"Stay Whimsical"-An Illustration *And* A Story

"Stay Whimsical," watercolour line and
 wash and mixed media whimsical art.
by Clare Walker.

Hello there

Hope all is well in your corner of the world. This week's tale is of the whimsical mushroom you see above, and how it was a case of sticking with it, and listening to intuition.

It all started with thinking about all things Halloween. And then realising/more like remembering, I really, really, don't like spooky things. And that over the last few years, I've stuck (mostly) to being truer to that than the considerable commercial pressures of the season.

And so the first, hand painted version of this mushroom was born...

A  work-in-progress
shot of 
"Stay Whimsical"

Being me of course, I seriously thought that might be the end of it. Luckily, the image was having none of it, and I was able to ink in the words, the fairy window, deeper colours  more golden light for the mushroom, still stroke by stroke, but digitally (in Krita, if you're into that sort of thing too).

Which just goes to show, it's often the art that dictates when things are finished, not the person making it. (Around these parts, anyway).

"Stay Whimsical" Fridge Magnet
Available at Redbubble.

So now, there's a cute reminder to, "Stay Whimsical" at any time, *and* (if so inclined) to be able to buy/and/or gift the idea to others on some scrummy things, like the magnet you're seeing just above this.

Thanks for reading down this far. Have a great week...Staying as whimsical as you can, obviously. ;-).

More soon.

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An "Autumn Bounty" Thank You Design...

          

Hello there and hope you've had a good week.

I'm posting this later than I'd like, for reasons to do with minor home improvements that *finally* finished today and will leave us better-prepared for winter...Yay!

So there was time after all for this week's card sheets, which are perfect for this season, and all designed on the theme of rich autumn or fall colours, autumnal bounty, falling leaves, and the idea of thanks and thankfulness. (They should all be available in my Craftsuprint shop by the time you read this).

Because, whatever is going on in the world at large, it would be pretty difficult to feel anything but thankful for some of the beautiful, golden-washed scenes the Computer Man and I have been lucky enough to enjoy and capture this year...and whose colours were a *big* inspiration behind today's sheets.

Like this shot of a pergola in Southwark Park...

Or the changing colours in the lesser-known little gem that is Downhills Park...

We've been so spectacularly lucky with the conditions this autumn, that even our neighbour's rosebush has come over the wall and got in on the act. (Who knew that roses could make an *autumnal* spectacle too?...Maybe everyone but me ;-) )...

I guess the point is, whatever's going on in this particularly crazy world in which we seem to be living right now, beauty and nature are constants, and whatever else is also true, I'm so, so, grateful for that colour, beauty and joy.

More soon.

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Free November Clip Art Late Autumnal Wreath (Day 44)

 

Day 44's sketch is this late autumnal wreath for November. Just right-click and save (or click and save, or tap and save, depending on your device. You can use it freely, in line with my angel policy.

For those interested in the technicalities, it's a PNG in ArtRage 6 digital ink penwork (which, comes out looking rather like traditional gouache when colour is used instead of my normal black pen setting. Who knew?)

Anyway, hope this is of use.

More tomorrow.

Day 26: Happy Autumn Animated Gif

 

Today's sketches are still sketches, but went into this this tiny "Happy Autumn" animated gif, made in Krita.

More drawings (of some kind...who knows what?) tomorrow.