Monday, March 29, 2010
More Brownies and Leprechauns.
Another page of possible characters for the new Irish Myths inspired book project I will be starting in May. I'm just trying to get a bit of a head start on some of the character designs. I'm anticipating the need for a variety of colourful bit players to populate the backgrounds and border regions of some illustrations.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Brownies
A bit more of the pencil work done for the Irish Myths project - just designing and drawing and trying to stay loose and open to whatever may present itself.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Irish Witches
A new book project is on the horizon and looks like it is going to require a lot of drawing and designing. We will be dealing with Irish myths and folklore - especially witches. This is the first bit of pencil work done for the project. There will likely be a lot more coming. :)
Monday, March 15, 2010
Title Page - The Secret History of Hobgoblins.
This image is the title page for the soon to be released book, The Secret History of Hobgoblins by the fine, old UK publisher, Templar. I was starting this project just about a year ago and it's now at the printers and due for a spring release. The blank area in the upper right will have text over it which is why it was left so unfinished, although I suppose a full moon would also explain a bright are like that in the evening cloud cover. The book will be concerned with the Hobs which are good and the Goblins which are bad that live in and around our homes, bringing either a helping hand or a nasty prank. Many of the mysterious things that happen around our homes every day will hopefully be explained. Please look for it in your local book shop :)
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Drawing Children
I have a project coming up later this spring that is going to involve lots of kid drawing. The above posted drawings are from a recent morning warm-up session . These were drawn from reference with an emphasis, hopefully, of capturing the character and spirit of the kids while trying also to stay loose and draw with a light touch - a tall order. That's why these are warm-ups. :)
Sunday, March 7, 2010
John Bauer Illustrations.
Please follow this link and see some truly amazing Faerie Tale illustrations by the Swedish master John Bauer. This artist is one of my all time favourites.
Enjoy.
http://www.animationarchive.org/2006/11/illustration-john-bauers-bland-tomtar.html
larry
Enjoy.
http://www.animationarchive.org/2006/11/illustration-john-bauers-bland-tomtar.html
larry
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Witches and Faeries - Doodle Session
I'm pretty much staying in the same zone for the time being - witches and faeries in the woods - more or less :) It is my intention to complete several, larger than usual personal pieces this spring and summer, but because I'm pretty busy at the moment with commercial projects there really isn't time for more than sketching. I want to stay on track and not lose focus so I continue to draw and redraw the same themes until I can actually sit down and paint them. This is good because it gives me some time to plan and consider what I'm doing - a luxury I do not always have.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Home of the Mouse Witch.
This year I am determined to get at least three personal pieces done between all the client work I have going. I will be heading out to an Illustrators conference in November and I'm planning for it now. These pages are just a bit more thinking about possible subject matter - all to be Faerie Tale oriented of course, with an emphasis on environment and mood. I want to create interesting places for the characters that I draw to inhabit.