The Little Match Girl

A lot of us have heard this particular tale, and it is incredibly depressing. There's no bones about it--it's one of those tragic tales that starts sad and ends sad. 

Hans Christen Anderson recognized the plight of the poor, much like his literary contemporary Charles Dickens. They were actually friends for a while until Anderson overstayed a two-week guest stint at the Dickens household for five... They never talked again. And apparently Andersen never figured out why.

But this piece is endearing for it's sense of hope and capturing the deeply felt needs and wants of a desperate little girl. It has a holiday magic in it, taking place on New Year's Eve, and focuses on the fantastical visions a girl sees when she lights the matches she's trying to sell so she can stay warm in the winter snow. In the end, the spirit of her grandmother escorts her soul up into the sky as she dies from hypothermic exposure.

Yeah. Real uplifting piece. Andersen pulled no punches. And while the story probably hasn't been at the forefront of Hollywood's movie endeavors, the tale has endured and is still cherished today. It has a powerful message, albeit one that demands an appreciation of beauty in tragedy, and the girl's visions that unfold throughout communicate character in a simple and gorgeous way. The story itself has an atmosphere that is instantly recognized by many: that chilly night of falling snow, and the cold crisp air that is easily romanticized with horse carriages and winter wonderlands. Here Andersen inverts into a silent night of light, loneliness, and quiet despair. 

This piece speaks to that. Again, I was inspired by the techniques of Margaret Macdonald Mackintosh, but because I work digitally I can do a lot of things she couldn't--and probably wouldn't--but that I really enjoy including. The falling snow, for example, is executed in a way that probably wouldn't have been possible as it blurs out a bit at the bottom.

I was also inspired by Van Gogh's "The Starry Night Over the Rhone" for color and spirit. I was able to have Procreate lift the colors from the digital reproduction of the original and use some of them in this piece.

You can purchase this piece as an individual greeting card here: https://goimagine.com/the-little-match-girl-single-illustrated-greeting-card-5x7-with-envelope

Here are the two livestream recordings of it's completion: 
Pt 1: https://makertube.net/w/c5Pz1dQQW9GGimae2NvJfA

Pt 2: https://makertube.net/w/dav3QgNGSn1WQNZbimtmoM

Here's the speedpaint video: