Alice Ratterree Illustration

Folk Tale Week | “Found”

(The Farmer and His Sons, by Aesop) I like to imagine these sons found something more priceless than just the riches of an abundant crop.

Folk Tale Week is brought to you by:
.j.stein .draws
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Folk Tale Week | ILLUSION

…and the moment that the illusion dissolves and truth is revealed! So many layers of illusions packed into this small story...

Folk Tale Week is brought to you by:
.j.stein .draws
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Folk Tale Week | “Sleep”
How could we honor Aesop without mentioning the over-confident hare and persistent tortoise? Sometimes sleep doesn’t pay off…

Folk Tale Week is brought to you by:
.j.stein .draws
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It’s time for Folk Tale Week 2023! This annual week-long event feature’s illustrations on Instagram inspired by single-word prompts, carefully curated by the hosts listed below. Follow with
This year, I’m taking on Aesop’s fables! Today’s illustration prompt is “LOST” featuring The Fox Without A Tail. Swipe left to enjoy the story, and stay tuned for a link coming soon to my YouTube page with this week’s video time-lapse replays with commentary.
Folk Tale Week is brought to you by:
.j.stein .draws
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This weekend (November 11-12) is Greenville Open Studios! Stop by Metropolitan Arts Council at 16 Augusta Street to see the exhibit and pick up the catalog. Download the app at greenvillearts.com for an interactive, customizable map to this year’s locations.
To all artists participating: have a fabulous weekend! I will miss seeing all of you this year but will be following online! 🙌 Congratulations!!
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I’m joining Folk Tale Week 2023

Back in the studio and my favorite little corner. Do not sit around and wait to get inspired- take action first, and inspiration will be birthed from that action!

“The beanstalk grew up quite close past Jack's window, so all he had to do was to open it and give a jump on to the beanstalk, which was like a big braided ladder. So Jack climbed…and he climbed….and he climbed….. till at last he reached the sky”
- From English Fairy Tales, collected by Joseph Jacobs
challenge for 2021 (prompt: Sky)
*swipe to see pencil sketch before painting!*

An interpretation of mysterious woman holding the key that catapulted into the forefront of drawing challenges on a few years ago. It inspired me so much I just had to have a go at it along with the other thousands out there! If you are new to the concept behind the challenge here’s a good article about it: https://tinyurl.com/2k3udvya Swipe to see the sketch process and original from her portfolio!

It’s day-Happy March! I’m a published illustrator represented by . I love to create pictures for children that tell a story: illustrations for books, and classic storybook fine art for the home. Link to website in my profile. I hope you stop by and say hello!

Most of the time characters come from stories but sometimes stories come from characters. She isn’t in control now, but maybe she will author her own?
Get out there and write yours too. Happy Friday!

“And upon the pillow there was Goldilocks's yellow head, which was not in its place, for she had no business there.”
challenge 2021
(prompt: Awake)

A Happy Christmas to all! May your soul yearn only for what is good.

“He was naturally a thirsty soul, and was soon tempted to repeat the draught. One taste provoked another; and he reiterated his visits to the flagon so often, that at length his senses were overpowered, his eyes swam in his head, his head gradually declined, and he fell into a deep sleep. On waking, he found himself on the green knoll whence he had first seen the old man of the glen. He rubbed his eyes—it was a bright sunny morning. The birds were hopping and twittering among the bushes, and the eagle was wheeling aloft, and breasting the pure mountain breeze. ‘Surely,’ thought Rip, ‘I have not slept here all night.’”
What happened between Rip’s fall into deep sleep and his waking? Did he dream?
challenge for 2021 (prompt: Dream)

“Where are you going, and what do you wish?” The old moon asked the three.
"We have come to fish for the herring-fish that live in this beautiful sea; nets of silver and gold have we," said Wynken, Blynken, and Nod.
Folktale Week] challenge for 2021 (prompt: Moon)
Folktale Week]

Sometimes life throws curveballs at you. The one I got has me a full month behind, so I hope you had a thrilling and magical Halloween! Posts for will be landing eventually. Can’t wait to browse all of your ideas!

Reference photos are a must. Since there isn’t always a live model on hand,
I take a lot of selfies (TimerCam is my go-to app for that -it allows me to set the
camera, then hit the “shutter” button AND have time to walk back in place and get a
pose mid-action…yes, my photo reel is pretty embarrassing) Sometimes you just
need a foot or a hand to solve a problem. So you can create what is known as “Frankenstein
Reference Imagery” – combining photos and sketches in photoshop to help make a good reference
for a final piece. Swipe left to see an example!
Interior illustration from Lilliput by published by .

I’ve been intrigued with the challenge for a while now (ever since I came across that Victorian woman holding a key by …yes, I must try that one too) This weekend I tackled ‘s little mushroom girl. And since making art is sometimes (well, many times) multitasked with parenting, my daughter and her friend tackled their own versions too! Swipe to see original by and those by my little companions yesterday. .christine.elder

“What big eyes you have…”

It’s time for ! Prompts will be posted on October 11. Artwork will be shared November 15-21. All artists welcome. Follow the entries with and . The annual challenge was developed by artists .draws

"London calling! Make way, make way! Move aside, sir! The boy has worked through the night. His idea is fresh, and he carries the proof!"
- original caption by .bryson

Anyone read Russian Cyrillic? Lily has landed in Russia! Lilliput, by , published by (UK) (North America- detail of cover shown) and now | Swipe for a peek at a detail of their cover. Thanks, !

Does anyone read a newspaper anymore? An actual folded, crinkly, get-your-hands-dirty-with-dusty-back-ink newspaper…? I remember my father sitting at the breakfast table, head peeking out behind that large back and white tent. It really was magical how it folded in on itself to become a small rectangle resting on the table again. My 8-year-old self wondered what could have been more captivating inside those pages than Captain Kangaroo on the tiny black and white kitchen TV.
Now parents are reading news on tablets, phones, getting alerts from the local station app, or (gulp) social media….Remember when published information was trusted because it was physically printed (and therefore vetted)?
While the world sometimes feels as though it is changing too fast, some things are still the same. News today may still be as troubling as it was for Jane Addams. Non-fiction kidlit books help children connect the past with our present, and deliver a much-needed worldview perspective. Pick up a nonfiction book today for the young reader in your life. (Illustrations from “Dangerous Jane” by )
For a fun glimpse into some everyday articles of days gone by, check out and

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It’s mid-summer and we are all dreaming. I’m looking forward to the theatre again. Come visit for the retrospective on display through July 30!

Take a look behind the scenes with a step by step process for this latest work. Click on the link to my website in bio and visit the Journal page!

We’ve been talking a lot about personal space this year....6 feet apart, quarantine, masks, face shields. How physically close do we need to be to feel connected? How much physical distance does it take before we start feeling alone and isolated? May 5 was National Astronaut Day. I bet astronauts have to deal with their fair share of isolation, loneliness and fear of the unknown. I don’t know if I’ll ever view the earth like that from so far above and away, but I often look up at the night sky and wonder how that vast distance can make me feel the powerful emotions of loneliness and comfort simultaneously. Maybe it’s a healthy dose of perspective? To be reminded of how small and insignificant life is, yet at the same time here we are, connected to such grandeur. What do you think about – or, more importantly, how does it make you feel – when you look up at the night sky?

Preview: "School Days"; watercolor & pencil; 12x12"
Metropolitan Arts Council Open Studios Retrospective show May 7 - June 30. DM for purchase inquiries.

About ten years ago I moved to Greenville to a neighborhood with an elementary school nestled only two blocks away. On the first day of my son’s first grade year, we walked.

We saw a bunny.

We listened to birds.

Watched the way the leaves changed color throughout the year.

We talked to other kids, other parents.

Strangers became friends.

My children are just a bit older now, but I still see others buddying up and walking up the hill to that school, their crowns sweetly tilted towards each other as they talk. I’m confident they will have much better stories to tell about walking to school when they are grandparents.

Happy Earth Day.

One hour later...”School Days”