Chiisai Ningyo

Project for my Illustration II class.
Pen, Prisma marker, and colored pencil on layers of rice paper.

This was the best project that came out of my Illustration class this spring. The theme was "Dark Fairy Tales", and if you've ever read the original versions of most well-known children's stories, you'll find that's quite true. So here's my take on the ending of "The Little Mermaid", with a little Asian flair. Based on the art style of Japanese wall scrolls.

For class I actually mounted the drawing on a mocked up 3-or-so foot wall scroll. Complete with fancy paper borders, oak dowels, and ribbon. But it was only constructed to look good for one day to show off in class, and promptly fell apart; so here is just the drawing by itself.

Every one in class just LOVED it. I was, and still am, very proud of this one.

...Unfortunately the photo I took doesn't do it justice. But until I locate a scanner big enough to fit the whole thing, this will give you the general idea.