Hello everyone! Has the Christmas spirit got you already? It got me indeed!
I will share in this album all my illustrations for a drawing challenge on Instagram
'the advent challenge'
1·12
1st prompt
"Christmas dinner"
I was reminded of an image of a Christmas Eve at my parents' house, with my entire very large family in attendance. I, I don't remember why, went outside to look for something and, almost by accident, looked through the window. Seeing my loved ones, smiling and happy, amidst the decorations and lights warmed my heart. Obviously this is not a realistic scene (it doesn't snow in Palermo, haha), but I hope I gave you the idea and warmed your heart a little too :)
7·12
2nd prompt
"Surprise visit"
When I read this theme, I was immediately reminded of a Sicilian Christmas tradition I used to witness as a child at my grandparents' house.
Every Christmas, a friend of my grandfather who was a “ciaramiddaru" (bagpipe player), during his usual tour of customers' homes, would also come to my grandparents' house to play his Christmas tunes.
This surprise visit always made me and my siblings euphoric, and to the sweet notes of his bagpipe, we would sing Christmas carols together!
13·12
3rd prompt
"Grandparents"
I dedicate this illustration to my grandma Giovanna, an incredible woman with enviable strength.
When I was a child and staying at her house, I would always sneak into her wonderful living room (off limits to us overly "active" grandchildren, haha!) to admire an object that I still find fascinating today. A music box that spun open many little doors, leaving a glimpse inside of it of a small pedestal where something once stood (I don't know what, maybe a ballerina?).
The fact is that Grandma would always find me there watching it, captivated by its music and so she too would sit there with me imagining, or perhaps remembering, fantastic stories...
19·12
4th prompt
"Elf"
I have to admit that with this theme I struggled a bit to figure out what I wanted to do! Mostly because I realized that I don't like elves 🤣 I wonder why in my head they seem a bit mean. So in the end I imagined a sweet little Lappish girl helping to load presents for children around the world onto the sleigh. By now everything should be ready for Christmas night!
Ps: can you spot my kitten in the second picture? 😄
25·12
5th prompt
"Snow Globe"
I love snow globes so much, but I'm sure that if we had one in our house, it would come to a very bad end. Our cats would make it last from Christmas to Boxing Day!
In the second photo, a portrait of the potential perpetrator of the misdeed. In the last, still her, receiving the proper tribute in cuddles for being woken up to take the photo 🤣
Happy holidays to all of you! ♥️
