#NHPNutcracker
LightNews LightNews
himmapaan.bsky.social
"You saved me," he said. "Not just from the Mouse King - from a terrible curse, too. Will you do me the honour of accompanying me to my home, the Land of Sweets?"

They travelled by swan over gold-flecked oceans & silver-edged cities. 4/

#ArtAdventCalendar
#NHPNutcracker
4th spread of The Nutcracker, illustrated by me, published by Walker Books, 2015. Ink, watercolour, and gouache on Arches hot pressed paper. Silhouette illustration with elements in colour. Seven swans fly amid the falling snow through the night sky over a river with a beautiful cityscape. The leading Swan, with a crown on its head, bears Clara and the Nutcracker Prince.
December 23, 2023 at 8:46 PM
himmapaan.bsky.social
Fritz eyed the nutcracker enviously.
"That's a boy's toy," he said -- & he snatched it & threw it to the ground. There was a sickening CRACK.
Clara cradled the broken nutcracker, angry tears in her eyes. "Please, Dr Drosselmeyer -- can you fix him?"

1/

#ArtAdventCalendar
#NHPNutcracker
1st spread of The Nutcracker, illustrated by me, published by Walker Books, 2015. Ink, watercolour, and gouache on Arches hot pressed paper. Silhouette illustration with elements in colour. A scene in an elegant drawing room set in 1818, festively decorated for Christmas. Part of a Christmas tree can be glimpsed through a door. In front of a fireplace hung with stockings, a young boy stands sulking with his hands behind his back. His kneeling sister cries as she looks at a broken nutcracker, shaped like a soldier, lying on the rug before her. The children's parents and godfather stand around them, concerned.
December 22, 2023 at 5:34 PM
himmapaan.bsky.social
What a wonderful dream, Clara thought.
As the clock struck six, she heard a knock. Dr Drosselmeyer!
"I've brought someone to meet you. This is my nephew."
Before her was a young man with cherry-red coat & indigo eyes. He was handsome enough to be a prince... 7/7

#ArtAdventCalendar
#NHPNutcracker
Final illustration for The Nutcracker, illustrated by me, published by Walker Books, 2015. Ink and gouache on Arches hot pressed paper. Silhouette vignette primarily in black with elements in colour. Beneath a garland of festive greenery and red and gold ribbons is the same owl-topped grandfather clock as in the second spread. To its left is Clara's godfather, Dr Drosselmeyer, who gestures to his nephew, wearing a red a coat and white sash just like the Nutcracker Prince's. Clara faces them on the clock's right.
December 24, 2023 at 10:59 PM
himmapaan.bsky.social
Leading the charge was a fearsome Mouse King with a golden crown. "Get the sweets!" he ordered. "I'll take care of the girl."
"Not so fast," came a voice. Clara turned to see her nutcracker. Behind him were toy soldiers, gingerbread men & dolls, ready to fight. 3/

#ArtAdventCalendar
#NHPNutcracker
3rd spread of The Nutcracker, illustrated by me, published by Walker Books, 2015. Ink, watercolour, and gouache on Arches hot pressed paper. Silhouette illustration with elements in colour. Beneath the boughs of the Christmas tree, from which swing gingerbread men with swords, the Nutcracker Prince, in red coat and white sash, sword drawn, and accompanied by Clara, leads the charge of the toy soldiers. Facing them at the foot of the staircase is the Mouse King in golden crown and his mice troops.
December 23, 2023 at 2:00 PM
himmapaan.bsky.social
Just before midnight, Clara woke with a start. By the light of the moon, she softly tiptoed downstairs to find her wooden prince.

Then she heard a rustling & scuttling coming from upstairs. She looked up, and a thousand pairs of eyes glared back at her... mice! 2/

#ArtAdventCalendar
#NHPNutcracker
2st spread of The Nutcracker, illustrated by me, published by Walker Books, 2015. Ink, watercolour, and gouache on Arches hot pressed paper. Silhouette illustration with elements in colour. In a spacious hallway with a sweeping staircase and a grandfather clock surmounted by an owl carving, a huge Christmas tree dripping with ornaments towers over a startled young girl, confronted by a huge rodent wearing a crown at the head of a swarm of mice streaming down the stairs.
December 22, 2023 at 10:11 PM
himmapaan.bsky.social
"Welcome to the Land of Sweets," said the prince.
As they crossed the candy cane bridge, a fairy in a sugar-spun dress came out to greet them.
"How do you do, Clara?" she said. "I am the Sugar Plum Fairy. Come quickly, you're late for the ball!" 5/

#ArtAdventCalendar
#NHPNutcracker
5th spread of The Nutcracker, illustrated by me, published by Walker Books, 2015. Ink, watercolour, and gouache on Saunders Waterford hot pressed paper. Silhouette illustration with elements in colour. The Nutcracker Prince and Clara meet the Sugarplum Fairy on a bridge leading to a resplendent castle of many turrets and coloured domes. A sailboat laden with sweets glides by in the castle moat.
December 24, 2023 at 11:53 AM
himmapaan.bsky.social
Clara & the Prince waltzed until the sun peeped out & turned the sky a thousand shades of pink. Then Clara knew it was time for her to go home.

[The pop-up is extremely hard to photograph well & I lack a suitable background. 😭]

6/

#ArtAdventCalendar
#NHPNutcracker
6th spread of The Nutcracker, illustrated by me, published by Walker Books, 2015. A pop up featuring ornate arches and a gateway, candy-coloured trees, dancers, and the Nutcracker Prince, Clara, and the Sugarplum Fairy.
December 24, 2023 at 7:42 PM
himmapaan.bsky.social
I couldn't share this clip when I first posted this thread, because Bsky didn't support video then, but here's the pop-up being opened.

The Nutcracker, Walker Books, 2015. The book is still available (dead name, boo).
#ArtAdventCalendar
#NHPNutcracker
December 24, 2024 at 7:19 PM