Nanette

Nellyphant

Lately, I've been feeling quite disheartened. Sometimes, it feels as though no one out there notices your work at all. Still, I try to keep on going. So today, I drew a little yellow elephant to make me feel better 🐘🐘🐘 

A gilded cage is still a cage

B loves birds. Well, all animals really. But especially birds. We went to visit the bird gardens at Yuen Po and we saw the traditional bird cages (which were beautiful, and we loved), and lots and lots of teeny tiny little birds, crammed into those beautiful cages as many as would fit. B was very sad looking at those beautiful little things, all cooped up inside like that. 

We saw this little guy from the street hop and dart and chatter around outside one of the cages, like he wanted to communicate with the little birds inside. Even though he was a lot plainer, I'm sure those beautiful little birds would have much rathered be on the common side of those beautiful lacquered cages. I guess a cage is still a cage, no matter how beautiful it is. 

Little Viet

Marigold in the Leaves

Saumyi and the Stars

A little girl on her elephant dreaming of strange and wondrous things...

Little India...so far

I've been having a block lately. It's been one of many that have been plaguing me this year. So I started with a bit of pink, and this is where it has ended up (so far). Message to self: think pink! 

Little Bunny Rabbit, hop, hop, hop!

Painting Practice

Cambodian Elephant Box

I still can't decide on a colour story. Ideas?

Little Hmong Girl

I found this charming reference photo on Pinterest and it really reminded me of a little girl I teach with rosy chubby cheeks and a short black bob. Butter wouldn't melt, of course! I just had to draw her. 

She's wearing traditional Hmong clothes - the Hmong are a hill-tribe people in China, one of the fifty-something nationalities that are officially recognised by the Chinese government. I don't know a lot about them, but the Hmong appear to wear intricate headdresses with lots of lovely beading, decorations and pom-poms. They also make very intricate woven fabrics with beautiful patterns. 

And then, to finish off, I put a little birdie on her shoulder. Ta-dah!