Fairy Tale Illustrations

Purely for inspirational purposes only.

 

Favourite Artists: Profile - James C. Christensen

James Christensen’s work fascinates me because the fantasy imagery is so surrealistically placed together.

As one blogger wrote (Tinadot) "I want to dive in and drown in the world he creates with his paintings. It’s not sugary fantasy with princesses and frills and bubbles, nor is it absolutely horrendous debauchery with demons, acid, blood and gore."

His work is always philosophical, however it is up to you to figure out the message (or just interpret it how you see it).

Studio Tidy Up

Yusss, I did it, I tidied up my studio. It took me about five whole weeks, bit by bit, gradually sorting papers, stickers, stamps, paints, etc.

So without further adeu, welcome to my home, here's letting you see a little bit of my world and where I hang out in my spare time (which isn't very much).

The story goes that after closing my stores I was left with a lot of stuff that used to grace the shops, they then needed a home. So voila, my DH cut in half his garage and made me a studio. What a lovely man, yes I know.

Here you go:

That's a rimu trouser holder, but holding sheets of decoupage papers.

Here you can see some of my toy theatres.

Commedia dell arte Masks, props from the shop

Some tools

Yes, you can see my desk for once.

Marie Antoinette's girlfriends in the garden.

Marie Antoinette approaches her friends here who are basking in the sun on the lawn in one of her country estates she owns. (Maybe she did own one like this, maybe she didn't).

The background drawing was made by Ed Butler (illustrator, comic artist and storyboard artist) and I did the colouring in using water pencils, plus there is also the addition of micro beads, dried grass and collaged pieces.

I have also used doll's house props.

Gingerbread House

Okay this gingerbread is the second attempt. The first one I made was covered in snow (yes icing sugar) and lots of candy and sweets, but the whole thing buckled and collapsed. So I was given a new pack to make up. The packs came from Sweden and I don't think the southern hemisphere at Christmas time is good for making them as the moisture and humidity just softens the gingerbread bases and walls.

Jezebel's Eunuch and Jezebel's Demise

Jezebel was married to King Ahab in the Old Testament. She was a wicked queen and killed about 400 prophets.

Today we can think of people as being Jezebel's by the way they act with others, and these two poems are written of battling with her. The last poem is called Jezebel's Demise, a curse on her as she is horribly eaten up by dogs when she falls from her lofty tower.

Queen Jezebel and her Eunuchs in Art Nouveau Style

Marie Antoinette goes to:

Marie Anotinette goes to:

An opera show;
A ball at the Hall of 1,000 lights
A walk in the garden
A walk in the garden by the lake.

Close ups of the front of the theatre

A night at the Opera

More close ups

Hall of a thousand lights ball

Walk by the lake

Stroll in the garden

Alice in Wonderland - Inspiration Tim Burton by Miri

One of my artists has developed this diorama with inspiration taken from Tim Burton's movie Alice in Wonderland. The illustrated cardboard cut outs are by Erin Forsyth.

Dollhouses and Miniatures Convention, Massey University, Albany: Labour Weekend

I have attended the Dollhouses and Miniatures Convention at Massey University in Albany. This university looks like a Spanish or Italian monastery. It is quite charming. But what is more charming are these little houses that were on display, including scenes from Narnia, and Harry Potter.

Scenes from the Hobbit:

Scenes from Harry Potter:

Scenes from Narnia: The Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe:

Then there are numerous other scenes: