dress, inside her magical castle, a castle full of towers with different colors, and stairs that will bring her anywhere. 

Finally, her birthday day arrives, and when she wakes up she finds herself in that magical castle, surrounded by magical mountains, where the sun never sets down. She goes to her balcony and sees a small skier, sliding down the spiky mountains so fast. The skier must come from very far away. Maybe the other side of the world! And she thinks, Who's that, and what message is bringing to me? 

Closer to that yellow field

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Last Wednesday I wanted to sketch the yellow colza fields in Crozet, but I didn't dare to sit close to the route. This afternoon with my dad we went into the fields, so I could get a closer view, and I sat there for a while, adding layers of greens. Here in the picture the sketch seems pretty small, but in fact the larger size is about 50 cm, and it took me more than an hour to complete it. 

It is so nice drawing in the Spring sun and surrounded by these gorgeous landscapes.

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Enjoying longer days

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Thursday afternoon I always drive my daughter to her dancing class. It is not far, but far enough that makes it not worth to come back home during her lesson, so I always stay there. I usually bring a book, or some work, if I am working on a digital illustration. I never go out and draw during that time because it's been always dark and cold, and time is really short to look for a place and to draw and finish color in place. But today it wasn't dark, I'd been drawing in the morning too, working on a commission, and I was left with the will of going out again just for the fun of it. So I went.

I was lucky because I found a little path I didn't know about, that brought me near the center of the town. And right there, just walking a bit, there were several nice houses for me to draw! I had 30 minutes to choose the place, sketch and be back, so I just picked a sunny spot where I could put my stuff and did a very very quick sketch of one of the houses. And I was even there waiting for my daughter to come out 3 minutes before the class was over!

The other good thing is that I have houses left to paint for next time :)

Little Panda - Pequeño Panda

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It is true what it is said that, sometimes, while drawing, the pencil becomes alive and with its own will, and ideas evolve and take ways we didn't think in the first moment. I guess it is just that one can be so focused in something that thoughts come up almost unconsciously, aided by the images we have already drawn. 

Little Panda (Pequeño Panda) was born in this way, during the illustration process of the wishes of a godmother to her baby godson. My pencil became alive and my drawing evolved to the figure of my little son and his doudou, his inseparable fluffy toy, a little panda bear. All at once I discovered that the Little Panda was the image of my boy, and that the little rag mouse was that of his panda bear, his friend, his solace, and maybe his secret confident...

Now Little Panda has life on his own, as a character, starring what it will be his first book.

Illustration for Little Panda book cover

I have previously described a bit what is involved during the creative process. In fact, you might be surprised to hear that it starts as soon as the project has green light. From that moment and until I have a more or less clear picture in my head, I think about it last thing before getting asleep, and first thing in the morning. And intermittently during the day. When the idea starts to form I just get very anxious to draw it, but I am already more relaxed inside. 

Before starting thinking, or before starting drawing, the first thing is to decide the format. Yes, the format is very important. Because we tend to think only the content matters, but not, the way we place it, the "white" around it, is also a very important part of the composition. Once this is settled, I start to sketch. 

When I started sketching, I already knew I would use the relationship between a kid and his toy to illustrate the different concepts I had been given. I also knew I didn't want the kid to be a human kid, but an animal. But I hadn't still decided exactly which animal. I also knew the doudou would be an animal too, but didn't know what yet. I had three or four choices for them, and I started sketching. After two or three sketches, Little Panda popped up as the main character. 

When I was satisfied with it, I got to his toy. What interested me is that the toy would have features that would immediately give the sense of movement of a rag doll. That's why I made it with long legs and long arms. Long legs and long arms can just hang or have some expression. Then I made strips so that I could color it a bit more, and provide some contrast with the panda's black and white colors. And well, I chose a mouse because it seemed to me a panda and a mouse were a good match :)

I did the sketches for all the concepts, carefully working on both the body language and the expressions of the character. Because a good sketch is crucial, as it represents 90% of the total work. 

Some of Little Panda sketches

Only when the sketches were given green light, I started the final artwork. 

First of all I prepared the paper, marking the format I was working with. In this case, all illustrations were to nicely fit in a 15x15 cm square. Then, I just drew everything again very very carefully, trying to always keep my paper clean, making sure to always keep the same proportions between the panda and the mouse, between the panda head and his body, between the mouse head and his body and legs, and all this sort of things. I carefully worked on the body and face expressions, first using a soft pencil for all drawings in parallel, and later on, when happy, using a waterproof marker to finalize the lines. 

One of the Little Panda final illustrations, before putting color in

Time for the final final step: coloring. 
I scanned everything, just for safety, and printed a copy of the image above, for coloring tests. I chose this one because the bodies of both the panda and the mouse are clear and complete. These illustrations were to be done with watercolors, and we cannot remove them once put in, so testing colors is a good thing to do. For the black parts of the panda I used black and indigo, letting the watercolors mix in in the paper. The mouse was to be orange with touches of blue and violet. The first test came out nicely, so I went back to the originals to color them.

And voilà, this is the final result!
Little Panda and his mouse are very good friends, and they hope will share many adventures in the future.

Final set of illustrations for Little Panda (Pequeño Panda) book (click on the image to view it larger)
To see the full set of illustrations individually and larger, check my Facebook page: https://business.facebook.com/imaginecarolinadeluca/posts/1321770401173075

Time out

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After two intense weeks of school holidays, it felt I needed a bit of time out.
I didn't stay in my pyjamas all day, but I finished all immediate work, prepared this afternoon drawing classes, and I had this bit of time out drawing just for fun. And it was as great as it sounds :)

Green, green

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Everything is green in the fields around where I live. Only in the mountain spring is still making its way to the top, and some greys and browns from the branches that have no leaves yet are mixed with the bright and intense green of the leaves that just came out. It is beautiful. Fields are full of dandelions and other flowers, and the colza fields are just in flower too. 

This afternoon I had a little moment, so I went out to quickly capture this explosion of green. I wanted to get closer to the colza field at the bottom, but I was afraid of sitting too close to the route, so I had to leave the field beyond the farm. This is a view of Chemin des Noyers from Chemin des Hivouettes, right before the poney club in Crozet. 

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Drawing from the sofa

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Today I really wanted to go out to sketch, as with the school holidays starting this Monday, and then some work I have to do, it really felt like the last opportunity in a while. But for different reasons I had to stay home. So in the end, after realising it was now or never, I just drew from the sofa. And yes, it is way funnier to draw your own mess than actually tidying it up!

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Raining, inside and outside

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When I am in between projects I always take a morning, an afternoon, or a full day for myself before starting with the following one. It is like when you have just finished a book, you have the next one to read waiting on your bed table, but you cannot start one straight after the other, so you switch off the light instead. 

Today is one of these days for me, when I usually just take my stuff and go out to sketch. But today we have a steady and constant April rain, so I decided not to go. After a while I rethought it and decided that it didn't matter the rain, that I'd go out... and then I didn't have time to do it anymore... so I just let it go, and drew what I felt. Inside and out.