Hello Friends!

I decided that my first art journal goal is going to be to study some of the best children’s book illustrators from the past. Beatrix Potter is my first choice.

She trained her eye well through constant observation of real plants and animals. She and her brother caught and trained wild mice and rabbits!

I have been reading about her for the last couple of weeks. The biography I bought called “Beatrix Potter, A Life in Nature” by Linda Lear, is actually easy and enjoyable reading, not daunting like I thought it might be when I saw it at the library. So now I am glad I bought it! Her watercolors are so soft and beautiful!

So here is my first attempt at copying, not tracing, one of her illustrations for the book “The Tale of Jeremy Fisher.” Apparently, in addition to drawing from life, she also copied famous illustrators from her day for practice.

I am planning on doing a few more turtles before the end of the year, too. I hope everyone is having a nice Decemberrrr. It is finally cold here! I’m glad.

Have a wonderful day, and give someone you love a big hug! 😀