Original Art Sundays No. 153: placeholder: A Micmac Legend (gouache, collage)

Well, I'm rethinking figure positions on the next Cowgirls page, so either later this week or up for next Sunday's entry.
Meanwhile, here's another unused editorial piece.
This one incorporates illustration as a border element.
There are aspects of this that I really like, but in retrospect, I would have handled the type differently- nothing really wrong with it, but it doesn't have much character.

The illustration is just detailed enough. The layout is intended to draw the reader right into the text. The costuming of the lower figure is authentic, at least according to my research.
As indicated above, this was done at 100% size in gouache with elements (leaves, photos of earth) collaged into it. I'm hardly a huge fan of collage, but in this case it works.
Very hectic week at work coming up, but I hope to make time to complete that page. The top half is already wonderful; I just must make the bottom half follow suit!