The eclectic learner

It's Christmas time and - not surprisingly - not a single snowflake has graced rural Norfolk. You know me - I had to do something about it, because I was itching to see a white mantel around me and my children building snowmen in the garden. As the weather has been fantastic, with blue skies and sunny days, I drew my very own winter scene, added snowmen, a robin and a Christmas star and uploaded the artwork onto my favourite Facebook colouring group ( Adultcoloringworldwide) Thankfully, some good souls have taken up he challenge and shared with me their interpretation of my artwork. As usual, I am delighted by the colour choice and how the whole things plays out. Mercedes Matè  has captured the real essence of a white Christmas with Colorino crayons and Raffael pastels. I love how the blue skies blend in the green hills, gradually becoming white in some area only. A detailed, whimsical choice of colours and blending. Many thanks for your addition to my hall of fame! (You ...

  Well! Reginald seems to be the most loved of my recent creations. Both in the UK and in Italy, customers who bought the magazines made sure that Reginald had all sort of colours and combinations for his mantel. I particularly love the iridescent light blue shade chosen by Tina for Colorare Zen . It's so striking! Plus, she added a background with a delicate stained glass feel. Every detail has innumerable variations and an almost rainbow effect. Great imagination! Thanks, Tina for interpreting my design in this way. Franz

As I have started studying Chinese characters in June 2016, I thought it would be nice to draw a Chinese dragon. I was born in the Year of the Dragon (so I'm supposed to be a winner, huh? Nope) and therefore I added the writing, Born in the Year of the Dragon on the left. I uploaded my grayscale drawing to Facebook and Karen Senerchia kindly used her time and talent to give life to my creature. I love it! Start green, almost fluorescent, coordinated with a blue-violet skin, and softened by a rich strawberry pink on chest and belly. If you are a member of Adult Colouring Worldwide you will see the original post here: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10203147346402236&set=gm.1574255162881513&type=3&theater Crayola colored pencils have been used for the colouring. Let me know if you have coloured a dragon, too! They are sure fun to tackle... 

The parrot Reginald is on the cover of Colouring Heaven... And the Italian magazine has chosen the Pirate…

Chiara Giannini has done a marvellous job with my Pirate treasure design (as found in Colouring Heaven Issue 9, May 2016). The glass bottle looks great and the rich colours add a dramatic tone to the seascape. Even the large seashell on the left has exquisite details. Well done Chiara! Looking forward to more interpretations from you in the future.

Marie Hazelwood has interpreted Reginald in a completely different way: she has divided everything in areas which define the parrot's body in large blocks. The palette is subdued and elegant. For the third time today I am struck by the endlessly choice we have to express ourselves. Well done, Marie! The link was here: https://www.facebook.com/ColouringHeaven/photos/ms.c.eJxFjlsOACEIA2~_04WER7n~_xVVT4Ipl0ShlOPilIRExYP06g7ABinQvIwz3EnRocZZSCBbBiLxF6EqXE2KUY0kp~_EW4lv0wrkDugXepZSriAiVKxqNI402eDnTC8HWvWSdR0ybc23lvNZaGEHyX2Osg~-.bps.a.1577375305909106.1073741851.1461766297470008/1580873195559317/?type=3&theater

I am totally in love with the palette chosen by Samantha. The detail is so crisp and the choice of yellow for the edges and some specs is spot on. And that lead on the left? It's literally glowing! I would have never thought about using those dark colours and the yellow. Which explains why I ruin all my drawings when I colour them! LOL

I love how Marie has coloured my pirate. Such a cute choice of pastel colours. Who on earth said that pirates must wear just black and earth colours! This is great! Brava! I found this on the Colouring Heaven FB page: https://www.facebook.com/ColouringHeaven/photos/ms.c.eJxFjlsOACEIA2~_04WER7n~_xVVT4Ipl0ShlOPilIRExYP06g7ABinQvIwz3EnRocZZSCBbBiLxF6EqXE2KUY0kp~_EW4lv0wrkDugXepZSriAiVKxqNI402eDnTC8HWvWSdR0ybc23lvNZaGEHyX2Osg~-.bps.a.1577375305909106.1073741851.1461766297470008/1580873155559321/?type=3&theater

Well done Karen Lockie! https://www.facebook.com/ColouringHeaven/photos/ms.c.eJxFjlsOACEIA2~_04WER7n~_xVVT4Ipl0ShlOPilIRExYP06g7ABinQvIwz3EnRocZZSCBbBiLxF6EqXE2KUY0kp~_EW4lv0wrkDugXepZSriAiVKxqNI402eDnTC8HWvWSdR0ybc23lvNZaGEHyX2Osg~-.bps.a.1577375305909106.1073741851.1461766297470008/1580870932226210/?type=3&theater

Six illustrations from my portfolio have been chosen by the art director of the magazine Colouring Heaven. Today they are available in all supermarkets, bookstores, WHSmith etc in the UK. I'm feeling good about this! Still working on more illustrations for my upcoming colouring book….

I love the way my art transforms when the right hands handle it! You've gotta LOVE how Nancy has coloured my doggy! Karen has bought a cute bird in my Etsy shop. Here it is, it looks much better now… I love her shadows and choice of colours! Supreme! Keep colouring, everyone! I can almost see these magical creatures around me in the studio now!

This is Dondi Ratliff‎'s version. I love the rainbow colours! So happy and imaginative. Thanks Dondi! Keep colouring! Karen has done two versions! This was to good to be missed. Well done, Karen!

As you might know, I enjoy artwork and illustration very much. Lately, I've been working on a colouring book for adults and I've also joined Adult Colouring book pages on Facebook (Although I do not like using Facebook for personal friends and to check on their lives). So, last week I posted a horse and some ladies have posted their interpretation; it's amazing how we all see things differently! I love both versions, but especially the golden one as gold is a favourite colour of mine. I'll post them here as I don't have a current art website apart from my shops in Zazzle, Redbubble and Etsy. Enjoy! Franz This one has been coloured by Marilyn And this one has been coloured by Sherry