This painting was a personal project of mine that started quite some time before I even realized that my friend Kimberley is a perfect model for the main character. The inspiration came from Hayao Miyazaki’s film “Princess Mononoke” which had a profound influence on me. The film is a perfect combination of a story of epic proportions, sad atmosphere, interesting characters, uncompromising style and beautiful art.

The scene in the magical forest impressed me a lot and a short while after seeing the movie I began planning the painting in my head. I wanted to have small creatures, undergrowth and ancient trees, and to have the entire scene bathed in a golden light filtering through the canopy. Initially, I wanted to make the painting in oils, but I decided it should be my first really elaborate attempt in making a finished, quality digital painting (by no means was it my first digital painting). The process was destined to be similar to how I approach oil painting with the limited, mostly self-taught knowledge and experience I have.