A midwinter Night's dream

Himalayan Memories

I created this scene after memories of a travel to Ladakh, India. I wanted to tell the story of a group of people travelling in a snowy and mountainous landscape to a city Monastery. They are not far from their destination. The scene is lighted by a cold full moon whitch helps them to see in the night. The weather is cold and windy and clouds are stuck in some parts of the lower landscape.

A Midwinter's night dream illustration digital painting

A midwinter's Night's dream

I wanted this illustration to feel like a glimpse of a dream or memory.

Process

At the begining I knew I wanted a snowy kind Himalayan landscape, with stupas and prayer flags in the wind.

I switched to landscape format for these 3 thumbnails and picked number 7.

The group of people and beasts walking in a row toward the monastery gave more life to the scene.

I switched the ambiant light into a clear full moon night like in thumbnail 6, for I knew the snow would illuminate the scene. Also added a foreplan with prayer flags in the wind.