The ground was covered in frost this morning on our little farm. Our chickens aren’t laying quite as many eggs so it must be getting chilly in the night… brrr….
But because of this chill the trees have been transformed into their spectacular fall colours. All the apples, grapes and garden fair have been harvested. (Canning is still in progress.) And I am enjoying the inspiration that fall brings.
Check out the painting and print above in my Etsy shop > MISH MASH
The painting below is a commission piece I just completed last week. My client gave me a greeting card with a picture on front that she requested I paint in my own style. I struggled a little with how to represent her idea, I really didn’t want it to come out tacky. In the end it turned out very illustrative, much like something you’d see in a children’s book and she loved it.
I thought I’d share the process with you as it seemed a fitting painting to post during this time of year. 
As always I start with a watery acrylic sketch of the idea.
Then I begin my first layer of “fill” colours – usually starting with the background and working my way forward.
Although I regularly draw figures in my illustrations, I rarely do them in my paintings and so this is where my struggles began. I didn’t know how to make the girl and the cat fit into my landscape naturally. 
As I continued painting my instincts led me to a more illustrative style. 
Moving forward in layers adding detail on top of my first layers. And eventually some stylized lining for definition and pop.
My client loved the piece. I am satisfied with it as an illustration but I do feel that I need to work more on figurative painting.
This painting is also available as a print in my Etsy shop – check it out here > MISH MASH. And if you have missed out on my previous paintings in progress – check them out on our blog here > HOW TO PAINT.
Happy Autumn!
Micheline
