Mama Dragon

By Natalie Peterson

Hello Dragonett Cabinett and friends! 

Blogging is new to my saggy adult hands, but quite old to my saggy adult…..heart? Mind? Soul perhaps. 

I had a blog from the ages of twelve to fifteen (that is thankfully lost to the internet couch dust) in which I wrote some pretty hot takes. In fact, I once received a lengthy email from a mom at my school after posting a scathing “feminist” review of stay at home motherhood. 

Anyway, I’m glad that’s all behind me- and don’t worry stay at home moms- I am now myself one of you and suffice to say- this is a safe space. Or is it……..dun dun dun 

Cuz my first post is about DRAGONS 

I am married to the king of dragon drawery. Aedan Peterson really can whip up a masterfully engineered dragon straight out his mind, no reference required. After witnessing his magic, I got a little curious. Do my hands hold such power? What dragon is lurking in the deep recesses of this ol bewitched noggin of me own?

I tried again 

And again

Anotha 

I am no Aedan Peterson but I had a good time

I’m currently working on a personal project I’ve titled the brainstorm book or Phoebe’s book.  I started it last summer in-between jobs and I hope to finish it soon, but it features little Phoebe in a castle atop a dragon so it’s a good excuse to keep practicing dragons. My primary goal in doing the book is to get more traditional paintings under my belt and move my red eyeballs away from the IPad screen. 

I’m really sensing a shift (in myself as well as in the art world) from digital to traditional art. I’ve been following Rebecca Green’s kids book work for a while now because she does the best acrylic-gouache illustrations -so full of texture and wonder and whimsy.  Her patreon has been my main source of painting inspiration for the past six months or so - I’ll link it here

https://www.patreon.com/cw/rebeccagreen

I don’t mind digital art- I work digitally full time for Wingfeather and I feel like the digital principles I’m learning carry over into traditional art most of the time. HOWEVER digital art is not as messy or enagaging as I need it to be. Whenever I’m making a little traditional painting I feel myself lock into the process in a way that I don’t on the iPad. Part of that is because there’s no undo so focus is crucial, but also- I just like the tactile feeling of paint on my hands. Sorry if this is another hot take. Feel free to email me and I will promptly apologize and maybe even change my mind. I’m quite wishy washy.

So therefore and hither to because of in conclusion! I’m excited about this blog! I’m excited to have an excuse to make more “for fun” traditional art and get paint on my hands. I’m excited to see all the beautiful stuff soon to be posted by my friends on here and…ya know what? I’m excited to draw more dragons. 

So here’s one more 

She’s smoking in a classy way