Heart Of A Family

'Heart Of A Family'

© 2015 by Shiloh Moore

A4 Pitt Pen on Watercolour Paper

I have had this image floating around my head for years.  Similar to the Mother and Child at the heart of my 'Mother And Child Nativity' © Nov 2012 By Shiloh Moore

'Mother And Child Nativity'

 © Nov 2012 By Shiloh Moore

Also similar to 'Lovers Embrace' © 2011 By Shiloh Moore

 'Lovers Embrace' 

© 2011 By Shiloh Moore

I imagined a heart based from a family, but couldn't quite bring it to fruition with my own doodling.  Then a few months ago on Pinterest I saw a pin of a photo of a family by Summer Lyn Photography:  Immediately I could see my heart come to life:

Concept Photo

© Summer Lyn Photography

I scribbled a heart shaped from the faces of the mother, father and newborn child.  Instead of featuring the wedding ring, I emphasised the mother's breast, the baby's belly and the father's shoulder, three loving elements to many families.  

 

'Heart Of A Family'

Initial Sketch 15 Nov 2015 by Shiloh Moore

 This is dedicated to so many families and friends in my network who have new born children.  So much love to you all xxxx

Chapter 1: Giraffe Family

 

 "Chapter 1: Giraffe Family"

inspired by a photo by © Dave Jenike/Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden

By Shiloh Moore July 2015

Mixed media

 Collage papers (including 'Chapter 1' page from a 'Babysitters Club book', and scrapbooking papers of music, leaves and hearts, and Paper dotted with ink using bubble wrap)

Layered with tissue paper,

then coloured with Watercolour

Image of drawing combined with background image using 'Picmonkey' online editing

Lots and lots of my friends are having children, so I've been drawn to pictures of families and pregnancy and children.  I was looking through Pinterest and found an amazing image of a family of giraffes.  There were no credits for the picture, but I google image searched and found this:

Giraffe Family

© Dave Jenike/Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden

 

Firstly I drew an outline of my picture: 

Outline by Shiloh Moore 13/7/15

I was thinking of drawing the spots on the giraffes using zentangle patterns, but decided I'd like to try using mixed media, and to use the effect of bubble wrap dots to give a spotty effect.  I was not sure it would work, but was willing to give it a try!

I set up the backgroud papers:

 

I chose to use a page from 'Chapter 1' of a double-up of a beloved 'Babysitters Club' book  I had, to give the title 'Chapter 1' as the start of life as a new family with the baby Giraffe.  Those books bring me good memories of my childhood.

 

I had to lighten the image for the outline to stand out.  So I covered it with with crumpled tissue paper to give it a textured effect.

Here was a basic preview of what it would look like.  I was worried you couldn't see the spots.... But then I added colour.

Here was the background effect in colour.

Then by computer I added the drawing of the giraffes to complete the effect.  I don't know how to manually transfer the image onto the background, so in real life all I have is the background image, plus the plain outline drawing.  If anyone knows of a way to transfer them together manually, not just on the computer, that would be ace!

So here is the final product.  I'm not entirely sure the bubble wrap texture came through well enough, so I'm not entirely happy with it.  But it was a fun effort.  I may go back to the original drawing and draw in some spots with Zentangle techniques afterall.  But for now, I'm utterly exhausted and in a tonne of pain so I must ban myself from doing more for a while!!!! Happily so though :)

 

 

 

'Couple Expecting'

'Couple Expecting'

(c) by Shiloh Moore, May 2012

28cm x 36 cm Acrylic on Canvas

I've been imagining the love of a loving couple expecting a child and starting a family unit, and how precious that must be.   

I was doodling with my pastels and drew this: 

'Couple Expecting - original doodle'

(c) by Shiloh Moore, May 2012

Pastels on paper

I was drawn to the image so I then painted it on canvas.  I drew the woman's breast and baby bump first, then surrounded by her loving arms, hugged by her partner's arms, then finished with their tilted caring heads.  Looking at it, I can really feel the emotions of love and deep care in their embrace.