Czech Girl Matryoshka

Czech Girl Matryoshka Close-Up Portrait

Czech Girl Matryoshka

My Czech Girl Matryoshka was inspired by the folk dress of the people of Skoronice in the Czech Republic. One of my wonderful customers requested I draw a Czech girl and suggested folk dress from this area that was Moravia. In my research I found lots of lace, puffy sleeves, and black aprons embroidered with colorful flowers.

This matryoshka also has a personal connection because I live in Winston-Salem, NC. The "Salem" comes from a settlement founded by Moravians who settled in North Carolina in the 1700s. It is now the historical Old Salem with restored buildings, museums, shops and gardens. My husband and I were also married in a Moravian church in neighboring Kernersville, NC.

Next on my list of requests is a Ukrainian Girl with blue eyes and brown hair. She should be fun to draw too because the girls traditionally wore wreaths of flowers as a headdress. Please keep the suggestions coming! :)

Italian Girl Matryoshka

Italian Girl Matryoshka

Ciao! Well, it is about time I drew an Italian Girl Matryoshka isn't it? I mean, my last name is Italian, my husband is Italian, even my Grandfather was Italian. Also, I have had requests for her. What can I say, I am only one artist and there are so many people to draw! :)

I have departed from my usual very symmetrical style of drawing matryoshka and stayed truer to my original sketch with this one. There is a lot to live up to when drawing an Italian! Leonardo, Michelangelo, I mean the pressure! LOL Anyway, I hope you like her.

Also, I want to share with you links to two recent blog posts about my work. The first one is a lovely lady and her family, who's little girl just turned 5. She had a matryoshka themed birthday party and contacted me to ask if I could make an Afghan Matryoshka for her daughter Ava, which I did (I love it when people give me suggestions). The party was a huge success and she has posted about the party and included photos on her blog The Art of Family.

The second blog post is on my friend Carrie's blog The Vintage Wren (also the name of her wonderful Etsy vintage store). Carrie and I went to school together and were inseparable. We had such fun studying Graphic Design and Art together and are still good friends. Carrie wrote a very kind post about my work, you can read it here. In addition to Carrie's vintage shop she also has an art shop- The Artful Apple and a knitting shop- Lily & Lulu filled with beautifully knitted garments and creative and inspiring renderings. Here are a couple of my favorites:

FORK

Tuesday (cowl)

I don't know how Carrie does it all; three shops, three children, a beautiful blog with incredible photography and she is beautiful as well, in every way. :)

Irish Dancer Matryoshka

Irish Dancer Matryoshka

Irish Dancer Matryoshka Close-Up Portrait

Happy New Year to you all! Thank you for all your past support and I wish you a very happy, healthy and successful new year! I have a new Matryoshka illustration to show you, my Irish Dancer Matryoshka! She was suggested to me by a wonderful customer who is collecting my work. I created my very own Celtic knots for this piece. I have always wanted to experiment with drawing Celtic knots. It was such fun, I imagine it is something I will want to do again in the future. It is tempting to make a line of these dancers all standing side by side. That would be an excuse to draw more Celtic knots! You all have such great suggestions, please keep them coming!