Kuura the Ice Maiden, 4×6 Copics, fine liners, gel pen
In an attempt to dovetail Illustration Friday with my 100 Maidens Project, an Ice Maiden with a bit of a steampunk twist. (The eyepiece was initially supposed to be more snowflake-like. Alas!) If you look at the progress slideshow you’ll see how much I messed with this. To death. Particularly with the gel pen. On the other hand, I kind of like her in the end. For the topic “Freeze” at Illustration Friday.
Kuura* is a Maiden of Ice who lives in a frozen palace at the bottom of the sea. Her favorite companion is a magical fish called Phylliss who delivers messages across the world. Phylliss likes to play racing games with young dolphins and manta rays when she’s not working. She was made for a trade at illustratedatcs.com.
Phyllis in the Deep, 2.5″ x 3.5″ Copics
[portfolio_slideshow size=large]
Thanks for visiting!
*Kuura means frost in Finnish.
Very nice! I especially like the fish and your original use of patterns. Is it all done with Copic marker?
Copics, fine liners and lately lots of white gel pen. Sometimes too much. ;)
I think ice queens had a problem with a black eye she got from a racing manta ray…she can’t put ice on it whe has to put fire…silly woman put on too much heat and melted her poor eye right away…no shes got a patch…is that right?
That is certainly one version of the story I have heard!
You’ve certainly captured the iciness of the ice maiden. The colors work very very well.
Both beautiful, but I LOVE that fish! I’ve always appreciated a purple-green color combination, & I love how he is so ornate, and yet, still most definitely a fish!
I love them both, Cindy! I couldn’t come up with anything for freeze. You did good!!!
I am always fascinated by just how many layers you put into your work giving them so much depth. I am in awe of anything you do with your Copics.
You are too kind! Perhaps it will lessen my mystique if I tell you that many of those layers are my attempts to cover mistakes in previous layers. ;)
I’ve been enjoying following your maiden’s project and look forward to them as your post. Keep up the good work.
thank you for sharing your creation process with us! your work is so colourful and shines with ornamental beauty!!
Ah! awesome! very cool Maiden! hee hee. Great job on both! :D
what lovely paintings! :) Phylliss sounds so cool! wish I could see what kind of msgs she delivers … don’t u want to know?!
(:
She’s really a bit frightening, with her heavy eyepiece, and oh-so-cold colors. Nice!
She really is frozen. She would look fabulous as stained glass!!
My favorite so far that you have done
Beautiful colours! The name really suits her too!
Phyllis has nice kissing lips :-)
lovely!
Very magical ice princess, love the ornamental squiggles!
Kuura totally looks frozen! And Phylliss seems the perfect companion:-)
Wow I like that ice maiden! I wouldn’t worry too much about the eye patch she’s beautiful! Perfect how you combined all those shades of blue – she really is icey! or is she just a real cool maiden? ;)
Phyllis certainly is a fish with style! Those colours she’s wearing are beautiful, and she looks like she’s a piece of jewelry. Does she realize she’s a fish? I think it’s awesome someone gets her for a trade.
Oooo… I like Kuura. She’s a little bit Snow Queen and a little bit Pirate Queen. Love her eye piece and her cold and frozen air.
Your fish looks very spacy and mysterious! The lady in blue is really different from the lumbering herd as I know it. She looks very freezy!
Very icy maiden indeed! Especially her icy glare (the attitude!). I think the eye piece has a slightly sea anemone flowerish feel to it? Love the purple and green fish – fantastic textures and pattern detail… :)
Really nice work. I was never able to get pens to work for me…even with layers I was never able to fully cover all the mistakes. I love dropping in on your site to see everything you are working on and all of the story behind it…and the working drawings are great too! Nicely done!
Ice Maiden & her jewel-like fish are awesome!! Love, Mom
Your work is so awesome. I love the colour combos on these ones. Wonderful!