Jenny Dolfen

Ulmo is done (I think)

It's frustrating that this doesn't really look like 90 more minutes of work since yesterday, but I'm sort of hoping the rest will go quickly. ish. ;) 

I recently found an eBay seller that has absolutely great double mats, in all sorts of colours - I had some made in ivory/blue grey, to match prints of this piece, and it l...

Livestream output

That was a really fun session - thanks to all who attended and weighed in on languages and Porg Latin. XD

Here's what I did during that hour! For those who haven't been able to catch it, there'll be a video later!

Livestream now!

Come join us! :)

The livestream can still be seen here: https://www.twitch.tv/videos/227935991 

Livestream announcement

So, since Sunday works better for most, I'll be streaming tomorrow, Sunday morning, 11 am CET (that's 5 am US East Coast). I can be on for about an hour to an hour and a half, but then I have to Newt up* for the Carnival parade...

I'll post the link again when I go online! Join me then. :) 

*Dressing up as Newt Scam...

First colour layer (and a lot of masking fluid)

In order to really make those fish and Elwing shine, I masked them off with masking fluid prior to doing the first background wash. Ulmo is going to strongly recede in this one; ideally, I want him to be seen on second glance only. 

I'm recording the process so there'll definitely be a video of this (possibly, I'll do it ...

I'm insane. Totally insane.

I'm looking at this and can't believe I did this, honestly. It's literally want I wanted to do for years but either chickened out or plain old failed. 

To break up the solemnity, this was my daughter's reaction: 

"If he's a sea god, wouldn't it have been more logical to turn her into a fish rather than a bird?"...

Elwing - lineart wip

First of all, sorry that I didn't make this a livestream, but the house lacked the necessary quiet and absence of falling bookshelves!

It's so liberating to draw freehand again! I looked for several refs of falling people, found quite a few, but none of them really worked. So all that's left of the original ref by senshi-stock...

Stretching watercolour paper

Since I've been getting a heap of questions about my paper stretchers, here's a comprehensive post about everything you need to know about them! Such neat little devices; I love them.

Scanned version!

The client is happy, so here she's scanned! 

Watercolour and gouache on Lanaquarelle torchon paper, A4 size.

I actually managed to tweak the colours so she looks exactly as she does in the original painting. I love how soft the colours came out! 

(My scanner is always good with reds and yellows. The Ulmo...

Timelapse video of Nerdanel

Here's the final vid of the painting process. Unfortunately, my webcam wouldn't record anything past last night's livestream (I have no idea why), so the final detailing and the veil are missing. 

Nerdanel finished

... I'm not taking her out of the stretcher right now, just in case the client wants any changes, but I'm calling her done! 

Unfortunately, I couldn't record the rest of the painting process (like her veil and flowers) because my computer started going crazy an hour ago. First the webcam, then even the Internet stick - I'...

The livestream result

This is how far I got in the livestream - thanks for dropping by! 

I hope to finish it tonight, and go on to the Ulmo piece tomorrow! Carnival art spree! 

Aaaaand another shoutout! Welcome to new patron, Ansam! =)

Livestream now!

We're on! Come and join us! https://www.twitch.tv/jennydolfen

Giveaway winners!

The two prints go to Blade McMicking ("Three is company") and Tanya "Until the world...")! Can you confirm your address again by message, please? :)

Congrats you two, and thanks to all of you who entered - and thanks for so many birthday wishes! Got the seventh season of Game of Thrones... yay...

Livestream announcement!

Woo-hoo! A livestream is coming up at 6 pm CET tonight! Available to all Patrons of 3$ and up! I'll be painting Nerdanel.

I'm terribly sorry that I can't announce them further in advance - it's just that my life and my kids don't really allow me to plan very far ahead. <3 But I think that another livestream will come over t...

Bride!Nerdanel - lineart

Here's the next step for Nerdanel! 

I have a glorious week ahead - school's out for Carnival, so as long as doors and windows are barred and locked to keep out the "fun guerilla" with their booze and abysmal music, I'm all set. I went to do the shopping yesterday, and bought enough so we should survive until Tuesday witho...

Suggestion box February 2018

Well, here we go! Give me your picture/sketch/scribble ideas for this month. :) 

Preferred: Anything swirly! 

Digital sketch: Ulmo saving Elwing

Another commission, first stage. Those poses really gave me a workout! My daughter was kind enough to pose for Ulmo's gigantic hands. XD

Shoutout to new Patron, Aleksandra! Welcome! :)

Double-matted print giveaway!

(I'd planned to post this days ago and show off my great new camera, but my great new camera doesn't work, so here goes my old crappy camera, but it's the art that matters anyway.)

Both the Melian prints and the original are available in my Etsy shop!...

Etsy code for "Oathkeepers"

Hey all! Here's the new 10% code for my Etsy shop. You can enter it at checkout, or just go through this link to apply it automatically!

https://www.etsy.com/shop/JennyDolfenArt?coupon=10FORPATRONS

The old codes no longer...

Slight changes in Patreon!

Hello my dear Patrons! 

I decided today that I wanted to adjust the perk levels slightly - mainly because there are still so many of you that pledge 5$ a month, even though that level hasn't existed for the last few months. 

So, the main changes are: 

- Shoutouts for new patrons have been added to al...

Nerdanel's wedding dress

This is the first stage of a commission for a client who wants to give it to his auburn-haired wife as a wedding anniversary present, so Nerdanel in wedding attire sort of made sense! I love Nerdanel. I've always seen her as very slightly dorky, with an easy smile that hides her inner strength. (I almost felt that the first prer...

Last sketch for January, and a shoutout to six new supporters!

Mary had a few beautiful legend suggestions this months - here's Brother and Sister (which I grew up with as Brüderchen and Schwesterchen), a quick little sketch on toned paper. Sorry for the lack of gouache after I'd promised that - this technique just grabbed me.

It's been a great month, art wise - and there are eight* new ...

The Girdle of Melian

Much fun was had with swirls, folds, and nightingales! (Even though my colleagues, predictably, mistook them for pigeons. I would have, too.)  

Red and white pencil on Clairefontaine toned paper, 21x30 cm.

By now, some more watercolour is in order next, I think. Or at least, nextish. 

Melian - progress

Note to self: Nightingales drawn too large make anyone look like Cinderella. XD

Planning to finish this during conference day tomorrow.

Suggestion: Melian - rough gesture sketch

Marie had so many wonderful ideas - and Melian just struck me! I'll finish her over the next day or two. Monday and Tuesday there are report conferences at school, which means a lot of time in between actual conferences in which I have to be present but have nothing to do, and you can only check Facebook so often. XD

...

Suggestion: Beorn

One of Dina's suggestions: A sketch of Beorn (plus bear, plus bees!) 

I'll be putting him up on Etsy later - if anyone would like to claim him before that, let me know! ***Edit: Claimed! 

Oh, and new signature! I kept my last one for a really long time, but I've wanted something that looked less written fo...

Suggestion: owl

Another one from Tanya's list! Needed a quick and easy idea that day. 

Matted prints!

I finally found a German supplier of double mats! <3 Isabella, you got me onto them XD One day, when the kids are out of the house, I'll cut my own mats, haha. (Until then, I'll sit in my very cramped study while the kids are watching the Pokémon cartoon series in the same room. I'm sure there's something in the Geneva conve...

Three Is Company - finished

I'm completely in love with this technique. It's quick and spontaneous-looking while still looking "finished". I haven't drawn properly for so long!

Red and white pencil on Clairefontaine toned paper, 30x21 cm. 

As ever, if you'd like to purchase it, shoot me a note! :) It'll be matted with a dark chocolate...