Page from a Fairytale

Dec 23rd 2008

Page from a Fairytale is aptly titled, not only because of the charmingly petite subject matter, but also for the other visual qualities that HelloHuman has brought to this piece. What's immediately captivating are the colors here, which are especially rich for watercolor. Deep, saturated tones splash against light, delicate, airy regions with a looseness that never becomes muddy. Bursts of unexpected color appear in welcome doses throughout the background and foliage. The figure, itself, is treated in a more organized manner, allowing for greater clarity, but the execution is still handled with a bright, spontaneous feeling. This subtle "imperfection" to the lines does not render it sloppy-looking, but instead makes it all appear to be slightly in motion, as though shimmering in the light, swaying in a small breeze, or simply trying to retain balance from that pigeon-toed stance the character holds. Such an effect would only seem messy if the surrounding context were handled in a less watery, painterly way.

HelloHuman usually works digitally, in a more tight and polished manner, with great success; however, I think there's a kind of extra special something that comes through in the hand-crafted qualities of this piece, and it's easily the best work in what is already a strong portfolio.