Year's Dawn Idea and Sketches

I found the inspiration for this one really hard. I nearly always just have an idea pop into my head, refine it a bit and then paint it. I spend a lot of time thinking about the composition and the colours but not actually the concept, just going with what ever thing of interest shows up.

It's been a long long time since I've drawn without an idea before hand.

For this one I knew I wanted to do something winter themed without it being too Christmas-y and with out it being too heavy in the Pagan symbolism either. Something that could act as a Christmas/Yule/Solstice card without only being limited to that.

So I went through other people's winter fantasy art looking for bits and bobs I found interesting and not too Christmas-y. I really liked the idea of having trees and the dawn coming up between them. Then...have the character interact somehow with a sapling? And antlers, antlers are cool.  

Gothic Spring Stock, Model: MariaAmanda, Photographer: Mike Thomassen (2012)

I came across this stock photo, originally I'd planned on the character kneeling directly in front of the sapling but I liked this pose. Though clearly she needed to be sitting on something other than the ground so I stuck her up on a branch.

Kingley Vale yews by Hannah Solloway

I decided to go with a yew tree to stick her in, very much a winter tree without being a Christmas tree. I ended up basing my yew on one at Kingley Vale in West Sussex. I'd love to go there one day.

At some point the sapling became snowdrops, they're more strongly linked with winter, if perhaps too far in the spring side of winter for a Christmas/Yule card.....It can be a New Years card.

I wanted to dress her in something fur lined but also wanted it to be clear she didn't mind the cold, being a sort of winter spirit. I ended up going with something based off a traditional Mongolian coat, I do adore the shape of the neckline with fur.

I ended up adding bobbles to her antlers since I seem to have wandered too far away from a Christmas themed painting. I'm happy with how they fit, even if they might not quite bring her back enough.

Over all...Character design I'm happy with, composition is a little lacking.