House No. 93: Nesting Houses

House No. 93: Nesting Houses

printed cardstock
3 in. x 4.75 in. x 2.25 in.,  2.25 in. x 3.75 in. x 1.75 in.,  1.75 in. x 2.25 in. x 1.25 in.,  .5 in. x 1 in. x .5 in.
093/365; 04/03/11

 

 

These paper nesting houses are inspired by Russian matryoshka, also called babushka, dolls. The design is based on Russian izba, and I tried to keep the sense, if not the literal style, of Russian decorative art in the pattern and coloring of the houses.

I don't want to be all talking Barbie, but these little houses were one of my bigger challenges because of the sheer amount of calculations that needed to be factored into their creation. My brain hurts, but I revel in the fact that I am working to avoid Alzheimer's.

House No. 57: Sámi House

 

House No. 57: Sámi House
ink, colored pencil, and watercolor on paper, digital layout

8.5 in. x 11 in.
057/365; 02/26/11

Let me get one thing out of the way at the start: there are a lot of different houses built and used by the Sámi people, who are a culturally connected people spread across many different political lines in far northern Europe.  The Sámi live in the northernmost parts of the countries of Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia.

In fact, you may notice some similarities between house number fifty-seven, here, and house number forty-three, Russian Izba, particularly in the izba from the story of Baba Yaga, a Chicken-Legged Izba. (Isn't that a lovely depiction of Baba Yaga's house by fantasy illustrator Reuben C. Dodd?)

I illustrated a Sámi house traditionally found in Sweden for this house because I love the house's supports, but there are many, many fascinating Sámi dwellings that could take up their own sub-project, and believe me, I'm thinking about it.

I am really fascinated by the Sámi, and I want to learn loads more about them. I will keep you posted!

House No. 43: Russian Izba

 

House No. 43: Russian Izba

ink, colored pencil, and watercolor on paper, digital layout
8.5 in. x 11 in.
043/365; 02/12/11

Izbas are Russian log cabins built by peasants in the countryside. Many are ornately decorated with painted woodwork. The houses were built without saws or nails because the steel was so expensive. Instead, the logs were notched with a hand axe and fit together. Ornamentation was whittled by knife.

Some izbas, called chicken leg izbas, are built on stilts. These are the inspiration for the magical house lived in by Baba Yaga, the witch of lore from Eastern Europe. I love these stories and the imagery that they conjure up. The tales may find their way into some illustrations quite soon ...