Friday, December 09, 2005

Illustration Friday: Surprise


Artwork entitled "Open House" created for a Christmas card in 2002. Inside card reads: Celebrate the Holidays Together! It incorporates Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, Christmas, Feliz Navidad and Peace. I try to make all my holiday cards appeal to all denominations.

47 comments:

Teri said...

Oh, that is SO adorable! It says so much and the detailing is wonderful!

andrea said...

This is perfect: for the theme, for the season, for your blog. Very clever indeed.

Cream said...

Great painting! I love the fact that although the presents are pouring in, they could also be flying out to make someone happy!Beautiful colours, Val!

steve said...

Great idea to make it in the shape of a tree!
:-D

stevePoisonPencil

Natura said...

Lovely! Your houses are so beautiful :)

Catnapping said...

this is wonderful. so magical. i love all the glitter and gifts.

Rowantree said...

I like your houses !

Janet said...

Lovely, Val!

modroom said...

Did the tree grow too big or the house shrink? I like the photos in the trees too, little gaps of sunlight make me think of portals within the trees. I'll post a collage or two sometime soon to show you what I means. Valgal sounds a bit Viking. Are you a Viking?

Rachelle said...

Your houses are great. I'd want to live there!

isay said...

what a wonderful idea and the colors are perfect for the holidays.

Anonymous said...

Would also like to live in this house :) Very inviting!

atomicvelvetsigh said...

ohh.. yummyy.. looks like a house full of candies.. 8)

Weichuen You said...

Wow, the house is gorgeous...Your computerized art has a very smooth texture with a lot of beautiful colors. It places me in a good mood!

Joe said...

Wow! Love all the color! Great idea!

franhilz said...

Oh, this is nice!
A house-surprise! - colorful and happy
and I like the message too
People wishing peace and happyness for everybody beyond the small, cultural, differences
Beautiful and warming

Ellen Byrne said...

WELL DONE! Terrific concept and rendering!

Ellen Byrne said...

WELL DONE! Terrific concept and rendering!

Caroline said...

A houseful of surprises. Lovely.

Shano said...

So wonderful! Love the colors, theme, idea and message. (And those clouds look so durn soft!) Well done! :)

valerie walsh said...

thank you for all your sweet comments and i just had to mention i paint by hand, airbrush and use prismacolour pencils. I admire all who can illustrate using the computer but I don't know how. It's probably my crappy picture taking that confuses.

Mia Charro said...

So, so sweet, i´m your fan!
:)

carla said...

This is really quite wonderful, Val! I love the airiness of the tree, I love the idea of the diverse celebrations, and I love how it's like a gift coming out of a house-box! It kind of reminds me of The Nutcracke when the big tree grows and grows way up to the top of the stage. Magic:>

Twisselman said...

Nice bounty of cool Christmas surprises. Great illustration!

Weichuen You said...

Oh you must forgive me for my ignorance:-). I didn't know that one can achieve such smoothness of the texture by hand-painting. Sorry:-). You've taught me a new lesson:-).

Unknown said...

This is sooo coool!! Very magical!!

Jill Yusoff said...

I just love your work!

Courtney Pippin-Mathur said...

great illo, love all of the holidays.

Karlishhh said...

Very Sweet and very nice composition ! is soooooo cute

scott said...

hey val, lovely stuff, as always.
I have to ask.
do you use some sort of program that 'prepares your picture for the internet'? or something similar.
or do you take them with your cellphone? :)
it's just that they come through so tiny, and I always want to see more. I'm greedy like that.
(ah ha- a clue. I just opened one of your 'rural photos' from the previous entry and it has come through 640 X 480 pixels, like the normal minimum resolution of our digital cameras)
so we have to work out why the paintings are coming through so small.
(since we got the cropping and straightening almost sorted out) ;)
sorry to be such a nag, but theres no reason, or shouldn't be one, why I, or we, can't see your paintings with a bit more umph.
thanks for accepting the tag BTW and I wait with baited breath.
love scott

Sally said...

Your work is always so brilliantly colored - beautiful!

By the way, did you know the mushrooms you use in your header - the red with white spots - are a form of amanita, which are poisonous? I've noticed those beautiful red/white mushrooms are often used in children's books, cartoons, etc, because they are more brilliant. But they are not for eating, ever!

Todd DeWolf said...

Well done. Nice mix!

Carla said...

loooove the idea! and always like your work! its adorable!

vfm4 said...

you know what i think about your illos and this one is as great as the others are! :)

Wilnara said...

Val I am in total agreement with everyone - your houses have such a a warm feeling. The colors are also beautiful.

Lily and Lucy White said...

Beautiful! Such fun! Put me in the spirit of ALL the winter holidays, thank you for the surprise! Lily.

neena maiya (guyana gyal) said...

And clever too!

Aravis said...

This is really wonderful!

ecm said...

Fantastic illo! A perfect blend of surprise AND holiday! :-)

Robin Oakley said...

Sweet!

Kim Carney said...

I love the combination! And I think the painting is a breath of fresh air (or paint!)

Unknown said...

Val, what a wonderful house and just pouring out gifts of love.
your houses are so whimsical and wonderful.

mid-life zhen said...

Your illustration looks like a fairy tale, filled with hope and joy.

mag.nolia said...

Beautiful!!! :) I've always enjoyed your illos and this one is no exception :)
hartini.com

Jaimie said...

Delightful, I love the soft colors.

KarenW said...

This is wonderful. Looks like the house it part of a magical candy land.

doodlegirl said...

what a sweet, wonderful, thoughtful and amazing card you sent out! ---Not to mention adorable as well!!

It's so wonderful getting to know you through your art. You're doing an awesome job!!!