Recent Pencil

This Faun turned up in a doodle session a little while ago. There's not a lot of drama here - she's meditating. I really hope I get to paint her one of these days. It's been a while since I've had a chance to do one for myself. I start getting a little twitchy if I don't occasionally get something of my own done.

Here are a few more ideas that are patiently waiting. First up is a friendly Giant. He couldn't wait to say good morning so he's coming in through the roof. After that is a wee gnome sculptor working on his masterpiece. I like the idea of the small artist and the big work. I think she will be bigger when I finally get to doing the final on this one. He should be no taller than her knee. I'm also thinking now that it might be cool if he were carving her from a living tree rather than a piece of stone like he is now. That way I could work some branches and leaf clusters into the design - could do some interesting things with cast shadows.

And finally we have a couple of adventurous girls visiting the cottage of a bird witch. I'm not sure what the story is going to be here. I'll have to think about it. I like the stairs though.

More soon. Travel in peace.  :)

More Hunter and Waif

A bit more thinking about Hunter and Waif. These two just won't leave me alone. They're in my head now, my imagination. And the thinking was primarily about Waif, not so much Hunter. I'm trying out different looks for her. I can't quite seem to nail her down. Should she have big doe eyes or not ? What kind of hat, cap or toque ? Maybe a hood. Scarf or no scarf ? Suitcase, duffel bag or satchel ? For some reason I need to figure this out.

There is a story brewing. I can feel it, and heaven help me, I'm actually considering a graphic novel - ugh ! I haven't drawn a page of comics in many years but I'm feeling inspired. A lot of things have to fall into place first and there is much to do, but I'm thinking about it. Also, in case you're wondering, you don't usually see their feet because they are in the snow. This is a winter story.

These two characters won't be enough though. We need a mean-ass villain to get in the way and really mess things up for Hunter and Waif. A witch would be perfect. A Northern Snow Witch with no scruples and really bad timing, or really good timing depending on your point of view. I have some ideas for her too but that will be the next post.

So much to do now.

More soon.

Revisiting Hunter and Waif

Hunter and Waif is a theme I posted on a month or two back. I've been doing a lot of character design lately for clients, but not much for myself and so I thought I might come back to H and W because I kind of like them and think they might be interesting characters to work with if I can nail them down. When I'm working up my own ideas like this I usually start to get story ideas while I'm drawing. That was the case here. They went from being interesting shapes that I wanted to experiment with, to a couple of characters with back history and motivation.

I began to imagine a story in the far north like say the Yukon or Siberia. Waif has escaped from an orphanage or perhaps she was taken by a witch from the orphanage and later escapes. In any case she is wandering alone in a winter forest world when she is found/rescued by the hunter. Now they are together and he must try to save her but his range is limited and so he will have to hand her over to the next hunter and then the next and so on and so forth until the final hunter will be able to deliver her to safety. Maybe she would rather stay with Hunter, or perhaps she would like to become a hunter herself. These are merely the opening thoughts/ideas for a possible story but I'm curious about them and so I will continue to investigate.

I was pretty happy with the design for Hunter. He is a big simple shape and doesn't say too much but I found the Waif character a little harder to simplify properly. I couldn't quite decide how I wanted her to look. Is she happy and upbeat, not yet tainted by captivity or depressed and lonely ? Is she glad that Hunter has rescued her or does she still feel like a prisoner ? I need to have answers for these questions before I can finalize her design. Still working on her, and of course the story ideas keep coming.

More soon. I know the posting has been a little sparse lately but so much of what I'm doing these days is protected by NDA's that there isn't really much left over that I can share. I still occasionally find a few minutes to get into my sketchbook, and that is what we have here this time.

Peace   :)

Witch Market

I have finally decided after much prompting to get out of my comfy little chair and do a sketch/art book. The theme of this book will be "character design" because I love designing characters and much of the work I've been doing recently has been oriented in this direction. Last year I was lucky enough to have been involved in several animation projects where I was doing character design and I am definitely interested in more of the same. So with that in mind I have made a list of possible concepts for the book to use as design spring boards. The Witch Market is the first of these. What I am showing today is the rough work which will hopefully get me to a final drawing. These are still pretty rough and will require some streamlining and simplifying, or perhaps more to the point "designing". But that is what this process is all about - working your ideas and distilling them down to their most simple and clear incarnation. I still tend to get a little pencily. I could and should be more more graphic and direct. Lots to do !

Meanwhile I am still working on the stop-motion film concerning Arctic Mythology that I was working on before the holidays, but it is all top secret and I'm not allowed to share any of that work yet. I will be sharing the pencil work I'm doing for my new book however. This will be an on going project with many updates so stay tuned.

More soon.

Happy New Year

Not sure where I found this. I think it might be Roald Dahl. Sums it up pretty well I think.

Best wishes to all for the new year.

Happy Holidays

A travelling witch observed over the Gwelf region several years ago on her way to a holiday gathering and enjoying some seasonal cheer. There was no time to create a new card this year, as much as I wanted to, so I hope this one from a couple of years back will do.

Best wishes for this holiday season to one and all.

Much more coming in the new year.

Dwarves

I've been thinking about dwarves lately. The Hobbit is due out in a few weeks and like many, I'm quite looking forward to it. Naturally I'm a little concerned about what is going to happen to the story, but I'm not too concerned about how the film will look. The design, from what little I've glimpsed on line, looks terrific.

Anyway, fingers crossed for the story and get in line when it hits theaters.

More soon.   :)

Faun and Stone Gnome Head

Just a quickie this time.

sold.

More soon.   :)

Life Drawing

Anyone working in the animation industry will probably tell you that drawing people in real life is some of the best practice you can get. It's all there in front of you. The pose, gesture, body shapes, proportions, attitude, costume, and all their stuff. And you have to draw it fast, really fast, which in itself is good practice. I'm doing a bit of character design work right now and I can tell you that this kind of practice is very good for you. What's so useful about life drawing is that the people are always moving. You only have a few seconds to get down the pose that you saw before they move again, and this forces you to finish most of it from memory - and that is where you learn ! When you get warmed up you can glance at a person for a second and see everything you'll need to finish the drawing.

These pages were done last summer at a nearby mall. The reason I'm drawing most of the people from the back or side is because I'm trying to avoid that awkward moment where the person you are drawing sees that you are drawing them. And of course the worst case scenario after that is when they come over to see how you've drawn them. This can happen so you'll need to be careful. The people around you will occasionally pick up on the fact that you are drawing but if you haven't been looking at them, they will probably leave you alone. You might even get a compliment if you're having a good day.

I haven't had a chance to get out there lately but I'm really hoping to do some more mall drawing very soon. Maybe I'll see you out there. I'll be the guy hiding behind his sketchbook.  ;)

More soon.

New Sketchbook

I haven't had a chance to share much of what I've been working on for quite a while. Back in the spring I was doing Visual Development work for an animated feature being done in Germany - all top secret. Then I was doing the Scottish Book of Beasties,  and then back to the Arctic Myths which I've been doing pretty steadily for the past several years, and more recently, Visual Development work for a Stop-Motion, animated film. None of this work can be shown. But I do still get into my sketchbook from time to time and so that's what I have for you today.

Up first is an idea I have for a painting which I hope to get to as soon as I get a chance. This idea comes from a drawing I did several years ago where a giant was making off with a cow shed. Now he's taking someone's cottage as they look on helplessly. He's not a malicious giant. He just wants this cottage and so he's taking it.

Up next are a few pages of ideas for skinny, elongated faeries. These were inspired by looking at Gustav Klimt and Egon Schiele who both like to draw long, thin figures with exaggerated hands and twiggy fingers.

Sold.

Sold.

Sold.

Next - I am always trying to find new ways to draw faeries with elaborate displays of wings and leaves and tendrils - this is one of those.

Sold.

And up last are some ideas I had for a character who might be the lead in a story. I was thinking of her as a Pre-Raphaelite figure with lots of hair and big eyes. Maybe she has faerie blood or she might be a witch.

More soon.

The Candle Waxer's Cottage

Travel Advisory.

Although this looks like just another run of the mill tree cottage found all over the Gwelf region, it is in fact a fortress housing a very powerful candle waxing coven. A neutral band, neither good nor bad, the Sisterhood of the Silver Flame specialize in the craft of infusing particle magic with slow burning candles, now known as "candle waxing". This art has been discussed here before but I mention it again because a reminder as to the importance of knowing one's allies during these dark autumn days would seem to be prudent.

Not only do these witches provide the candles and magic most commonly used against the darker forces in Faerie, but they give sanctuary to wayward travelers, offer healing to those that need it, and have even been known to provide the occasional hot meal. They are a beacon of light on a dark landscape and despite their neutral stance, tend to be helpful and friendly.

Three of the Elder Sisters.

In this particular coven of related sisters, cousins, aunts and daughters, they keep their practice grounded in the traditional teachings of their order. The elder witches providing the wisdom and experience of age, while the younger members bring in new ideas and the positive outlook of youth. The atmosphere here is studious, progressive, jocular and occasionally ribald. A lively environment indeed where an alert mind and flexible sense of humour are helpful if not necessary - a safe and comfortable shelter from the dangers of the road.

A few of the younger Sisters.

Revealing the exact location of this coven and it's cottage is strictly forbidden. Nevertheless, if you should ever happen across this, or any other candle maker's cottage while traveling, a spontaneous visit is fine, especially if it is getting dark and the road is becoming dangerous. This scenario is all too common while traveling in the Faerie Realm, and knowing who and where your allies are is a valuable survival tactic. You will always know when you are in the vicinity of just such a dwelling because the unmistakable scent of cinnamon and nutmeg will be in the air. This is their sign post, their calling card if you will and an open invitation to anyone recognizing the significance of this fragrance. A fragrance by the way, designed to repel those very creatures we mean to avoid, and attract those of us rallying against them.

So take care fellow travelers. Help is at hand if you know where to look. There are candle makers scattered throughout the Gwelf region in covens, guilds or operating on their own. They can be powerful friends and fellow adversaries against the unholy forces in Faerie. Be advised, your survival may depend on it.

Autumn is here - proceed with caution.

Witch Hats

It's now Autumn in the Gwelf area and as we all know, witch activity is going to increase substantially. I've given you plenty of warnings and survival tactics in the past to help make your travels in this dangerous region a little safer, but today I thought I might draw attention to the common head gear adopted by the covens of the Gwelf region. It is important to keep this shape in mind because you will often encounter these creatures at dusk when all you can see are shadows, and silhouettes will be all that you can see. These distinctive hats may be your first and only clue that you are about to have a close encounter with a nocturnal spell caster. Memorize this shape and be careful. It is also important to note that the trinkets and danglies that festoon their conical head coverings are indicative of the spells and hexes they most often use. In a later post we will delve more deeply into this potentially lethal branch of witch lore. But for now, proceed with caution.

Peace be with you and stay safe. If you are close enough to identify this hat it may already be too late.

Tally Ho

The Hunter and the Waif

A tale of the lost and found, of redemption, forgiveness and ascension - a personal project. A bit of recent sketchbook work.

The Raven Witch

With autumn just around the corner, witch activity in the Gwelf area is naturally going to increase. The days will get shorter and the nights will grow colder and darker. Caution is definitely advised and application of all the usual survival tactics is recommended.

Lock all doors and windows as evening approaches. Suspend all travel after dark. But if you absolutely must leave the safety of your home at night be sure to take the less traveled routes and do not use a candle or lantern - stealth is your best friend during these dangerous times. Do not accept gifts from beings you don't know - especially apples. While in your home be sure to burn the appropriate candles infused with witch defeating particle magic and always remember that the oldest melodies are still the best at countering the darker covens. If you've let your instrument practice slip over the summer then you have only yourself to blame.

Be well.
Be careful.
Be safe.

Autumn is nearly here.