Vanessa Paige Israel: Exploring the World of Fairy in Art.

...Above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world

around you because the greatest secrets are always

hidden in the most unlikely places.

Those who don't believe in magic will never find it.

~ Roald Dahl

To my dearest friends and followers,

Today I'd like to share with you some recent discoveries of mine concerning fairies. You should note that this post is not about fairy folklore, it's about the fairies I have taken a liking to in art.

To begin, I would like to tell you about a rather peculiar book I came across.
A few weeks ago, I happened to be in the local library for reasons not concerning books actually. The small bookstore within the library piqued my interest though. I saw a book that had to do with fairies. It was beautifully illustrated with delicate watercolor fairies. I left the store empty-handed. Later I found that I had not stopped thinking about the book. Those illustrations kept coming back to me. They were so breathtaking!

I did a Google search for watercolor fairies and though I was not able to find the book I was looking for, I found something else that caught my eye. It was a fairy by an artist I had never heard of: Toni Burt. Her work was so simplistic and yet complicated at the same time. Such fine detail showed and yet there was little detail. It was whimsical and magical and beautiful. It was a piece of art called "beguiled fairy". It looked like it had been loosely sketched and then painted in watercolor.

A few days after my initial trip to the library, I took another trip there. I went back to the bookstore to purchase the book I should have purchased the first time. They still had it, and I walked out with the book in hand and one less dollar than I had walked in with. It's called Fairie-ality: The Fashion Collection from the House of Ellwand by Eugenie Bird (author), David Downton (illustrator), and David Ellwand (photographer).
It's quite a humorous little book, but it is extremely well put together, filled with the most beautiful artwork. It is definitely well worth the dollar I spent on it. I'd say it's a must have for anyone who loves fairies.

I love drawing fairies, and I was inspired by both Toni Burt and David Downton's illustrations. I am now working on filling a sketchbook with fairies in like style, loose lines, just the right about of detail, and mostly pastel colors. I am however, working with my preferred colored pencils instead of watercolors.
I believe it is important to know my own style and to stay true to that, but to also not be afraid to try something new. I am doing both. XD
I have been feeling more confident in my art lately I suppose and am more open to trying something new. As my husband said, as an artist, it's good to get out of our comfort zone so as to not grow stagnate or become stale. Thank you for encouraging me, Love.
It's easy to know what you like and what you're good at. It's good to remember to be open to trying new things too. It offers an opportunity for learning and growth. I feel like I have started exploring a whole new world of fairies in art.
Thank you so much for reading and I hope you enjoy some of my most recent artwork below.

Yours truly,
Me