Kristina is now a FULLTIME freelance illustrator! - updated April 3rd

[Emil_J.]

You have made some very nice historic paintings. In the last one i especially like the feather fan and her face, very nicely rendered!

[Lux_Aeterna]

At the risk of sounding emo, sometimes I feel quite incapable at painting. I haven't improved much lately and that made me feel really emo. I don't want to make work that is just "good enough". But maybe I just haven't done enough digital paintings lately! (I'm all preoccupied with painting still lives in oil, and doing anatomy studies)
I'm quite sure that other painters can relate to that feeling.

Voice 1 inside my head: "You really need to hurry and get better! You're already 21, you grandma!"
Voice 2 inside my head: "You're ONLY 21, you toddler, so take it easy!"
Voice 1 inside my head: "omg omg omg! I need to improve!"
Voice 2 inside my head: "You're gonna be a student for what, five more years? Be glad you have all that time!"
Voice 1 inside my head: "ONLY five years? O sh*t! Must paint faster!"

... and so on, and so on.

Das ist aber ziemlich demotivierend, so etwas von einer Künstlerlin wie Dir zu lesen. ich bin 20 und noch nicht einmal ansatzweise bei Deinem Niveau angelangt, aber mein Berufstraum ist es trotzdem, Illustrator/Conceptartist zu werden und ich ackere mit demselben Ehrgeiz dafür.
Und das Schlimme ist, dass ich genau diese Gedanken kenne, nur bei mir halte ich das für mehr als angebracht, während Du doch so viel und positive Resonanz auf Deine arbeiten bekommst. und wenn du dich mal mit anderen Künstlern deines alters vergleichst, dann wirst Du wahrscheinlich sehr schnell erkennen, dass du nicht im Durchschnitt liegst, sondern weit darüber.

Ich finde es immer so frustrierend, wenn sich Künstler mit Deinem Skill über ihre Fähigkeiten beschweren, während man sich selbst mit dem wirkllich objektiven Wissen über eine eigene Unfähigkeit plagen muss...ich hoffe, du verstehst, was ich damit sagen will.^^

[Maidith]

Thank you Fumble =)

Das ist aber ziemlich demotivierend, so etwas von einer Künstlerlin wie Dir zu lesen. ich bin 20 und noch nicht einmal ansatzweise bei Deinem Niveau angelangt, aber mein Berufstraum ist es trotzdem, Illustrator/Conceptartist zu werden und ich ackere mit demselben Ehrgeiz dafür.
Und das Schlimme ist, dass ich genau diese Gedanken kenne, nur bei mir halte ich das für mehr als angebracht, während Du doch so viel und positive Resonanz auf Deine arbeiten bekommst. und wenn du dich mal mit anderen Künstlern deines alters vergleichst, dann wirst Du wahrscheinlich sehr schnell erkennen, dass du nicht im Durchschnitt liegst, sondern weit darüber.

Ich finde es immer so frustrierend, wenn sich Künstler mit Deinem Skill über ihre Fähigkeiten beschweren, während man sich selbst mit dem wirkllich objektiven Wissen über eine eigene Unfähigkeit plagen muss...ich hoffe, du verstehst, was ich damit sagen will.^^

Hello Lux, I hope you don't mind me replying in English ^^ These words, they're just my feelings so I can't really apologize for them. I don't share my feelings online very often but with those I did it because I know that many other artists can relate to them, no matter where they are professionally.
It's true I've achieved a lot for my age, strictly objectively speaking, I know it quite well, but my subjective mind doesn't care, it feels whatever it wants. There's nothing I can do about feelings, just accept them and move on. I hope most people won't mind me posting about my inferiority feelings just once, it was the first time I did this in all my internet years and enough for me too

[Maidith]

My newest painting! This is the 6th work in the Tudor Queens series, and a portrait of Catherine Parr (2nd attempt) I'm glad I painted her again, it turned out better than the 1st attempt.

[andres333]

man these are beautifully rendered

[jcpahl]

That last one is really beautiful. In her hairnet, I notice that even the pearls that are in shadow have highlights and core-shadows, which doesn't make a lot of sense in that lighting scenario.

[Ccs]

I really like that last piece, the hands especially. I feel like the triangle-shape of skin that connects the head to the neck might extend a bit too far over though, or that the shadow there wouldn't behave like that.

[Satu]

Your sb is so awesomee! Truly inspirational.

[Ariel9]

I loved the first attempt but you were right to paint her again, the second one's even better! The most emotional of the series, I think. Beautiful texture on the clothing. I love how translucent her skin looks, too.

[GEB]

Really nice stuff. The only thing I'd say (and I'm hardly an expert so you can tell me to f@ck off) is that often it seems quite flat. I reckon if you added some more bounce light and other light sources and would really lift your work and make it pop out of the canvas. Back ligting also really helps to give depth and separate things on different planes

[surus]

Awesome sketchbook output! Thanks a lot for sharing! Keep on posting these sketchbook pages please. Maybe you want to join the spartan camp (50 poses a week). Rock on !

[in2eternity]

I love all of your work, but that last one is sooooo great! Rendering and colors are perfect))

[Marian Rowling]

Hey Kristina I think this last one is your best yet. Such a great idea for a series of paintings and lovely to see you painting each of them. I have really enjoyed your sketchbook and seeing all your hard work, very inspiring to me.

[shambok]

Very nice updates ... This latest one is stunning! The lighting is breathtaking!
Thanx so much for sharing!

[Maidith]

andres333, thank you =)

jcpahl, thanks, you're right.

Ccs, thanks!

Satupeikko, thank you

Ariel9, mille grazie

GEB, thank you I'm working on it; expect improvement in about 2 years.

surus, thanks a lot

in2eternity, thanks

Marian, thank you very much! =)

shambok, thanks!

New work: The Execution of Lady Jane Grey

In the Tudor era (and probably in the Middle Ages too) it was customary for the executioner to ask the condemned's forgiveness. It was supposed to show that he held no malice towards the victim; that he was only an extension of the law doing his job. By granting forgiveness the condemned also had a chance of showing magnanimity in the face of death, thus leaving a good impression on the spectators.
Lady Jane Grey forgave her executioner, as did Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard before her.

Who was Lady Jane Grey? She was designated queen by young king Edward Seymour (the son and successor of Henry VIII, as you remember).
But when he died in 1553, she managed to be queen for only about 2 weeks, because Henry's daughter Mary Tudor had many supporters and so became queen the same year.
The 17 year old Lady Jane Grey, though she didn't plot against Queen Mary herself, became a symbol of resistance and Protestantism and so became dangerous to the Catholic politics of Mary. Queen Mary had her executed for "high treason" in 1554.
Even today historians aren't sure if she had a legitimate claim to the throne or not, so she's usually not included in a line-up of English regents.

Hmm. That's quite a lot of death scenes in my portfolio so far. Perhaps I should paint a birth some time...! Nevermind. The next painting, of course, is going to feature Mary Tudor ("the Catholic" or "Bloody Mary" depending on whose side you're on).

Photoshop and Wacom tablet as always, took about 30 hours or so. (Social life? What's that? XD)
Wood and brick wall textures snatched from cgtextures.com .
Screaming guy referenced from ~alastock
Lady-in-waiting referenced from `lockstock
Special thanks to the folks here on CA for kicking my butt

[Maidith]

I ain't dead yet, just scanner-less. My sketchbook is getting fatter, but I'm still waiting for my new scanner to arrive So here's some photographed stuff.

I'm now a student at the Akademie Leonardo in Hamburg, Germany. Studying illustration/design now, yay!

[Maidith]

My scanner arrived today and finally I can scan shit
Here they are, my latest exercises. Copying from Michael Hampton book, Bridgman, some old masters, and some doodling from imagination.

[bobmeatbag]

wow your progress is amazing. You make me feel lazy

[focus_light]

nice sketches and beautiful lines

[focus_light]

nice sketches and beautiful lines！

[Maidith]

bobmeatbag and focus_light, thank you

New sketchbook pages, mostly copied from Prud'hon.

[Cranberry]

Fantastic digitals, subbed!

[greyskill]

Hello Maidith!

I have lurked on your sketchbook for a while admiring your work.
I decided today I had to post.

The detail and color in your paintings are wonderful, and your sketches are terrific.
The weight in your sketches in truly amazing, I'm not sure how you accomplish it.

So, thanks for the great work, and please keep it up!

[wasabi89]

I love the way you render skin
keep it up that awesome work!

cheers

[Maidith]

Cranberry, merci

greyskill, thank you very much!

wasabi89, thank you =)


Update: studies of friends drawn from life, and two more sketchbook pages.

[ear5cm]

WOW~, U R GREAT!
wonderful arts!

BTW:
Which book you used for studying anatomy(i mean your post in #643 http://www.conceptart.org/forums/sho...&postcount=643)

thank u~

[Maidith]

ear5cm, thank you
I don't know the name of that book, it was in Russian. I'd like to scan the cover and post it here, but don't have the book anymore. I sold it to the awesome Mandy Boursicot/. Perhaps she can tell you the book title.

Anyway, more sketchbook pages.
Copying some serious horse anatomy from Bammes. Copying the running skeletons from Bammes was a school assignment.




Random fun stuff from imagination - my sketchbook needs more of this, I think. All the silly shit that I do because it reminds me how much FUN drawing is, no matter how much of a chore it becomes sometimes.





Some slash drawings. That means GAY STUFF. Click only if you don't mind cute Tintin/Haddock slash. Work safe and silly.
http://maidith.deviantart.com/art/Sl...dles-269210568
http://maidith.deviantart.com/art/Si...rt-3-269148409
http://maidith.deviantart.com/art/Si...rt-2-269148274

This one's not so gay, tho: http://maidith.deviantart.com/art/Si...rt-1-269148179

Aaaaaalright more to come soon, I finished my last digital painting in teh Tudor Queens series: Queen Elizabeth! Yay!

[ear5cm]

ear5cm, thank you
I don't know the name of that book, it was in Russian. I'd like to scan the cover and post it here, but don't have the book anymore. I sold it to the awesome Mandy Boursicot/. Perhaps she can tell you the book title.

Anyway, more sketchbook pages.
Copying some serious horse anatomy from Bammes. Copying the running skeletons from Bammes was a school assignment.




Random fun stuff from imagination - my sketchbook needs more of this, I think. All the silly shit that I do because it reminds me how much FUN drawing is, no matter how much of a chore it becomes sometimes.





Some slash drawings. That means GAY STUFF. Click only if you don't mind cute Tintin/Haddock slash. Work safe and silly.
http://maidith.deviantart.com/art/Sl...dles-269210568
http://maidith.deviantart.com/art/Si...rt-3-269148409
http://maidith.deviantart.com/art/Si...rt-2-269148274

This one's not so gay, tho: http://maidith.deviantart.com/art/Si...rt-1-269148179

Aaaaaalright more to come soon, I finished my last digital painting in teh Tudor Queens series: Queen Elizabeth! Yay!

Thank u for ur answer Maidith

[EMR]

hahahaha you´ve posted my troll yeha!!! it´s only for meeee.....

btw... my dear, you thought you´re too old... what i´m gonna to do .... omg...
i have to freak out....aaaaaaaaah

you´ve awesome and your my daily monday till wednesday motivation to practice

keep calm, proceed and rock out

[Maidith]

hahahaha you´ve posted my troll yeha!!! it´s only for meeee.....

btw... my dear, you thought you´re too old... what i´m gonna to do .... omg...
i have to freak out....aaaaaaaaah

you´ve awesome and your my daily monday till wednesday motivation to practice

keep calm, proceed and rock out

Thanks Edie! Yep, that troll is totally yours

My newest digital painting, Queen Elizabeth I. My "Tudor Queens" series is finished! This is the eighth and final image in the series.
I put her in a forest setting because I think the real Elizabeth would have liked this - a relaxing rest from restrictive court life, nothing artificial here. And because my gallery needs more green paintings anyway.
I feel like I'm finally starting to figure out the gorgeous sunlight-shining-through-green-leaves light.