5.12.2006

Illustration Friday: Angels and Devils

Meet Sylvia*. When Sylvia was three she looked like the sweetest thing ever. So cute and charming, in fact, that she got away with pretty much anything. Like what you ask? Well, see Penny fly? Thats little Sylvia on the bottom pushing Penny on the swing.

All is well. But seconds later, little Sylvia grabbed Penny's meter long braids and watched as she fell flat on her back. Penny went running home crying in agony.

A few years later, Sylvia was on another swingset, swinging herself, when she tried to do a stunt, which failed, and sent her flying till she landed flat on her back. She, just like Penny, then went running home crying in agony. For the rest of her life, every time she fell on her back she thought of poor Penny.




"...when she was good she was very very good,
but when she was bad she was horrid...."


*Based on a true story. Names have been changed to protect the not-so-innocent.

Sylvia and Penny were painted in watercolor on
2.75"x3.75" amalfi cotton rag paper.

Previous Illustration Friday entries ::
fat : under the sea : robot : spotted robot : speed : spring again : more spring : spring : monster : tattoo [one page tale painted gocco print] : tattoo : insect : tea : song : simple : chair : glamour [color gocco print] : glamour : cats : e is for : sea : flavor : holiday : imagine

24 comments:

sammygeerock said...

I really like your work! Ever do anything on a large scale, or by commision?

Willie Baronet said...

Wicked. I love it. :-)

Anonymous said...

Awesome illustrations! And you know what? I have a confession: I probably would have been tempted to pull those braids myself.

Luisa said...

ja,ja, beautiful, but you taken care with that girl.

Diane Duda said...

Love your art...and your stories!

Stef said...

Penny better watch out - little boys love to pull on braids, too!

Geninne said...

Very cool illos and story. Love the colors U use...the green backround for envy is very clever :-)

murphy girl said...

i love sylvia's hair! i also love the somewhat muted look you achieve with bright colors! great technique, great images. also love that they are two separate paintings, but tell one story

Anonymous said...

These are great illustrations, and the story is funny and a great morality tale! My seven-year-old stepdaughter and I are discussing this story right now. Who are you??? Anyway, great illustration for this week's topic.

J. E. Morris said...

Love the expression on the girls faces. Great story too.

Debra Cooper said...

Your work is so nicely illustrated and great story too! I really like the fact that you work in such a small scale. A gallery showing of your work would be fun to look at.

Roz Foster said...

Is this why they call that crazy flip off of a highbar a "Penny Drop"? You *know* I love these stories. I'm especially digging Mz. Penny herself. Those braids on that big giant head with those humongous eyes just get me right in the heart.

Thought of doing a book of these stories?

rania said...

wow, was it really obvious that this story was about me? Now I'm wondering why! was it because it was a little longer than previous ones? or more believeable? thanks for all your comments! please let me know!

liberty, *yes* it was me that pulled Penny's hair. Penny and her sister Victoria were sisters I played with when I was little and lived in London. They were both older than me, and also lived next door, so we stayed friends even though I made them cry a lot.

kaya, I hope the fact that I actually felt bad about what I did (and have never forgotten it) helped in the conversation with your stepdaughter!

becky, glad to hear that you would have been tempted to pull her braids too! they were really really really long! I ended up growing my hair out and also got the same braids, but I don't think they ever were as long as penny's!

roz, thats really interesting that a 'Penny Drop' actually means something. One of my drops was from a jungle gym bar to my back. Oh so painful. And yes, I thought of Penny.

I have thought a lot about doing a book of these stories. My Illustration Friday submissions have been attempts at cranking ideas/stories out. My One Page Tales series were a step further. I have done a few coloring books, but have not yet done any books with this set of characters. If any of you have any leads at ways of getting things published, please let me know!

Also, if any of you live in the DC area, I will have an open studio next Saturday (May 20th) and will post the details soon!

rania said...

phew! that was a long comment! maybe I should have made a post of it!

sammy, yes, I do larger works, and I do commissions as well. If you're intersted, please e.mail me!
darnknit (at) gmail (dot) com

Christine Lim said...

Haha! I can recognise the girls! Nice work again!

Unknown said...

Lovely illos, beautiful, love the composition!

Jayster said...

Lovely illustration and sentiments.

I've got a few incidents tucked away that are borught back to me every now and then when something happens to me.... Karma!

Anonymous said...

Fab images! I love them. I think the thing that made me think you were Silvia in the story was ... "For the rest of her life, every time she fell on her back she thought of poor Penny." Since it is based on a true story, how would you know what she thought for the rest of her life if it wasn't you. ;P)

Great Job!!!

Heartful said...

A wonderful tale, a timeless one! So beautifully conveyed.

carla said...

Great little tale of payback and so on...I just love these little stories you tell! Your charcaters are always so appealing...huge eyes and all:>

Anonymous said...

that is sooooooo funny! what a good interprettation!

Anonymous said...

I'm loving the stories, keep them coming! Best wishes on your new show/open studio.

Laini Taylor said...

Love your characters! They're such fun, and that story sounds maniacally believable. Ouch!

buep said...

I love your storys and illos!