Moose In Boots - Page Nine

I got off to a really slow start on this page because I had to do a lot of things before I could actually begin drawing. But I got it done.

I got the background shading better than page 8. That page is too dark. I managed to lift some of the color off the original, and I think I can fix it even more on the computer. Also, I added the green, and that looks good. But you'll just have to wait for the actual book to see all the tweaks.

Here's the original concept page, again with some computer coloring on the old verson.

What I had to mess around with is due to the fact that originally I had the text for this two-page spread on the right side. (if you missed yesterday's post, that's where the text is- on page 8.) This confused everyone who read the book. When I went back to the book after a few years, it confused me too. So I needed to switch those pages.

That meant Morgan needed to be flipped to face into the center of the book. I also needed to move some of the segments so they weren't too close to edges. I think it was 11 o'clock before I had a decent, updated concept page to work from.

(Just FYI, I try to get the concept pages pretty close. Then I trace the basic outlines on the better paper, use light pencil to fix shapes or whatever. Then I get out the picture I drew the original from- thankfully I also had printed those out and they were with the original drawings. Then I start with the ink, work from the photo, and try not to mess up. All mistakes with ink have to either be corrected on the computer, or if too terrible, I have to start over.)

Then I took a junk page that I printed by accident (see parts of Morgan's hooves that don't belong) and used colored pencil to decide what background colors I wanted, and tried to keep them very light.

I was almost finished mid-afternoon. But then we needed to go to a memorial visitation for someone. So I finished the inking when I got home.

Then I put in the colors, and did the computer work for text and a few minor tweaks.

My other art supplies arrived, so now I can go back and do page four.

See Moose In Boots- page 8

Moose In Boots- Page Eight

I was afraid I was going to have to do this page at least a couple of times. Or, at any rate, sections of it and then put them together with digital magic. But, I didn't mess up!

You need to understand that this is the left side of a two-page spread. You'll see the rest of the pictures another day. But some of these words aren't going to have anything to go with them yet. I may add some darker green for the trees above the wolf. Actually, I can test how that looks on the computer to see if it looks good.

Here is the concept page with some color I added with the computer a long time ago. It makes it hard to see the pencil drawings, but you get the idea. I actually had a few different concept drawings because I changed one of the animals and the placement of some things. (Just this week I thought about adding a spruce grouse because they also have special feet and they are very pretty, and they live in the northwoods. But I decided I should stick with familiar animals.)

And here are the pen drawings before I added in the color. I did the hardest one first and then held my breath until I finished the rest.

It was a really busy day. I did all of this except the color in the morning because this afternoon I had to do errands, grocery shopping and bell choir. I also managed to walk 3 miles.

Miles hiked in 2026: 33.5

Ludington School Forest, various trails, 3.0 miles/

See Moose In Boots - page 7

Moose In Boots - Page Seven

One more page.

I'm beginning to feel like I have ADHD. I do one thing on the painting and that has to dry or almost dry. But that means I can do something else for about 15 minutes and then I need to go back to it. I'm beginning to feel a little bit fractured.

Not too much to show on this one. Here's the concept. I used two printed copies of this to try out a couple of colors on the tent. But this picture is before I colored things.

Decided on blue and gray. A brighter color drew the eyes to the tent too much. Here's the first wash.

And the second wash. Basically, I colored every area before I started putting in details with pens.

What I actually spent some serious time on was trying out techniques for page 24. That one has to be different and I don't know what the heck I'm doing. But I fooled around- watched some videos and sort of made up something else, and I think I'm getting close to what I want. I'll show you those when I get to page 24, which will be a while.

I also managed to edit some.

Don't know if I'll finish a whole page tomorrow. It will be a busy day, and the next page is a little different too.

See Moose In Boots- Page 6

Moose In Boots - Page Six

Today went well... as far as working on Moose In Boots! But again, this is about all I did. Here is page 6

Here is the concept drawing from 16 years ago.

A few process pictures that might be slightly meaningful. This was the very first color I added. The rocks were fun. They just got blotches of gray, purple, and green. Then I worked with them later to create the rock shapes.

At that point I could "see" enough of the picture to know that I didn't like how it looked as it the landscape just falls off to nothing beyond the rocks. Lots of northwoods landscapes do fall away steeply, but there is usually a low area in the distance. I thought about just taking a chance on putting in the color. But by then, I'd invested a lot of time in the rocks and trees already, and I didn't want to ruin it if that didn't look good. So I painted a strip of ordinary paper, cut it out and laid it in to see how it looked. Yes! Much better. I knew I dared add a distant layer of color.

This is also possibly interesting. I wanted to be sure the hemlock bark was going to look OK. First I tried a couple of sample trunks on the scrap page on the left. The top one is too dark, but I was happy with the bottom one. The strip on the right is part of the actual page, but before I added the shading. Looks kinda weird, right! But I think the final tree looks good.

Have you noticed that I've been trying to add in plants that belong? Page 1 has marsh marigolds. Page 3 has Canada anemone and pink ladies' slipper. This page has bunchberry (ground dogwood). The trees on this page are a baby white pine, the tall and small hemlock, and a maple tree.

As I said, I didn't do much else. I feel good about finally getting serious about this book, but I also know I should be doing some other things too.

See Moose In Boots - page 5

Spirit of the Woods Hike- February 2026

Today was the annual hike and attached chili feed. We had a big group despite the cold and snow. We think 25 people hiked. A couple of them did not get in the picture.

The snow was unbroken, but our two stalwart Dans led the way and most of the group did a total of about 3 miles.

I turned around earlier. My knee is still sore, and I want it to get better not angrier. The return woods was quiet and the trail was nicely packed after all those people had been on it!

The rest of the event is held at the warming shelter at Big M Ski Area. Loren does most of the work for this. There's a nice wood stove, and she heated the chili. She's dishing some out in this picture.

People also brought other foods to complement the chili. There was lots of food! This is just one secton. (It's hard to take good pictures in the building because the light is from those huge windows and it's hard to get a shot without a big blob of light behind it)

We think the total head count was about 35. It's a great time every year, and having a slightly warmer indoor place to visit makes it really nice. Several new people came.

Miles walked in 2026: 30.5
Hike 100 Challenge: 10.2 miles

North Country Trail, Manistee Co, MI. Madison Rd north about 1.2 miles out and back

See SPW- January 2026