The story of the Princess and the Pea where a Prince goes looking far and wide for a Princess. However, he is unable to find the right one. He returns home, and there is a terrible storm throughout the kingdom. And that night, someone comes knocking at the palace door, claiming to be a princess.
The Queen comes up with a test to determine if she really is a princess. A pea is placed under her bed, and several mattresses and quilts are placed over top. The Princess is led to this bed to sleep for the night. She has a terrible time falling asleep and tells the royal family. They all rejoice because the Princess passed the test. In the end, the princess and the prince get married.
I wanted the story to be fun and full of energy. I incorporated the idea of making the pea punk rocker with an electric guitar. I figured that loud music would be just the thing that would keep the Princess up all night. I also liked the idea of a cheeky Queen with an enchanted garden full of punk rock playing peas.
I started most of the thumbnails with traditional drawings in a sketchbook and converted them into digital thumbnails.
I started working on color and value patterns for the final illustrations.
I continued to work on refining and coloring the design of the illustration. I decided to change the color on the dress for the Princess to a light yellow with pink accents. I also changed the color of the King’s outfit to green. The background I kept mostly purple.
I continued to add detail and refine elements in the design to create a whimsical atmosphere for this final illustration. There are still more details that need to be added. The railing of the balcony could have more personality, and the placement of the flower arrangements could be altered. However, I am very happy with how this illustration has been turning out so far.
Emma Dooner: Art for Fun 