Jenny Dolfen

Polaris

"Terror in your eyes, your heart is racing
for the innocence we lost will not return
now we can't go on
but we're still holding on
don't let me be the one to drag you down"

Ash, Polaris

Will have prints (and the original!) available soon :) 

Testers needed!

If you see this, please check out the link https://www.twitch.tv/jennydolfen and try out Twitch streaming! I think it's easier to handle (and better for comments). I'm online now. :) 

Polaris wip

Red-tipped wings. Mmmmm.

Thanks for joining me last night for a spur-of-the-moment sort of painting experience! ^^

Streaming now! :)

And sometimes I sing, too

My brother popped in on Monday for just two hours - you remember the watercolour I did for him, of his fave musicians. His birthday party was last Saturday, but I was so sick I couldn't face the train ride. The party must have been great - he'd invited everyone he'd made music with over the years, and it must have been quite the private concert (even though a handful of people had called in sick. End of February's just a rotten time of year.)

He was moved to tears by the artwork, which my pare...

Polaris wip

Laying down the first washes, so that we can get cracking with the good stuff in the livestream. :)

Colour sketch for Polaris - livestream tomorrow!

I'm being a good girl and doing my digital colour studies before paint hits paper. With this one, that was smart, so I could see how the colours work together and what the negative spaces look like. 

Also, all hail the eye! Brought it back. Hope you like it, Anja. ^^

Good news: I'll be doing another livestream tomorrow night! I hope to start around 8 pm CET, and will post the link here. :)

Polaris - lineart

The original idea of this started out as a "Month of Love" theme that was four weeks ago, but hey, it's still February. 

"And the innocence you lost will not return" - Ash, Polaris 

Finished piece for "Eagles"

Another commish down, yay :) Hope to finally get in some work on Maedhros/Polaris!

Steps: Colouring with underpainting

Whee! Spent a glorious day painting, with very few sniffles and with the music turned up full volume to drown out the Carnival outside. (If you want to know what Carnival looks like in my part of the world, google "prunksitzung" but son't say I didn't warn you). Definitely an experience I try hard to avoid each year. 

Here's a little step by step of a new colouring approach that I've wanted to try for a while. I really like the outcome and am likely to do more of that. It's a great way to...

Eagles underway

I've been ill for a week; sorry about the radio silence! 

I'm trying out a new approach here - with a near-monochrome, earthy underpainting before adding any colour. Let's see how that works out! 

With special thanks to Teresa!!

I'm doubly grateful to have you guys. Not just as support but also as corrective. Before Teresa pointed out the mess that was the kneeling Tullus on the last version, I did have the feeling he wasn't up to scratch, but fell back into that old habit of "Weeeellll... it'll do." No, it didn't, and thanks for putting me on that! 

And with my everything I picked up at Rebecca's workshop, it took me less than an hour to shoot good photo ref (dressing up in a skirt, too) and fix the pose.
2017-02-20 12:37:58 +0000 UTC View Post

Eagles - colouring

Trying to stay light again - and trying out yet another paper, which is surprisingly good! A lightly grained one from Schut. 

"Hunting the Eagles"

Another piece I'm working on for author Ben Kane, for the publication of his latest book. Centurion Tullus, front, has spent years trying to recover an Eagle standard lost in the battle of Teutoburg Forest. This is the moment where they find it. 

Polaris

Quick sketch of A CERTAIN REDHEAD that was sparked by a song by Ash. I'd originally planned to do it in time for the "Innocence" theme from Month of Love, but let's face it, I totally suck at these challenges. I can never get them done, and they paralyse me so that I do even worse. So, completely out of context, Maedhros, crows, and a load of angst. 

The lyrics: 

There's terror in your eyes, your heart is racing
and the innocence we lost will not return
no we can't go on<...

Lúthien prints - limited edition!

I've had some mats custom-made for this one, and finally got round to matting and remaquing seven beautiful Lúthiens! 

http://www.etsy.com/listing/512226287/luthien-limited-edition-matted-print

Bidding is open!

My first auction with the Changelings - I'm pretty excited!
The Faun and the Thistle dragon are both up for auction. They're both in the same Facebook album in the link - along with gorgeous other pieces! Click on the picture to go directly to the auction thread on Facebook.

Faun

A piece I may enter in the "Flora and Fauna" auction for Changeling Artist Collective. If they say a Faun is Fauna. ;) 

Love the effect of brown pencil on mid-tone paper. 

Music heroes with added Tilbrook

I redid the whole thing, but for the upload, I just scanned the part with Glenn Tilbrook and put him over Neil Finn. Sorry Neil. 

The first version was better - I had another paper battle and I'd used the last sheet of my beloved Etival for the first attempt, so grrrr. 

Like how Glenn came out though. 

Music heroes for Jan

Here's the finished one for my brother. Neil Finn looks somewhat out of place down there at the bottom, and I didn't realise it before. But that's also because he's probably the least pretentious of those five, and couldn't care less about a glamour shot of himself on an album cover or a magazine. Most of the 1990s images of him are with a microphone. 

That said, I had such fun with Elvis Costello's expression!

Holy sh**, this is fun!

I've never done portraits like this - but of my life, it's so satisfying! My brother will be *floored*. He's not much of a fan of realistic painting, but he'll love this. 

Something unusual...

A sketch for a birthday present for my brother, who turns 50 this year. He's as un-Fantasy as you can probably get; his passion is music. This is a collage of a few of his musical heroes. I'd let you guess, but a few of them are probably too out of the way (and in one case, drawn with bad ref). John Lennon (obviously), Elvis Costello, Paul Weller, Damon Albarn (from Blur) and Neil Finn (from Crowded House; hope to fix him with the colour, though you should never do that). 

Thistle dragon done and framed!

I'll let you know once the auction starts! :) I will be offering prints then, too. 

#dresslikeawoman

Brienne of Tarth. 

Here's looking at you, Spikes

He does look rather sweet-natured. But maybe that's just my brand-new Newt Scamander costume speaking.

Spiky little guy coming along

I'd tickle him, but he'd probably spike. 

Thistle Dragon lineart

More progress on my Changeling Artist auction piece for "Flora and fauna". I figured the little guy could use some wings!

Thistle dragon sketch

Chameleon + thistle = this guy. XD

Ideas needed!

I'll be participating in Changeling Artist Collective's February auction, titled "Flora and Fauna" and am slightly at a loss for ideas. I'd like something whimsical, maybe slighly eerie, any ideas?

Edit: Thistle dragon! Yay, Ellen!

All quiet on the Eastern front

Watercolour and coloured pencil on Etival grain fin paper, 24x16 cm.

I need to remember that tyrannosaurus trick for my next dragon! I'm really happy with how those desaturated colours came out. Another thing I've been trying to nail for a few years now. These small, quick Newt pieces have been a great way to cement what I was going for after my class with Rebecca.