At one time Blogger was the place to be.  But that is no longer the case and has not been the case for some time.  The crickets are chirping here and tumbleweeds are blowing through the yard and down the road.  It is time for me to pack up and move on.

However you can still stay in touch with me at the following locations where the land is more fertile and white clouds float through a bright blue sky.  The breeze is warm and the birds are singing.

Tumblr - http://larrymacdougallart.tumblr.com/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/larrymacdougall

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/The-Art-of-Larry-MacDougall-188673064483664/

Thanks so much to everyone who journeyed with me on this blog.  I very much appreciate it and hope that we can continue to travel together.

Peace be with you.

Larry

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Here is a little follow up on my newly published art book.  If you are curious you can check this link.
http://centerstagegallery.com/csg/traditional-magic/ 


Also - I will have some in the new year that I can sign for you if you like.

Once again - Thanks for stopping by and Seasons Greetings.

Be safe.

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A new seasonal pixie.  She's on a drifting flower top made buoyant by pure holiday magic.

Seasons Greetings.

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A cloud gazing gnome atop his air cottage drifts over the fields of Gwelf.  The sail is used primarily for navigation as speed is not a factor with this mode of transportation.  There is no destination, only the journey.  On winter nights when witch activity picks up he tends to settle into thickets and hide on the land. In the spring and summer it is an endless floating daydream - so envious.

Thanks again for stopping by.

More soon.

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A favourite topic of conversation in the pubs around Gwelf is the legendary and elusive exorcist, Nanny Furlong.  Here we see here on Cabbage Street in the suburb of Inverary standing in front of the site of a recent cleansing.  The offending poltergeist captured and trapped within her traveling case.  Her recent notoriety has caused her to use evasion spells and even those that know where she lives get lost and confused.

Just a quick reminder -  I will be heading to Burbank California in a few days for the CTNX animation convention, so if you are in the area please stop by and say hello.  November 20 - 22.

More soon.

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I have a new art book coming out called Traditional Magic.  I and it will be at the CTNX animation show in Burbank California a few weeks from now.  I will be signing my book, doing a live painting demo and hanging around for a few days.  Please stop by and say hello if you are in the area.

A few sample pages.

Thanks for stopping by.

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I have been doing series this year which I have been calling Woodland Nudes - Nymphs, Pixies, Faeries and Sprites.  I have just put some of them up on etsy for those interested parties oriented around whismy and foolishness.

https://www.etsy.com/ca/people/LarryMacDougallArt

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It has been a while since I have had a chance to visit Gwelf, distracted as I was by lesser responsibilities, but I have been able to find a bit of time on this blustery autumn weekend and so we shall proceed.

This time we are going to take a look at The Teasel Leaf Tavern.  It is a little off the beaten path, situated as it is out near the wild and woolly northern boundary.  However it has become a favourite destination for a small but loyal band of adventuring pear brandy enthusiasts.  A hearty group of characters undeterred by fear or distance.

As we all know October is the end of walking season in Gwelf due to the increased witch activity that comes with the colder weather. And yet every year, at about this time, there are those willing to take this risky excursion from the more civilized areas of Gwelf and arrive at the Teasel just as a new keg of brandy is tapped for the season.  For the true aficionados, a little danger only increases the pleasure of a new vintage.  What could be more thrilling than to sit snug and warm inside the tavern, sipping pear brandy as the sun goes down with the potential threat of a witch incursion at any moment?  This is what these sturdy yet discerning adventurers live for.

The nocturnal divide between October and November is widely considered to be the unofficial start of the witching season in Gwelf. And yet there are always a few over zealous covens wanting to get a head start on the proceedings and may begin their felonious activities even sooner.  This makes travel to the outer boundaries treacherous and inadvisable after the 15th.  One would hate to be kidnapped or vandalized just before Christmas.

As the year advances and autumn dissolves into winter, witch activity increases and becomes more dangerous. By February the residents of Gwelf will be hibernating in their little homes, candles lit, shutters closed, patiently waiting for spring.


One ray of sunlight in this dim story is the emergence of a new coven in the area seeking to balance the dark with the light.  The String Weavers are a small local coven of benevolent yet secretive witches who cast a healing influence over the neighbourhood of the Teasel and attempt to mitigate the shadow of the infernal winter covens.  This is not easy of course but they are committed and determined, thus making your chances of achieving a snifter of pear brandy on the outer reaches of Gwelf just a little bit better before the cold winds of November make it impossible.



As usual this travel update is simply a reminder to take care and be safe when trekking in Gwelf. Take nothing for granted and watch for the signs.  Good luck.

More soon.

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This is my 350th post on this blog according to the post counter on my dashboard.  The number is actually much higher but since I have a tendency to rethink my posts and take them down again, the number 350 refers to the posts I have let stand.

I will be scaling back my activity on this blog now that I have reached this big, fat, lovely round number.  Blogger is not now what It used to be.  The cob webs are forming, tumble weeds are blowing through and the crickets are chirping.  There is a lot more activity on Tumblr and so that is where you will be more likely to find me in the future.

http://larrymacdougallart.tumblr.com/

Thanks so much to everyone who stopped by and if you left a comment, even more thanks.  I have enjoyed it.

Below are to recent gouache pieces.  The first, Wood Sprite, is a tribute to one of my favourite cartoonists - Vaughan Bode.  He was a big inspiration to me many years ago when I was in art school and he still inspires me today.

The second piece, Leaping Faun, is a little celebration for the arrival of Autumn, a season I love very much.

Thanks again for stopping by.

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Having just completed another work stint designing characters for stop-motion animation, I find myself with a little left over motivation.  Here are a couple of post project drawings.  They are both smiling which is a bit of a hold over from the animation design.

Thanks again for stopping by.  More soon.

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New watercolour and gouache painting - Reading the Dead.  A woodland nymph meditates in the presence of a troll skull.

More soon.

Thanks for stopping by.

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Some recent pencil activity.  Faeries and sprites and a few other meadow dwellers - just for fun.

More soon, and thanks again for stopping by.

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New Watercolour.

The Wise Raven or Raven Witch is seen here in her natural habitat, the woods and fields around her home.

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A new watercolour in my ongoing series of woodland nudes and the pencil rough from which it sprang.

More soon.

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New painting.  This is mostly watercolour with some gouache to finish it off.

It looks like I will be going to CTN this year, so if you are in the LA area in November, please stop by.

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Another one from the Nymphs and Pixies series that I have been working on lately.

Thanks again for stopping by.   More soon.

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I'm on a bit of a painting binge right now and while I have the time I am going to continue to make pictures.  This is Chai Pixie.  Still busy - more soon and thanks again for stopping by.

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Two new watercolours - Dancing Nymph and The Last Days of Autumn.  I have also included a couple of preliminary pencil drawings.

In the first one a Woodland Nymph has climbed up onto a root tendril. She is dancing to celebrate the late but welcome arrival of spring.  I see her dance as being slow like Tai Chi or Yoga, but when you look away she will be gone.

This next one I am calling The Last Days of Autumn.  Once you get into October any warm day could be the last one, so I try to enjoy each and every one, not knowing when the last warm day will actually be.  Here a couple of Meadow Sprites are sunning themselves on a petrified troll skull.  Lazy Sprites.




Thanks again for stopping by.  More soon.

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A few pics from a recent trip to the Arctic.  I had been invited up by Inhabit Media who I have been working with on and off for the past decade on their Arctic Myths project.  This was my chance to actually experience the land that I had been illustrating from my imagination.

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Just back from a two week stint in the Arctic. For years now I have been working on an ongoing project concerning the mythology of the Arctic and now I have finally made a trip up there to breathe in the atmosphere and get a proper feel for the landscape. It was a very fun and exciting adventure.

Now that I am back I have been in my sketchbook and here are a couple of recent sketches.

More soon and thanks again for stopping by.

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Fresh spring rains are falling and washing away the last of the persistent winter snow.  These feral little creatures can now be observed in your garden if you are sneaky and patient.  I should probably remind you that these little beings can be aggressive and if you try to catch one you may get scratched.  Be careful and be quiet.



More soon and thanks for stopping by.

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The Book of Beasties is my most recent illustration project.  It is concerned with the creatures and legends of old Scotland.  Giants, Faeries, Goblins and Witches.  The research is by Belle Robertson and pencil renderings by yours truly.  Check this link to see more if you dare -
http://www.bookdepository.com/Book-Beasties-1-Belle-Robertson/9780957499003





Thanks again for stopping by.

More soon.

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This is a bit of the doodling and designing I have been doing lately.  Netsuke Nymphs, Fauns, Pixies and Sprites.  I use the word Netsuke because it refers to miniature Japanese sculptures and that is essentially what I have in mind when I'm doodling out these little characters.  The next step of course is to get some modeling clay and sculpt one.

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A little watercolour from last month.  The drawings you have seen before and the changes were made in order to improve the design.

I had originally drawn her with a flower but I felt a lot better about the drawing when I changed the flower to a sumac twig.  I like the long thin leaves of the sumac tree because I can put them where I need them to be to complete the design that feels right to me.

Thanks again for stopping by.  More soon.

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This time we are going back to Gwelf.  My schedule last year deprived me of much of the time I normally spend painting and investigating the Gwelf region.  This year I intend to make up for that lost time and visit Gwelf more often.

Here we have an old Raven Witch tending her mushroom circle.  She protects it and feeds it and in return it offers her escape and travel. The kind of travel that can only come from a mushroom circle or "faerie ring" which, as we all know, can be an instant portal to the nether world for any ignorant mortal foolish enough to step within.  However in this case the Raven Witch cultivates the circle and thereby controls it's magic and it's power.  She is a traveler.

Time is short and I will get back to all of this "circle magic" as soon as I can but I wanted to be sure to drop in today while I had a few free minutes and update with you all.



Thanks for stopping by and more soon.

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