My most recent watercolor piece! 9"x12"

Kookaburra, Tiger snake and a rusty old truck.

Gouache wash on smooth Bristol, inked in Procreate, finished in Illustrator.

Hey everyone, here's an illustration for this year's art contest organized by Festival Reflection of Terror. The theme was the theft from artists via generative AI. Even though these days I don't have a lot of free time, I really wanted to answer this year's call because it is definitely a sensitive topic and a force that is changing all of our lives, plus, something that made me question myself for pursuing the career and lifestyle of an artist and illustrator.

I hope you will like this illustration, swipe to see the painting process!

Somehow I have the feeling that I won't stop with the raven cards until my very pretty granulating watercolor dot runs out... It's also a lot of fun to draw them somehow. I really like their chubby shape ✨🍁🐦‍⬛

But anyway, I had this funny idea of a little witch's helper tossing the necessary ingredients into the cauldron✨👀

Any advice or critique would be helpful.

This digital painting is my interpretation of Adi Shakti, the primordial Divine Mother—the eternal source of cosmic power, creation, and nourishment.

The inspiration for this artwork comes from a vision I've carried since childhood. A large painting on the wall of a temple in my neighbourhood depicted the Divine Mother seated upon a lotus, surrounded by gods and celestial beings who gathered around Her in reverence, praising her.

That image stayed with me through the years. Eventually, I bring my take on this concept, the emergence of Durga .

In Hindu traditions, the emergence of Maa Durga is associated with the convergence of divine powers to manifest the force capable of overcoming Mahishasura and restoring cosmic balance.

I wanted to portray that sacred moment of divine convergence—the gods and goddesses acknowledging the all pervading Parashakti offering their powers enveloping the primordial Shakti as Maa Durga manifests in all Her glory.

Seated upon the Padmasana, She embodies a beautiful duality.

She is the immeasurable power that can overcome darkness, yet She is also the nurturing Mother who sustains all existence.

The celestial beings surrounding Her represent reverence for the Divine Mother, whose power extends beyond any single deity or aspect of creation.

To me, Adi Shakti is not merely a force of destruction or protection. She is the creative energy that gives rise to existence, the sustaining presence within the cosmos, and the eternal Mother who nurtures all life.

Rather than portraying the Mother solely as a warrior, I wanted to emphasize Her serenity, majesty, and nurturing presence.

The surrounding gods and saints complete the vision that first captured my imagination as a child.

This artwork is both a personal tribute to that childhood memory and a humble artistic offering to the Divine Mother.

She is the power behind creation, the presence within every universe, and the Mother who holds all existence within Herself.

All things arise from Her. All things are sustained by Her.

🙏 ॥ जय आद्या शक्ति ॥

By me using Prismacolor premiere pencils on black (160gm) paper