Mountain Dreams - March's Riso Subscription Sketch (Patreon)

Hello HellooooO!! Here is my sketch for March's print / for Riso Subscription patrons who paid on March 1st.

This time it's an addition to my Landscape_Dreams series- the Mountain edition!

I've been inspired by all my mountainous journeys for this print- I'm pulling photo reference from Yosemite, the Los Angeles National Forest/Big Bear, Asheville North Carolina/Appalachia, and Yamanashi/Kofu thinking of hikes where Mount Fuji are watching over you the whole trip.

When I was young my family would visit Yosemite every summer, because that's what they did as kids growing up in Southern California! So a lot of this sketch started with my awe of seeing the most impressive views I think I've ever seen at the top of Vernal Falls...which is absolutely breathtaking- as cliche as it is. Truly one of the most magical places I've ever experienced on earth was at the end of that hike and I wanted to portray that sense of awe and wonder in this print as a reminder and a tribute to it.

Here's how I first started sketching:

I love to start with small elements or recreate pieces from photos or reference I've taken...then begin with large shapes and quick compositions that include everything I'm excited to draw about my subject. At the same time I'm writing color notes to myself and reminding to add elements (like shadows from the clouds on the mountains) so I don't forget when I go to color or final line.

Here's a photo I used as reference while sketching- my dad looking through binoculars on the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina near where I grew up.

Here's the final sketch again next to the two previous pieces in the series.

I'm planning to make this a very green and blue piece to fit nicely between the other prints from this series, Desert Dreams and Island Dreams. After Mountain Dreams where should I head next!? I'm thinking Bayou dreams?? lol might be too specific, but I love the Everglades! Maybe the Great Plains or something pastoral like Northern England where I visited near Harrogate recently? Maybe the city!?? Would hate drawing a city but it might be a fun challenge haha. That's a problem for future Natalie (Famous Last Words).

Sticker idea:

For March I was thinking of taking elements from my Campfire Stories print and making them into a sticker sheet with some new characters! Here are the characters I would be redrawing so they'd fit as single stickers on a sheet together, rather than overlapping with other characters.

Big News!

My Domestika Course is a week away from launch!!

LOL

Ok, so, I made a Domestika course last May and it's finally going to be available soon!! This was probably one of the hardest projects (and scariest- filming is no joke!!) I've ever had to do, so for those who are interested, I hope you enjoy it!! It's a course based around my creative life's thesis- make personal, fun, spontaneous work that brings you JOY!

I'll be sharing more about my Domestika course all this week, but it'll officially drop on April 1st (again, not a joke!!) and I'll be sharing a little discount code with patrons! This course isn't a Riso course, but rather how I make my illustration work in general- especially my fantasy work. I poured all my heart and soul into these step-by-step lessons, so I'm excited and curious how the world will receive it! it made me realize I absolutely love teaching and would like to do it more!! JUST NOT FILMED (I have a whole new respect for actors).

If you're interested in a video of how I make my Riso work then I've got a Gallery Nucleus workshop available now- however I basically write all the info here on my patreon, so it's just if you'd like a more in-depth view of the Riso and a screen-shared step by step of how I make my work for the Riso. But all the main materials I share in my end-of-month breakdowns!

Also...the Kickstarter has been fully funded!!! THANK YOU!!! We're still going for another few weeks and there are exclusives (like a free print with the book) that are only available through the kickstarter!! So if you'd like to snag a copy and help make this book even cooler than we've already planned it then hop over to Kickstarter through this link and check out what we have cooking for my art book!! 19 days to go before the sticker sheet, blanket, this Riso print of the cover and the exclusive free print (TBA) are gone forever. Thank you!!!! I'm so excited for it!!!!

Thanks for reading if you've gotten this far!! <33 excited for more to share soon!

nat