Nate and Totoro

So...I know there are quite a few mistakes in this illustration - but I did not really thumbnail out the illustration before I painted it, haha.  Tangents here, off model there, etc... But I still like how it turned out, so I'm posting it!

This was done with Holbein Acryla-gouache (my new favorite painting medium), inks, sharpie, and colored pencil on 12x16 watercolor paper.

 

Nate is my 7 year old cousin who is the youngest of three siblings.  He's very inquisitive and very smart, and can pick up new things really easily.  The kid is a genius, I tell you.

Anyhow, he has been watching My Neighbor Totoro nonstop lately, so I decided to make him an illustration as a late birthday gift to him (his birthday was back in March) and also as a farewell gift.  

Here's a behind-the-scenes shot of how I work.

Very very very messily.