The 'Alternative' Princess and the Pea

As part of Carla Sonheim's fabulous "Year of the Fairytale" course, she invited us to create an 'alternative' to the traditional Pea in Hans Christian Andersen's beloved fairytale... to create a full page illustration and a spot illustration featuring a conceptual element to be placed under the bed, a new perpetrator keeping the Princess awake, instead of the Pea. 

In the traditional story of course it is a Pea that is placed by the Queen below the mattresses on which a Princess sleeps to test if she is a REAL princess (as only one with such sensitivity will be able to detect the pea) proving she is fit to marry the Queen's son, the Prince. 

This was a fun exercise to teach us about two different types of illustrations featured in picture books. 

Here is my submission for... "The Princess and the ......?" It's an Aardvark! I find them a real fun looking creature. 

To view the PDF of the entire zine with mine and others contributions from this class, 135 artists from all over the world, please click on this link: http://carlasonheim.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/fairylandfinal1.pdf  (it may take about a minute to load) They are showcased alphabetically by the artist's first name. 
I hope you enjoy it!

Till next time.....

Blessings of beauty,
Catherine Athena xo