http://123shell.cgsociety.org/gallery/ 123shell's gallery of images en-us 120 http://123shell.cgsociety.org/gallery/578145

I always loved the Grimm story "The False Bride". In the story, while on her way to wed a neighboring prince, a princess is tricked into losing the magical protection her mother has given her. She ends up being forced to give her identity to a maid servant who takes her clothing and magical talking horse. The princess is made to serve at the castle as the goose girl (with Conrad, who is seen here clutching his hat). When the false bride beheads Falada, the princess's talking horse, the princess manages to get the head hung by the castle gate so she can talk it everyday as she passes.

It's a rather convoluted story, sorry, I can't do it justice here.

This was published in the first issue of Dante's Heart, an online journal that showcases work (written and art) related to fairytales, myth folk lore and fantasy http://www.dantesheart.com/

I loved painting the geese, honeysuckly, baskets and pears best. I was tempted to show drops of blood dripping down on the pears, but squeamishness won out.

Painter, wacom intuos, about 40 hours total.

Happy New Year ]]> Mon, 31 Dec 2007 01:28:51 +0000 http://123shell.cgsociety.org/gallery/566071

Under the flickering northern lights, the polar bear sleeps soundly.

And as he sleeps, he dreams...

Of rising into the air like a snowflake on an updraft off the early spring tundra; of swimming through the aqua lit sky as though he were underwater, chasing the laughing fur seals that leave trails of shining stars in the heavens.

As he dreams his feet twitch with every dream stroke of his legs through the sky of water--through the shimmering Northern Lights.

It is a good dream, and he is happy.

For the Childrens Illustrator club on DA, November theme-- Polar Bears. Painter and wacom intuos, about 10 hours total. ]]> Tue, 27 Nov 2007 05:54:38 +0000 http://123shell.cgsociety.org/gallery/557541

Artemis with some of her hunting hounds and the Golden Hind. The peregrine has just launched himself from her shoulder, I think they're sighted something of interest.

I started this image almost a year ago, and have picked it up when I'm between other works. I loved working on it, I like having an image like this sitting around just waiting for me to daydream over when I have some spare time. It's somewhere to play and experiment, taking as much time as I like, just enjoying the process.

Link to reference photo (nudity) http://skydancer-stock.deviantart.com/art/Skydancer-Stock-0735-39881819 , and many thanks to Sky Dancer Stock for providing it.

Painter, wacom, 10 bazillion hours (heh). Honestly I think I repainted the entire piece about 5 times at various points I don't know that that made it any better, but it did make it a whole lot FUN-er.
]]> Sun, 04 Nov 2007 04:48:23 +0000 http://123shell.cgsociety.org/gallery/472500

This started as an experiment with an art nouveau style frame, just playing around. I sketched in the mushroom and frog on a whim, and after that it took on a life of its own. The frame I started with was completely gone in the end

Inspired by the fairy tale Thumbelina by Hans C Anderson.

Painter IX and wacom intuos tablet. No ref.]]> Sat, 10 Mar 2007 00:52:14 +0000 http://123shell.cgsociety.org/gallery/427277

This is a painting from a few months ago that I've just revised. I thought it was a bit too dark, and wanted to change a few things...clean up here, softer there, more detail in some areas.

These are eastern gippsland water dragons and fairybelle orchids, both natives of eastern Australia. I'm not sure of the name of the butterflies, but we often see them close to water, on the banks of rivers and such.]]> Thu, 09 Nov 2006 06:42:39 +0000