I haven’t done an Illustration Friday in awhile, but I remembered to look at the topic for this past week…and by Thursday I’d come with an idea of what to draw for it. I drew my entry on Friday, so it was actually to late to post. But sometimes inspiration can be hard to come by, so I felt like it would be wrong to just not do this illustration because the arbitrary deadline had passed.
About two years ago I was hired by a local small press (who shall remain unnamed, and likely you haven’t heard of them) to create some illustrations for a website they intended to design. Long story short, the client disappeared without a trace before the project was ever finished, I only got 1/4 of the payment, and the art that was completed never got used for anything. And I figure after two years it’s never going to be used for anything. I had practically forgotten it existed. Which is sad, because I think I did a pretty nice job on these!
The theme was a Cabinet of Curiosities with a gritty, steampunk look. Here are the two pieces that were finished (the press’ name has been removed from the banner)
I do want to come up with something to do with these, because I really like them, especially the vertical one with the pipes and spider-y thing.
I also had some free time a few nights ago and I spent it sketching in my neglected Moleskine. I’ve been wanting to draw a pic of Ellie Goulding for a while. She’s also good practice for faces, because her features are so distinctive. I’m not very good at likenesses; it’s something I want to work on.
Last week my old lightbox finally gave up the ghost, so work on the ‘Heralds’ painting has been stalled.
Wait, backtrack. I completely screwed up the background when I started painting ‘Heralds’, so I have to start over and redraw and ink it on a new sheet of watercolor paper. Which I really need a lightbox for. For the past 15 years or so I’ve been relying on a plastic craft store lightbox, but it was good enough and did the job. Its replacement is one of these beauties – an Artograph Lightpad. I was originally going to get a small one, but my lovely friend, author Ann Somerville, gave me a very kind gift that allowed me to invest in the 12×17″ model. No more creasing my watercolor paper because it hangs over the edge of the lightbox!
While waiting for my new lightbox to arrive I decided to go back and work on my Puppeteer illustration that I started last year (or possily two years ago?) and never got anywhere with. I got as far as figuring out the composition and finishing the sketch and doing the color mockup. Now I’m waiting to ink it so I can it.
But here’s the current progress, because I’m really enjoying the colors:
I unfortunately haven’t had any new finished work to post lately – a lot has been going on and I’ve been busy with filing taxes, graphic design work, and now that the weather’s better trying to get outside once in a while and convince my body it’s no longer in hibernation mode!
I have spent a little time on the companion piece to Messengers, which currently has the working title of ‘Heralds’. The inking is complete, and I’m looking forward to having some free time to start painting it!
The most exciting thing happening this month is that Mechanique: Tales of the Circus Tresaulti, by Genevieve Valentine will be hitting the bookstore shelves! This is my first mass market book cover illustration, and I’m beyond thrilled to see it out in the world. Beyond that this is a damn good book, and I hope we’ll be getting more from Ms. Valentine.
P.S. You can get a sneak peek of some of the interior illustrations and read a great review at Tor.com!
