painting howl’s moving castle but make it preraphaelite

P R I N T S NOW LIVE 💙 hi hi helloooo!! Here is the process behind my painting “A Heart’s a Heavy Burden,“ completed this summer in both London and Oregon :’) inspired by both the 1986 book by Diana Wynne Jones, and the 2004 animated film by Hayao Miyazaki. There are so many things I could say about this painting. It’s about romance and friendship, and holding each other up; and long journeys, and venturing out into the world, and embracing the wild and unsightly parts of ourselves. The models are my friends Apple Sershi and Harry Kirton - huge thanks to them both for posing for me :) There are a lot of symbols and easter eggs from both the book and the film here, from the bottles marked Skin, Hair and Eyes to the skull and turnip, and the tiny house in the meadow just below Howl’s leg. Because Howl is from Wales in the book, the border containing many of these symbols takes inspiration from Welsh illuminated manuscripts, and I used my own photos of Welsh landscapes (where I spent some time this summer) for the background references. The composition as a whole is a continuation of my personal work investigating animal-human creatures and the importance of fantasy as a means of understanding ourselves. ❣ timestamps: 0:00:00 titles 0:00:42 incoherently rambling intro 0:04:10 part I, the planning stage: sketches and the book 0:06:34 the concept in procreate 0:06:57 going to photograph apple and harry for reference images!! 0:08:30 research trip to the national gallery 0:09:24 side quest to collect the panel 0:10:06 the frankenstein’ed reference image & prelim drawings 0:11:00 part II, the painting process 0:11:23 the colored pencil drawing 0:12:18 the acrylic wash underpainting 0:14:23 research trip to the tate britain 0:15:21 on our way to the countryside 0:16:15 the oil painting bit 0:28:50 research trip to the british library 0:29:17 moving the operation to oregon for completion 0:30:02 painting at christine’s studio!! 0:39:21 the border process 0:42:54 varnishing & explanation of symbols 0:46:28 the final painting & details ❣ apple: @UCb8Fo-V8LdWK_dC-89s-3Iw ❣ harry: ❣ christine: ❣ music: Tra Bo Dau (Two Fond Hearts) unaccompanied in Welsh, performed by Esme Lewis Meadow Waltz by Keys of Moon Davydd Y Garreg Wen (David Of The White Rock) performed by David Ffrangcon Thomas & Osian Ellis Etude in A majeur ( Nr.3) by Matteo Carcassi performed by Concerto Grosso Op. 6 No. 4 by Corelli, performed by the Advent Chamber Orchestra Ballad for Piano and Orchestra Op. 19 by Gabriel Fauré, performed by The New York Philharmonic Orchestra Ballad For Piano And Orchestra, Op. The Marriage of Figaro, Act II Scene I: Cavatina 4 Welsh Tunes: Myfanwy, Ar hyd y nos, Llwyn Onn, Rhyfelgyrch Gwy Harlech Carnival of the Animals: Aquarium and The Swan by Camille Saint-Saëns