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Clerical-Error — The Unicorn and the Lake
Published: 2011-09-02 01:49:15 +0000 UTC; Views: 4515; Favourites: 128; Downloads: 55
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Description
One of my first tries at a serious watercolor painting, yay! Didn't scan amazingly though, it's a bit blurry...When I was a kid, I was obsessed with unicorns and one of my favorite books was "The Unicorn and the Lake" by Marianna Mayer and illustrated by Michael Hague. In the story, if I remember correctly, a serpent poisons a lake in the woods, and his enemy, the unicorn, purifies the water with his horn so the other animals could safely drink. I've always wanted to create some sort of tribute to that book, since I've always adored the artwork, so here we have this. I gave the unicorn a lion's tail and cloven hooves to make it more medieval, but otherwise I kept the anatomy pretty equine. It's a little weird looking in places because my hand kept slipping while I was shading it.
This is for sale, by the way! Note me if you're interested.
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Comments: 42
Oh wow, I've never heard of that book! But this really makes me want to read it.
You have a really lovely style.
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i vaguely remember that book too, but as much as i try to search it on the internet, it's as if there's no trace of it. :/
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I loved that book as a kid, still have it. I also have Fritz and the Beautiful horses, and which, which, please come to my party, It was my favorite. Beautiful art by the way.
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This is very beautiful. And I loved that book. It was one of my favorites as a kid. Along with Fritz the pony and The Dragon and the Unicorn ( not sure if that is the name but it involved a little princess who got lost in the woods or something and wanders around with a dragon and a unicorn. The little girl was African American)
Very lovely! Great job!
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Thank you very much! I'm glad you know that book too, it was great. I haven't heard of those other books, but I'll definitely look them up! Children's literature has the best artwork, and such cute stories.
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So much yesssss. Nice job putting the idea across! It's very clear, definitely the mark of a good illustration!
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I remember that book. 
You've got some nice density with the watercolor, and I love the snake--he looks almost like a decorative border, along with the rocks beneath him. Actually, while I enjoy the unicorn here, I'm a little torn about the blue shading...on one hand it gives it a blinding-white, otherworldly look...on the other I wonder how it might look with some warmer tones. The blue flowers help that though--maybe if there were just more of them. *shrugs*
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Good to know you read Hague's books too, the illustrations are just so gorgeous. It's definitely one of the reasons why I've decided to try watercolors.
I'm glad you thought the snake looks like a decorative border; that's what I was going for, actually. (I was considering adding something similar to the top of the illustration, but it looked too out of place.) And agreed about the shading -- it's definitely too bright, too blue, and too saturated. It's a bit less blinding in real life (should've adjusted the scanner a bit) but you're right, warmer tones probably would've worked better. Thanks so much for your comments and critique, it helps a lot!
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No problem--incidentally I just got the afore-mentioned book in the mail--much obliged to this piece for reminding me of its existence, because I just relived a large chunk of my childhood for $8. XD
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When I saw this I thought it was a professional illustration in a picture book! This is like.... Amazing!!!!!
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That's quite a compliment, thanks so much!
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you're very welcome!
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Yeah, it took forever, as you know.xD;;
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It's true! But so epic indeed. : D
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so beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Aww, that's very kind of you to say, thanks!
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Beautiful! I love the patterns that repeat throughout this piece, such as the ripples on the water, the lines in the unicorn's mane and tail, the texture in the rocks, and the scales on the serpent. I think it really ties the piece together, and the colors work wonders as well!
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Thanks for pointing out the pattern repetition, I'm glad you think it worked! Thanks for such a well thought out comment too, it's much appreciated.
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HA! I saw this and I wondered if it was a Hague inspired piece. I just reread the unicorn and the lake yesterday when I was at my moms! I love that book. It deserves tribute and I was thinking about that myself and here you are doing it too! I started a modern day tribute. The unicorn walking through a modern day alley with plants growing as it walks, purifying an oil slick. I will have to show it to you when I am done!
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Thanks! Watercolor is annoying sometimes, but fun to work with nevertheless.
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yeah, and a painting this intricate wouldve taken ages Xp
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Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee. <3
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Very nice! It looks mythical and magical and deep. The snake makes it so much more... important? ...not sure that's the right word, but that definitely gives it a story to attach to the picture (even though I have never read that book).
Those bright, warm browns are really nice, too.
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Very, very nice. I'd love to post a critique later when I have some more time.
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