Fairy Queen - Spring

An image which started in January one day when I was taking the bus to work. The original sketch evolved from different angles until it took shape to what is seen here. In February I finally sketched the whole image out before laboriously painting each petal and fold for several hours everyday.

The aim of the picture was to be detailed enough for a banner or for a large print.

The theme behind the image is the full blossom of Spring, coming out of a cold white winter. The colour scheme subtlety encompasses the entire spectrum, but is predominantly warm. Finer details include feather like tendrils, ripple folds of petals, cascading bell-like flowers which form two "wings" and smaller fairies in her gown. I kept the background simpler to contrast the density of detail in the lower half.

This piece was done over three timezones: Vancouver, London & Melbourne.