Christmas Card 2011

We celebrate our faith in our own peculiar and muddled ways, but it is infinitely precious, no matter how awkward and jumbled.

This painting was done in ink, watercolor, and colored pencils. 

I found a description (and I apologize for not remembering who posted it or where) of how to do a painting in more or less the technique of artists like Edmund Dulac.  It consists of beginning with a drawing in brown or sepia permanent ink, then a very wet wash of raw umber, which you blot in places where you want lighter colors.  Then layer the color in thin washes, and end with white highlights.  I did that, and then ended using colored pencils to make the colors more precise and more defined. 
The description I downloaded was a full page of instructions, which I have shortened to the point of being useless to try & follow.  So if anyone is interested in the full directions, tell me in a comment and I will be glad to post it or send it to you.