Mary Talks
Mary Talks to Baby Jesus – The Little Lutheran/The Litte Christian – December 2011
Christmas has come and gone and I still have this sorta-Christmassy post to go before I can get to my “Welcome 2012” one. So let’s post it really quick to clear my desk, ok? Great!
I loved this project! From research to final art, it was one of my favorite magazine assignments of 2011. I have to applaud my Art Director. She always brings and encourages a non-traditional vision and that’s why I love working with her. She requested to avoid halos, rays of lights or any more classical depiction of religious art (hence no angels). The main idea was to portray Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus as real people so given the historical and geographical reference, I considered they should look Middle Eastern.
The illustrations were done for the story of “Mary Talks to baby Jesus” published on the December issue of The Little Lutheran/The Little Christian magazine. Some process pictures below and at the end the final art that you can click on for larger views.
Now, let’s see if you can find my favorite animal on these pieces: the goat. Have you seen where it fell asleep? :)
Resolutions, dissolutions and evolutions post will follow in a few days. Until then!
Detail of Mary’s face – Work in Process
Detail of Mary and Baby Jesus – Work in Process
The two spreads – Work in Process
Cow and Sheep – Detail
Animals – Detail
Mary Talks – Final Illustration
Holy Family – Final Illustration
You can find out more about The Little Lutheran/The Little Christian magazine here, and subscribe to them by clicking on the button below.
lil kim
Gorgeous Juana!
Laurie L Young
Beautiful work!
Loni Edwards
Hi Juana,
You did just lovely work on this! I can see why it was a fun project to do. It really shows in your art. Your colors are so rich in your painting. Just beautiful!
juana
Thanks, Kim, Laurie and Loni! It was a fun project :)
Kristen Schwartz
Your art director sounds great. I enjoyed seeing your illustration develop. Really nice work – as usual. (I found the goat!) Thanks for sharing!
juana
Glad you found it, Kristen! Glad you like the pictures and thank you. I loved your Chicken Licken piece, btw :)
Annette Frei
Your work always makes me feel warm and cozy. I think it is the deep rich colors you use. Very sweet, and very gorgeous.
juana
Thanks and Happy New Year, Annette! Glad you enjoy the work! Hopefully we’ll have an event pretty soon so we can see each other.
shirley
OH, to see the detail pictures are amazing, Juana! I love, love, love the animals and your middle-eastern Mary, Joseph and Jesus are beautifully illustrated. Aha! I found the sweet goat too..perfect! Your client sounds like a great gift – and I’m sure they feel the same about you. : )
juana
There’s such a feeling of random, imperfect beauty on half way done pieces. I can sit an look at those type of pictures hundreds of times. Glad you like the photos! Yay for finding the goat :)
Nina Crittenden
Your work is so lovely, Juana! I love that you created such a warm feeling within the cool of the night. So loving and peaceful! Thank you for the kind words you left at my blog, and I just adore the art you made for Tomie (and so do my kids!). All my best to you for a fab 2012! :)
juana
Thanks, Nina! Only an artist can point the warm within the cool night. Exactly what I was going for when I was working on the illustrations. Yay! Thank you for the Tomie comment, too. You made my morning! Best for 2012!
Helena Juhasz
Awesome artwork! Just wondering how do present your artwork on your site ie. via photo? What’s the trick to getting it to look so crisp and true to life?
juana
Hi Helena! Thank you. The final pieces are scanned to size at 300 dpi. The process photos are taken mostly with my iPhone. Sometimes with a little point-and-shoot 12MG Olympus camera that I keep in the studio. If you have any more questions, do not hesitate to email me :)
Lynn Alpert
Beautiful, Juana! Sounds like it was a fun project – gotta love those art directors that let you go crazy!
juana
Thanks, Lynn! It was a dream of an assignment and it helps that she’s so amazing.
Katy Manck (BooksYALove)
Juana,
I’m so pleased that your Holy Family looks like a real family from the Middle East. Love shines from every panel of your paintings.
Oh, how I wish that I had a picture book story ready for you to illustrate!! Someday, someday…
(found you through MotherReader & Lee Wind’s Comment Challenge)
juana
Hi Katy! Thank you for such a kind comment! I’ll be pleased to work with you when you are ready :) Nice meeting you!
Blessy Mathew
Juana, your illustrations portray the story and culture so well. I love the rich colors and details you’ve used…very impressive. I’m a fan now.
juana
Thanks so much, Blessy! And nice to meet you :)
Mary
Hi juana~ Lovely, lovely work. Thank you. I don’t know if you’ll even see this – almost 20 months past due. But, I just want you to know how much I appreciated the rich “life” which you brought to my words. What an honor it was to have you illustrate them. Thank you, again. You are a gifted illustrator!
Mary
juana
Hello Mary! Thanks for the note and very nice to meet you :) Thanks for such kind words. Your poem was such a joy to illustrate. Did I mention that I sketched the spreads in Mexico? We were having a second honeymoon. Looking at these pieces bring great memories :)