Clare McCanna
LightNews LightNews
banner
claremccanna.bsky.social
Clare McCanna
@claremccanna.bsky.social
270 followers 580 following 120 posts
Freelance illustrator, gremlin, occasional unicorn princess
Portfolio ✨ clarehenrymccanna.com
Contact ✉️ chenry74@gmail.com
Posts Replies Media Videos
claremccanna.bsky.social
If you see this, post your bird art 🐦

#birds (they are so cool)
Watercolour painting of a bullfinch, saffron finch, kestrel, European robin, cardinal, and northern saw-whet owl perched on a branch together against a blue sky. Is this possible in reality? No. Don’t freak out, it’s just a painting Oil painting sketch of a trumpeter swan taking off from an autumn pond in late fall light causing the spray to glow as they rise out of the water Watercolour painting sketch of a golden eagle with its back to the viewer as it looks to the left of the image
November 10, 2025 at 4:04 PM
claremccanna.bsky.social
It’s #kidlitartpostcard day! I’m Clare, illustrator living in DC. I love fantasy, whimsy, and nature.

The next few months are filling up but still looking for work and representation!

clarehenrymccanna.com
chenry74@gmail.com
Watercolour painting of a tiny blonde girl in denim overalls wielding a wooden sword on the back of a kestrel. Her brother is riding on an ermine wearing a colander helmet and has a round wooden shield. A blue tit perches nearby. They are surrounded by autumn grapes and foliage and stand on a mossy log with tiny mushrooms
November 6, 2025 at 4:22 PM
claremccanna.bsky.social
Horses (graceful lines, weird knobbly legs) and mermaids (graceful lines, no boring human legs 😅)
Pen and watercolour sketchbook drawing of a mermaid sitting on a seaweed covered rock and placing a crown of shells on her head. Behind her is a big fluffy cloud Pencil sketch of a donkey lionfish hippocampus Ink and watercolour sketchbook drawing of a mermaid holding a glowing green orb. Around her is stylised black flowing water Watercolour painting of a blue-black unicorn peering back over its shoulder. It has white stockings and a white blaze and slightly glowy pale blue-white eyes
November 6, 2025 at 2:43 PM
claremccanna.bsky.social
I love getting a chance to work on portraits!
clarehenrymccanna.com
Oil painting from a 3 hour live model session of an older middle aged white man in a dark cap and navy tank top Oil painting portrait of a young woman with lots of curling, wavy red hair wearing a flowy grey off the shoulder dress and holding a grey and white cat like a baby. She is set against a floral forest background Oil painting of Sixth of the Dusk and Vathi from Brandon Sanderson’s novella Isles of the Emberdark. Sixth’s aviar, Sak and Kokerlii, look out from between them. More aviar fly across the background while elements of the rich vegetation found on the island of Patji, where the two characters have their adventure, is in the foreground
November 5, 2025 at 10:54 PM
claremccanna.bsky.social
Hi #kidlitartpostcard I’m Clare, I love watercolour, animals of all sorts, and the colour blue. Currently in DC and looking for projects
Cinderella is adjusting her glass slipper with a pumpkin hilted sword strapped to her back and in discussion with puss-in-boots while a group of four other warrior princesses wait for her. Each has signifiers suggesting their past such as Snow White’s apple embroidered surcoat, Sleeping Beauty’s rose crown, the Little Mermaid’s trident Clarehenrymccanna.com chenry74@gmail.com
October 2, 2025 at 7:53 PM
claremccanna.bsky.social
Happy #kidlitartpostcard day!!
I’m Clare, recently moved and looking for work/representation
A rolypoly hedgehog, chickadee, red wing blackbird, and two mice enjoy some wine and pie together clarehenrymccanna.com chenry74@gmail.com
September 4, 2025 at 8:30 PM
claremccanna.bsky.social
Hey #kidlitartpostcard!! I’m Clare, just moved to DC and very flustered but looking for work, representation, and projects in September!!
Definitely feel free to get in touch any time for space in my schedule ☺️
Two flower fairies chat while mounted on song birds. One is riding a bluebird, the other a cedar waxwing, against an abstract green leafy background Clare Henry McCanna clarehenrymccanna.com chenry74@gmail.com
August 8, 2025 at 1:16 AM
claremccanna.bsky.social
Hey #kidlitartpostcard
I’m Clare, illustrator in the middle of a move to DC and definitely looking for some projects coming up…
You can find more at clarehenrymccanna.com
Watercolour painting of three fairy knights mounted on bunnies. The bunnies do not appear especially intimidating or cooperative. One knight is carrying a bumblebee on his fist like one would a falcon, another is holding onto his helmet as his steed stands up to peer over his companions, the third is doing his best to heroically display a crocus banner while his bunny munches on a leaf Clarehenrymccanna.com Chenry74@gmail.com
July 3, 2025 at 10:25 PM
claremccanna.bsky.social
Studio clearing part one- A little late for #mermay but some watery being themed paintings that have been sitting in the studio

All of them are now available for sale, DM for details
oil painting of a blonde, blue skinned mermaid wearing many necklaces of pink shells leaping out of the water, arched against a heavily clouded sky and a tropical sea oil painting of a young strawberry blonde girl, a stray beam of sunlight illuminates her hair as she blissfully drags her toes in the murky water of a swamp. She is riding a kelpie which appears as a black pony with a few bits of trailing swamp weed and a skull face; cold pinpricks of light shine from its eyes oil painting of a merman reaching up to grasp the mane of a hippocampus. The black hippocampus is leaping out of the water, clearly unwilling to accept a rider oil painting of a shirtless drowning man, his last few breath escaping his mouth in bubbles as a beautiful white haired mermaid embraces him and drags him down into the depths of a kelp forest
June 13, 2025 at 1:28 PM
claremccanna.bsky.social
Hey #kidlitartpostcard!
I’m Clare, traditional artist endlessly inspired by nature, fantasy, fairy tales, and the colour blue
Watercolour painting of a little green dragon nomming on a mango like a fruit bat Clare Henry McCanna - clarehenrymccanna.com - chenry74@gmail.com
June 5, 2025 at 10:31 PM
claremccanna.bsky.social
Happy #kidlitartpostcard day!!

I’m Clare, I love painting magic and nature, and I will be open soon, but please feel free to get in touch any time!

My portfolio is at clarehenrymccanna.com
Watercolour painting of a rolypoly pig with lovely wings flying along his merry way. Contact details for Clare Henry McCanna, clarehenrymccanna.com and chenry74@gmail.com
May 1, 2025 at 5:19 PM
claremccanna.bsky.social
The mind horse is uh not a pretty baby
Digital sketch of a palomino horse drawn without reference
April 17, 2025 at 1:54 AM
claremccanna.bsky.social
Do I love #nationalunicornday?

😌 yes
Water colour painting of a Little Clydesdale foal unicorn prancing and jumping with blue ribbons in their mane and tail Watercolour painting of a draughthorse unicorn walking in a stately manner with black, yellow, and red ribbons tied in their hair and blowing in the breeze Watercolour painting of a palomino unicorn with blue and yellow ribbons decorating their mane Watercolour painting of a prancing bay unicorn
April 9, 2025 at 10:48 PM
claremccanna.bsky.social
Hey #portfolioday!
I’m Clare, freelance illustrator in New England
Open to for books/spots/ttrpg
📝 at chenry74@gmail.com

I’d really love to do more book illustration and tarot projects especially!

clarehenrymccanna.com
Watercolour painting of a young woman in a dark shawl seated in a winter wood. Eery ghost faces float through the air around her Watercolour painting of a verdant ancient forest. A glowing silver fawn picks their way through a glade of pale blue flowers trailing a cloud of mist An oil painting of a pair of lovers embracing in a midnight garden. They are surrounded by an arch of red and pink roses, with luna moths and tiny glowing fairies hovering around them. Reminiscent of sleeping beauty vibes An oil painting of two lovers wrapped around one another in a moonlit forest
April 8, 2025 at 5:00 PM
claremccanna.bsky.social
Hey #kidlitartpostcard !! I’m Clare, illustrator from New England, love the ocean, animals, and anything fantastical.
Currently open for work
Watercolour painting of a blue sea serpent splash splashing about. Website: clarehenrymccanna.com and contact email: chenry74@gmail.com
April 4, 2025 at 2:28 AM
claremccanna.bsky.social
Happy #kidlitartpostcard day. Allow me to provide some owls watching football

Currently looking for projects, especially interested in anything about animals and environmental conservation ☺️
clarehenrymccanna.com
A watercolour painting of a little comic strip with two snowy owls. One is wearing Chelsea FC hat, the other has an Arsenal scarf. They display contrasting emotions as they watch a football match. Clare Henry McCanna - clarehenrymccanna.com
March 7, 2025 at 1:02 AM
claremccanna.bsky.social
If you see this, post a horse 🖤

I think I did all watercolour for the last horse set so switching it up… I uh really like painting horses
Oil painting of the knights of dol amroth charging, they ride on white horses and fly their banner against a grey stormy sky Oil painting of a well muscled young blonde warrior with red leather armour wrapping a bandage around their hand standing beside their palomino horse Oil painting of a young red headed child riding a kelpie in a swamp Oil painting of a knight in crimson armour riding a dapple grey horse through a field of pink flowers as skylarks flutter around him
February 28, 2025 at 5:31 PM
claremccanna.bsky.social
I love painting them 🥲
Portfolio at clarehenrymccanna.com dm or email open
Ink painting of fluffy cat with a princess crown Watercolour of girl in turquoise jewellery sitting on a pile of red cushions with a white cat in her lap Oil painting of a verdant jungle with a brilliant green leopard with glowing eyes and her lil cub yelling Oil painting of a red haired girl in front of a forest background holding a grey and white cat like a baby
February 22, 2025 at 12:54 AM
claremccanna.bsky.social
Congratulations!!
I love painting wings even though I get halfway through feathers and wonder why I do 😂
Watercolour painting of a griffin with vaguely kestrel head and dark wings raised, and leaping slender puma body Oil painting of an angel with purple and copper wings soars over dark mountains against an evening sky. They carry a single gleaming silver arrow Watercolour painting of a fluffy baby griffin. Their tail is grey and white striped and their baby pinion feathers are just beginning to develop through the fluff Oil painting of an emerald dragon flying over a range of snowy mountains. Their wings span the sky and they appear to be smiling just a little bit
February 20, 2025 at 6:20 PM
claremccanna.bsky.social
See a ghost, post a ghost!
Watercolour painting of a widow in a black lace veil and dark green shawl staring around her at dozens of ghostly faces floating through snow covered trees
February 18, 2025 at 3:49 AM
claremccanna.bsky.social
Just a little Cupid and Psyche for no thematic reason at all 💕
A woman, Psyche, wearing a flowing diaphanous classical dress clings to Cupid as he flies away after she snuck in the look at him and dropped hot wax on him while he was sleeping. They appear against a vaguely Roman landscape and a starry sky
February 14, 2025 at 8:18 PM
claremccanna.bsky.social
Four artists that stick in my head whenever I paint… Rosa Bonheur, Waterhouse, Kay Nielsen, and Winslow Homer
Huge painting by Rosa Bonheur of horses being marched along in front of a line of trees Waterhouse’s saint eulalia lying dead on the ground as a few people mourn in the background and Roman soldiers stand about. Several pigeons are business as usual around her body Kay Nielsen’s illustration of an aristocratic woman in a black dress as a gorgeous red bird steals her bouquet of roses Winslow Homer painting of a man in a dory with a cod he caught looking towards the incoming fog
February 11, 2025 at 7:35 PM
claremccanna.bsky.social
qrp with your wings #art
A blonde angel swoops through a pink and blue evening sky over dark mountains. Her wings are copper and purple and she is holding a single silver arrow
February 10, 2025 at 5:10 PM
claremccanna.bsky.social
qrp with something watery
Greenish water flows with a horse made of that water leaping out of it, a slightly green tinged boy (green eyes, mossy hair, green shadows to his skin) clings to the horse’s back- the river god horse and their boy
February 6, 2025 at 4:19 PM
claremccanna.bsky.social
If you see this qrp a character with long hair
Astral elf with a cloud of white hair wielding a golden dagger and a golden sword against a pink and purple galaxy background
February 4, 2025 at 5:39 PM