A bit about my process: Part 1

Some of my illustrations start with a story, some start with a walk. Some start with both and some start with music. I thought I might take the opportunity, during this long, cold winter, to tell you a bit about how my artwork comes to life. I've chosen a few key pieces to explain my process from the spark of an idea through to the final piece. This has grown into quite a long read so I've broken it into 4 parts.

“Bride and the Cailleach” original digital illustration by Lizzie Ault

One that started with a story

As today is Imbolc, halfway between winter and spring equinox, I’ll start with a pagan Imbolc myth. Bride and the Cailleach was inspired by a story I read in the middle of a sleepless night during the height of a winter covid lockdown. It is a Pictish tale that tells of the Cailleach, the pagan goddess of winter. But her prisoner, Bride the goddess of spring, will eventually break free and begin to walk the lands, melting the frozen rivers and leaving a trail of snowdrops in her wake. I immediately knew I had to draw it.

I started with thumbnail sketches, small drawings, not much bigger than a business card which quickly explore compositional ideas. They aren’t high quality or accurate, they just allow you to find ways to tell the story through pictures. 

Sketches for “Bride and the Cailleach”.

My favourite composition ideas were then pulled out and larger (but still experimental) sketches were developed. Then observational sketches were made to inform the final piece. For example, this image needed snowdrops, and two figures, one with a screwed up face. Observational studies were made of these elements before using digital sketching software to draw them together and create the final composition. 

The final image was created in 30 minutes bursts while I took breaks from home-schooling my kids, throughout the most remarkable winter I can remember. The message of hope and trust in the seasons that resonated from, what is believed to be, 4000 years ago was something to cleave to during that time. Needless to say this piece means a lot to me.