Folktale Week

So as I didn't do Inktober this year, I decided to do Folktale Week - a great concept and a short challenge! I was very excited to do a set of seven paintings that followed a narrative for two characters I had created - Pan, and mother Nature. A few years ago I planned to do a set of art showing their growth together and falling in love. It was loosely based on the four seasons and how, every winter when they 'die' together they are reborn in Spring to meet and fall in love all over again. I did two out of those four illustrations some years ago, and intended to revisit them; 'Sleep' (the winter painting) actually sold at auction to raise money for charity! I still sell prints :) So Folktale Week seemed perfect to do it again! I was really pleased with the first four and in a great place to finish the last ones...but we were collecting our newest family member, my beautiful rescue pup Twig during this week. So...let's just say I didn't have time to finish the final paintings to their fullest! However, it's important to remind ourselves that art challenges are meant to be fun. They aren't meant to be a chore, and it doesn't matter if you finish them. It's the creativity, and taking part! Here are all seven in their final state - Birth, Ritual, Courtship, Solstice, Death, Harvest and Dance. Harvest was the one I sort of left as it was, half done and not perfect, but Dance regains itself a bit, with my dog asleep at my feet :)