"I WENT out to the hazel wood,
Because a fire was in my head,
And cut and peeled a hazel wand,
And hooked a berry to a thread;
And when white moths were on the wing,
And moth-like stars were flickering out,
I dropped the berry in a stream
And caught a little silver trout." - W.B. Yeats -

This piece marks a return to more than one thing for me. A return to the painting of faeries, which I've stopped doing for more than 3 years, I think. I'm also returning to digital art because I have a new graphic tablet and a new monitor. I don't think I will return to it as my main medium since I've discovered my strength is in the traditional mediums. However, I fully intend to take the time to create pixelated whimsy.

My challenge to myself today was to create and finish a faerie in one night. I've met it. I'm also still playing around with photoshop and so am working outside of my comfort zone. Having said that, I think I kinda like the results.

The painting itself plays with several things; I was thinking of painting an autumnal faerie because I was out doing my autumn riverwalk, collecting twigs and branches while quoting Yeats to myself. The feline element was accidental and recalls a certain rajamala incarnation of my favourite MUD alter-ego. ~ . ^