I think it’s fitting that I put the finishing touches on February’s SCBWI|Draw This illustration challenge on Valentine’s Day. Why? Because this month’s challenge word is Secret Admirer.

My goal for February’s SCBWI|Draw This illustration challenge…

Was, of course, to find a funny and unexpected way to interpret the prompt word. As you can see, I started my illustration with a rough pencil sketch:

Rough pencil sketch for February's SCBWI|Draw This! prompt word challenge

The inked draft came next:

Inked version of Secret Admirer illustration by Joana Miranda

However, the version above sat on my drafting table for a day or two before I felt courageous enough to start painting.

Photo of cat and mouse illustration on my drafting table as I begin the watercoloring process.

(Washi tape works great at keeping my watercolor paper flat and relatively free from buckling as I lay down watercolor washes.)

Putting the finishing touches on an illustration can also be tricky…

Because you have to know when to stop!

Putting the finishing touches on my illustration for the SCBWI February Draw This! prompt word challenge.

Fittingly, the relationship between this cat and mouse is intended to be full of love.

SCBWI|Draw This illustration challenge submission for February - by Joana Miranda

(And I’m sending you lots of Valentine love today, too!)

P.S. To see my December illustration in the gallery along with the other SCBWI|Draw This Illustration challenge submissions, please click here (then scroll all the way to the bottom of the page.) My illustrations have yet to be chosen as the winners, but that’s ok. I love what I’m doing, and each illustration I create teaches me something and moves me forward!

Comments

    • Joana says:

      Thank you so much, Eduardo! Fingers crossed that maybe my illustration will be chosen as the winner this time. 🙂

  2. Helen Reich says:

    I have to admit, it must be quite unusual to see a cat and mouse illustration from the aspect of inside the mouse’s home! Very original and cute.

    • Joana says:

      Hi Helen,

      Ooh, thank you so much! We did have a mouse in our apartment about 6 weeks ago. I saw it run across the floor when I was talking on the phone. After that we set traps and baited them with Parmesan from Whole Foods. (I also put steel wool around the pipe holes under the sink and taped up one big hole in the cabinet under the sink. Either my taping/steel wool games were sufficient or the cheese just wasn’t to Mr. Mouse’s liking. In any case, the traps have remained untouched and we haven’t seen any more evidence of life. Yippee!
      I hope you are having a lovely weekend!
      xox – Joana

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