“Narnia Awakens” New Art by Benjamin Hummel!

We’re please to announce the newest completed illustrated masterpiece by Benjamin Hummel

For those familiar with the works of CS Lewis, you might recognize the narrative in this painting. It does indeed come from “The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe,” and features the three protagonists of Lucy, Aslan, and Susan, after Aslan’s resurrection.

This was a personal project of mine. I’m a huge fan of CS Lewis, and I wanted to create a piece of art that would come close to doing his magnificent tale justice. In my mind’s eye, I had an idea of what I wanted it to look like. I asked my two nieces to model, and then I went to work.

My intention in all of this was to really focus on their expressions and their movement. While I initially thought I was going to utilize all sorts of crazy lighting effects, I decided against that at the last minute. Instead, it’s awakening light, the sun is still buried behind the hills, ready to explode its light, but for now, the characters emerge from the shadows to overlook the future.

I STRUGGLED with this. The colors were drying differently than I had mixed, I was getting muddied results, and the faces were not working out. I painted and fussed, and went over with colored pencil, and then paint again, and then I threw my brushes in frustration and walked out of the studio.

A few days later, I returned. I sat in front of the painting with a cooler head. I corrected Aslan’s mane by glazing just a hint of purple into it. I completely gesso-ed over Susan’s face (there was no saving it), redrew it in pencil, and then repainted the entire thing. Somehow I managed to salvage this painting. It now beams in beautiful pastel colors and I am pleased with the result.

Available as a signed limited edition print.

The colors are just radiant, and at 16” x 20”, the painting has a powerful impact. I want this art to go on your wall. A simple offset print or color copy would not do this justice. I will only be selling it as a life sized high quality print. If you are a fan of CS Lewis, or you know someone who is, this is an amazing gift.

“Narnia Awakens” signed high-end, limited edition print, by illustrator Benjamin Hummel. 16” x 20”.