Russian Bear with Attitude

Copyright. 2014. Niya Christine

Russian Bear. Fairy Tales Study.

I’m enjoying Carla Sonheim’s “Year of the Fairy Tale” study. This is the Russian bear from “The Frog Princess.” We are doing 3 spot illustrations this month. I think I broke the assignment with this full page scene. I’m learning how to add pastel to mixed media-collage and watercolor.

This is the scene when the Prince is seeking the needle in the egg that will bring his frog Princess back and meets the bear. The bear talks him out of killing him (in a “lighten up dude” sort of way) because the Prince will need the bear later. And he certainly does. I personally like his Harley Davidson heart with wings.

UPDATE: I am now selling original 2014 paintings as I paint them in the shop, here. The 2013 calendar of all paintings is available now as well!

365 Story Paintings Deluxe Hardcover Book: LIVE on Kickstarter

The Deluxe Hardcover Book Funding Campaign

Kickstarter campaign to get the book into people’s homes and hands.

…..HELLO…..Exciting News!

Yesterday, I launched a Kickstarter campaign in production the past 3 weeks to raise funds for the deluxe hardcover book of the 365 paintings. This book was in the proposal cycle for a traditional publisher, however that cycle is long one and this book has momentum.

WHY KICKSTARTER?

The book was envisioned from the onset of painting daily in January 2013: 12 months, 12 different themes with strong narrative drive to make for an entertaining visual narrative. But when subscribers, followers and customers began coming to me asking for help… really craving to carve out creative productivity in their very busy lives—when they wanted to know my secrets, the structure and how I dealt with the challenges and organizational battles—that’s when the book of painting stories took on a life of it’s own and became a resource for life design.

People are craving a bit of reflection and self expression in their days. I realized I was their lab-rat and this fascinated me, so I began to pay more attention and take extensive notes.

Now I have a book in progress and I need funding to make it happen. It’s a lovely book. A deluxe edition coffee table art book, over 200 pages. A memoir and structure for readers who are making something special in their life, even if only to change up some habits to be a better friend or parent. The structures and principles I discovered and developed work for anything you want to do. Especially if it’s something that really matters to you that you never seem able to get to on a daily basis.

So please spread the word. Let’s get this book funded together. The rewards are big and fun. Check it out on Kickstarter. Whether you decide to pledge your support or not,  I do hope you will pass it onto people in your life you feel just might be. Networking makes this all pretty special. Thank you!!!  Creatively yours, Niya.

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Owl in Love with Sparrow

Mixed Media by Niya Christine. Copyright

#47/365 Paintings

The owl let out it’s large talons, skidded on the dirt for a split second before scooping up the sparrow for dinner. The sparrow in his panic rolled several times before the snap of a wing and then dent of a pupil. He was done for. There was nothing uncertain about that. He dazed off as the great owl flew him to her nest. The sparrow had grown very weak. She pushed him aside as she prepared a small pocket of twigs around his body like a placemat on the dinner table. With her huge beak she pulled him from his non-broken wing. It confused her why she took care like this—not to hurt him, since she had just pummeled him and was about to eat him. He looked at her then from his torn up eye as if to say, “please… this hurts, go ahead.” It happened then. And she couldn’t tell you why this sparrow in particular. But she suddenly wanted nothing more than his wholeness. She pulled up the softest twigs she could find to support his wing. She fussed over him all night long. A red tail hawk tried to swoop in to eat him and she obfuscated him with one swift kick. What was she to do? She only destroyed tiny birds. She had no idea how to fix him. She put her body over him with special care that he breathed and kept him warm all night, hoping by dawn he would be whole again. She imagined the great adventures they would have together. He had a hold of her heart good!

In the morning she woke with a start. A shimmer of hope and happiness. She lifted her large wing and gently moved the twigs aside. She wriggled him. But it was no use. He was gone.

So this is how the great owl fell in love with the sparrow and kept him in her heart to this day.

…………………….

Project notes: This piece is the result of the multimedia class that concluded today (mentioned in previous posts). I’m thrilled to have learned how to do this. My technique is the opposite. Simply draw and paint, I’d forgotten about so many fun things like charcoal, gesso, pastel and more. I love how the images emerge and layers and layers later they introduce themselves as the characters they are. There will be more of this style in the future, I’m sure.