What the music gives us 2

On Fire

(color pencil and watercolors)

Song: Set fire to the rain by Adele

Normally, I feel like I might be able to set fire to the pouring rain. But not all days are like that. This weekend should have been different; I should have been burning brighter than the evening star, but sometimes your flames can be down to a heap of smoldering ashes.

I´m normally blazing with enthusiasm and this drawing should be a reminder of that. It´s the first in all long time, that I´ve done without  a detailled preparatory drawing. In the end, some fiery colors set the tone. I might do a series of drawings based on the four elements, because I have a strong connection to this theme.

The longer I stare into those flames, the more convinced I become, that I´ll soon catch a fire again…

When did you last try to set fire to the rain and dare the impossible?

May your muse always be with you,

Your Art Fairy

Let´s beautify the world with ribbons!

I know, I know….I haven´t posted in a while. And who is to blame? The Siberian weatherman and his wave of cold of course! It can even knock the most energetic fairy flat. But this doesn´t necessarily mean that my mind isn´t in overdrive for creative tidbits. Last weekend, I went to a creative market with a friend and I was astounded by the sheer never-ending heaps of textiles in all the shades of the rainbow. There were even some with a pattern of flower fairies...I wish I could really sew, sigh!

I was actually looking for new drawing utensils on the market and was sadly disappointed when there were none at all. But no need to despair! After a while, I stumbled upon a stand with some lovely velvet ribbons. I love all kind of ribbons….they make my heart ache with longing. And for a long time, I´ve wanted to bestow some boyish-retro-charm on some of my old blouses. So, this is a tutorial on how to decorate a plain old blouse with ribbons. 

English actress Gemma Arterton for example wore a satin, Peter Pan collared blouse with a velvet ribbon neck tie at the Giorgio Armani Privé show in Paris last summer.

And Gemma has been a much better source of inspiration than Alexa Chung in her Stella McCartney bow blouse on the cover of the teen vogue 2005 (or the ribbon allover look as I call it).

So before you start a bonfire of your old blouses, here a tip on how to rejuvenate them:

Tie a ribbon in a matching color to your blouse up in a nice, floppy bow. To add some extra 19^th century charm, you can fix the bow with a brooch.

If you ever see a dreamy-eyed girl in a library or café, twirling the ends of her ribbon…..well, then you´ve found meJ

So, what do you think of this? Yay or nay?

May your muse always be with you,
Your Creative Fairy

My most trusted advisor…..is my fridge!

Something nice with rice: Eggplant and zucchini rolls with rice and apricot sauce

Sometimes if I don´t know what to do, the first thing that comes to mind is to open my fridge and ask the famous question: „My fridge, my refrigerator in the hall, is there anything to eat at all?“ Maybe it´s just an attempt to procrastinate, but I consult my fridge a lot. It´s like a look into a crystal ball: You don´t know yet what´s to come, but afterwards you´re a little wiser (at least if you want to know what your dinner will be likeJ). There is not always an answer to that question, especially if there are only leftovers in the fridge. But I pay close attention to always have some fresh vegetables on stock for spontaneous cooking frenzies. And recently I had one of those. I had a craving for rice and eggplant and so was born the idea to prepare some sushi inspired rolls. The apricot sauce adds some color and a fruity touch to it. So don´t forget to consult your dear fridge from time to time, I´m sure it will be most grateful!

What the music gives us 1

Falling

(pencil and color pencils)

Song: Falling by Florence and the Machine

Falling's not the problem,when I'm falling I'm at peace
It's only when I hit the ground it causes all the grief

When I hear this song, I just can´t help it: It makes me wanna let go of everything and be in this state of utter bliss while falling…. So, it is a good choice for my first drawing inspired by music.

It´s not quite a year ago, that a friend introduced me to my first song ever of Florence & the Machine: My boy builds coffins. The lyrics raised a lot of questions. I just couldn´t help it and asked abashed what she´s actually singing about. Till this day, I haven´t found an entirely satisfying answer. In an interview, she said that her ex cancelled a date, so that he could build a coffin for the cover of his band´s album. This story seems really farfetched and whatever the truth behind it, I keep enjoying Florence´s daydreams that take flight in my imagination through her clear voice.

Florence´s songs are open for interpretation and her words take me to another reality, or so it seems. I can´t listen to any of her songs, without having those colorful images flashing through my mind. It´s high time, that I let my drawing hand be guided by those beautiful vocals.

Marvel at the resultJ No really, I´m quite happy with this one. I´ve done a thousand of those drawings with falling angels covered in blood. But the song inspired something else in me. The fall itself had to be light and peaceful, bathed in a surrounding halo of vibrating and joyous colors. Instead of wings, a heart-shaped balloon slows down the actual fall. The tangled hair is what I love the most about it; it cost me a lot of nerves to have it playing around the girl like tongues of fire. Maybe that is what it looks like if you let your hair downJ The facial expression is a downer though. I wanted no foreshadowing of the hit on the ground reflected in her eyes. She should appear like looking into herself and coming at terms with her own soul and being. With butterflies as her companions (the ancient greek word for butterfly is psyche), she continues heading gracefully toward tomorrow´s skies. At least for now! You never know what the water, er pardon…., what this talented lady might give us along the wayJ

My next idea for a pictorial song interpretation is already in the making!

What are your favorite songs and lyrics? What story do they tell you?

May your muse always be with you,

Your Art Fairy

My sun and stars and the moon of my life!

Khal Drogo and Daenerys Targaryen

(pencil and photoshop)

I don´t normally do fanart, but I just HAD to draw them!  First the books and then the series „Game of Thrones“ ate my heart away without chewing. The character development is beyond comparison. At first, Daenerys seemed like the typical damsel in distress, forced by her brother to marry the wild Dothraki leader Khal Drogo. But her transformation into a fierce Khaleesi at the side of her husband is something to behold. All the scenes with Dany are quite intriguing and the unlike pair has a budding romance. Dany continues to evolve after the death of Drogo and if the second season sticks to the book, then it looks promising.

My drawing is based on some stills of the show, but the resemblance isn´t so striking. I had difficulties to compose their position ad lib.  And I don´t even speak of the bodies (esp. hands and feet), that are slightly out of proportion. I like the parchment effect though. It insinuates that their future together is fading away like a picture is yellowing with time.

I already have some ideas for my next project. It will be a series of drawings based on music. And there is a certain fireheaded lady that produces a lot of images in my headJ

Stay tuned and may your muse always be with you,

Your Art Fairy

What does the winter bring, if not another spring!

Is it possible to revive a frozen heart?

(charcoal, pencil, and color pencils)

This is a drawing that I have worked very intensely on the last week.  It's close to my heart in many ways. At first, I wanted to do something more colorful, but now it turned out much darker and got some gothic feel to it.

The cold breath of winter is icing through the landscape and the girl´s heart pendant is dripping with blood. For now, her heart´s desire will lay dormant. Only the melting snow in spring can wash away what once was and ease the inner turmoils. It´ll be the start of something new!

I´m no Monet, that´s for sure! Otherwise I could have rendered the different shades of the white of the snow more exact and in some impressionistic manner. The folds of the dress are bearable. I´d have loved to add some more fluffy quality to winter´s icing sugar. And on top of that, I absolutely need to learn more about coloring and human body structure.To remedy this, I have the intention to follow one or another drawing course this year……it´s some kind of resolutionJ

So long and may your muse always be with you,

Your Art Fairy



The taste of summer

The merry berry connection: Blueberry yogurt cream
"I found my thrill, on Blueberry Hill..." I'm pretty sure this song isn't about blueberries, but every time I hear it, all that comes to mind is a huge amount of those berries waiting to kiss my taste buds. And no, I didn´t get the season wrong! It´s just, that the longing for summer is my constant companion…I dream of it even if I´m wide awake. I´m already making plans for this summer and just the idea of it lightens my mood in the darkest hours. So here, I present you with my personal taste of summer. And what is your favourite taste of summer? Share your toughts!