What a wonderful Kirkus review!
(Paired here with my favorite improper contraction.)
"A thoughtful look at life, in all its beauty and strangeness.
...
This delightfully deadpan musing on life urges compassion for others. Howden’s straightforward text is on the philosophical side, though also rooted in the absurd. Hahn’s spare black graphite pencil watercolor, mostly set against a white background, are imbued with humor and empathy for the pickle, with the foodstuff’s expressive eyes conveying many emotions at once. "
https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/sarah-howden/the-wise-pickle/
THE WISE PICKLE
by Sarah Howden ;
illustrated by Sabina Hahn
RELEASE DATE: June 23, 2026
Soluto is Princess Neera Veera's archnemesis,just like how Qasaherim is Elvarelyn's archnemesis.He is a fire demon warlord who has an army of his own to destroy anything and anyone on his path mostly weaker demons since he cannot fight stronger,more dangerous demons because that would result in not only his armys elimination but his.He is not terrifying,vile or deadly like a lot of demon warlords because 1.he be defeated easily and 2.he is moody and skittish and 3.he has only killed a few demons.Snidecious and him are very alike,even though snide doesn't want anything to do with him.Soluto Ignis literally means fire warlord in Latin thus why I named him as such.He was difficult to color since I have never colored fire digitally I even tried to search for character speedpaints similar to Soluto's design to get an idea on how to color him but nothing helped however what did help me was looking for similar character designs on google images and getting not only an idea how I colored him but inspiration too.
White and sanguine conte pencils on toned paper. These ruins captured my drawing itch with the quality of the light filtering brilliantly through the tangled growth outside, and the open shade within. At a metaphorical level, the image is about the sense of having a laborious path set in stone for me by custom, convention, and culture, while way is wide open to the chaotic fertility of nature, should I choose to follow my own feet and heart.
Lovecraftian monster. I very much enjoyed making lines with no precision or thought. Pure art, no planning. I'm going to continue down this path. Done with ink.
A drawing for someone I somehow met from the corner of the internet, his original character Runali. A few years of ups and downs, but there were many struggles due to poor mental health. In the end as things heal, we gradually recognised our differences and decided to take different paths.
I love the song Blackbird by Paul McCartney. But, blackbirds are very territorial when they have young ones in the nest. There is a sunny tree-lined path I like to walk in the summer. I have seen a fox running out of those woods, a doe lying in the sun-drenched grass, and an irate couple of blackbirds diving at my head while I was peacefully walking by their nest of young ones. I had to start carrying a stick to ward them off. Blackbird Fly! Just stay away from me!
In July of 2022, Brianna Grier died falling out of a moving police car while having a mental health breakdown. Since Brianna passed, I have been heartbroken for her twins and family but also reflecting on my struggle with mental health. Mental health needs compassion and empathy, not police and punishment. The brunch strokes are purposeful, but I completed them with empathy in mind. I want to keep the composition simple but filled with meaning. The color theme represents vastness and loneliness, but also kinetic energy found in warm orange tones.
This picture represents that even in the darkest or messiest of times there is still a rainbow. The picture shows as someone is lost and waiting a rainbow still appears. As the path is broken, messed up and there seems to be no way out, there still is hope.
Hello! My name is Eternal Phoenix, I hope you enjoy my first full drawing of the year that I made a while back.I have much to learn, but that won’t stop me from moving forward in this path
"One may stray from the path of a man, one may stray from the path of a woman, but there is no straying from the path of a Human! All friends must scatter into the sky of truth, and blossom!, Okama Way!" - Bon Clay
I am interested in connection between a human and an animal. This unique, individual emotional, almost telepathic connection that is so abstract that only art could possible be bale to materialize it . ..like another different universe...
At the top of Pentregwenlais near Llandybie is Gwenlais Quarry. In itself, the quarry is quite beautiful with its sheer rock faces and the way that nature has started to reclaim it. This scene is one of the paths that leads down from the top of the quarry back towards Pentregwenlais. I was going to do it as a pen & wash but by the time I'd finished with the watercolour I thought it was too complex to start putting ink in there. Watercolours on watercolour paper (6x8")
I stumbled across this dilapidated coach house that would have once been part of the Glynhir estate while exploring the public footpaths around Llandybie. I loved the way nature had reclaimed it.
Painted as my final project for my Painting Environments course. I was super nervous about tackling this one, but learned a ton taking this course. I'm happy to move on to the next one. :-)
Ironwood Forest
Project parameters:
- Forest full of massive trees
- Implied path
- River rambling through tree roots
- Waterfall
Don’t get caught here unawares… I don’t suggest you take the stairs. The treasure that this castle keeps, deep beneath the water sleeps. But if you’re patient with the tides, there’s another path it hides. Quickly now! Find the door! and hurry back onto the shore. For the moon, she will not wait to turn the tide and flood the gate. Don’t get caught here unawares… I don’t suggest you take the stairs.
A stylized architectural illustration capturing the intricate beauty of a classic brick gateway and decorative ironwork. This design blends traditional sketching techniques with a modern, vibrant color palette, making it a perfect statement piece for those who appreciate urban history and fine masonry details.
