Thursday, September 16, 2010

pleated lamp shade, white iron bed

Since I was little, I've had a deep love for illustrations depicting really cozy looking bedrooms. The more personal belongings in the bedroom, the better. I loved and still love the way these illustrations embody the character who inhabits the room, and the warmth they fill me with.
illustration by Richard Scarry
illustration by Mary Blair
illustration from The Napping House by Don and Audrey Wood
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When I was little, intricately detailed bedrooms were all I wanted to draw. I still love drawing them. My drawings are sometimes my only way to capture what I want and can't have. The strange thing is, I have always had very cozy bedrooms, yet there is still something that I long for.
It's like the way I am in love with looking in lit windows at night - the very fact that I can never see truly within them is what makes them captivating, and for that reason I am glad I cannot go inside.
The beautiful yellow glow is all I need.
I think, with the bedroom drawings, it's that the character is so content to be in their room. The comfort of that room is all they need. I dream of that kind of stable comfort.
Tonight, on my walk between work and where I get on the bus, I got to look in so many second and third-floor apartment windows on Newbury Street, high enough that I can only see what graces the window sill and the posts of a bed. It calms me and fills my imagination.
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So with all that said, here are some of my bedroom drawings:
I hope you all had a beautiful Wednesday.
Love,
Amanda

8 comments:

Antonia Glavic said...

What great illustrations! I'd love to see more like this. I wonder what books she is reading! It's interesting how a person's bedroom tells so much about them. It may be the most subtle things that say the most. Whenever I'm in a new place I'm charmed by people's photos, cards and knick knacks of sorts.

Antonia
http://www.antoniaglavic.blogspot.com/

www.juliadenos.com said...

Oh I LOVE this post Amanda! You are totally spot on about glowy windows and not knowing what's past the bedpost or little window sill that makes them cute...there is also something about this time of year that heightens this feeling!

Another great picture book bedroom is Goodnight Moon...the little hairbrush and bowl of mush and dollhouse! eek!

www.juliadenos.com said...

p.s. I also wanted to tell you your bedroom illustration is cozy too!

lindsey said...

in LOVE what that last one! perfect.

xo

A Painted Journey said...

Oh, I love love love this post, honey! It reminds me of so many of the books I read to you when you were little, so many of them filled with charming illustrations, cozy homes, and bedtime scenes. I want a bookcase big enough to hold all of your childhood books instead of them being packed in boxes under the bed! Wouldn't it be lovely to have easy access to all of them? ... Love, Mummy

Rosa and Carlotta: Illustrated-Moodboard said...

lovely! so inspiring :)

check out my fashion illustrations at http://www.illustrated-moodboard.com/ :)

Jo said...

These bedroom drawings are great!! I love the detail and cozy feeling of each of them. They make me want to give my own bedroom a little makeover!! :)

Amanda Laurel Atkins said...

thanks, Jo! :)