Propel drawings

These were thumbnail drawings I expanded on as they appeared to have good ol' graphite drawing potential

This was a cover idea for Propel and has a touch of sepia added to the background

Another thought for Propel

Propel

The original painting I'd done of this character for Propel, my thesis work, wasn't as grounded as I liked. I reworked it keeping in mind that it might be used a cover image and not just the first page in the book. This meant it needed to be simple and clear.

After I finished it up last night, I couldn't bring myself to scoop up excess paint and make a happy gray out of it, so my morning miniature happened quickly late evening.

Monique and the Cell--10min

A Stranger at the Door

In continuation of hero saves little girl and goes off in search of safe place theme:

This one went through a million revisions and is less elaborate than originally planned. Even though we remind ourselves that simplicity is key, we (I) can forget it in a heartbeat.

There is more sky in the original which works for text space, but I've cropped it here from the top because I like the impact created by a horizontal format.

Steampunk

The peculiar storm of snow and ice we're having tonight, immediately after the hurricane, has left many trekking through all sorts of waters and asking all sorts of questions. I'm hoping things will pan out for everyone soon enough.

The Steampunk illustrations I'm working on focus on humans risking environment for profit. After chemical red sludge moves through villages and rivers, the steampunk traveler and her small companion, investigate the aftermath.

Steampunk cover from behind

I came into the studio the other morning and was surprised to see how clear the 

image was when looking at the canvas from behind.

This is the illustration with a little more paint and right way round. This still has many more hours needed to complete, but you're beginning to get the idea?

Steampunk

 Slightly more refined drawing of previous ideas--still playing with the placement of planes

I've already begun the grisaille and have a day of two before I'll have to stop tinkering with details.

Steampunk

I'm having trouble with Blogger not allowing me to move text or images and nearly gave up on it--trying again.  Sorry for delay in between postings.

Working with sketches to drawing to changes on canvas for beginning of thesis work: 

 

Andrea has outstanding eyes to which I was hoping to do more justice. I've not been adding medium to these water miscible oils and have to be careful about forecasting how they'll dry. They can get super matte and lusterless and if you want to add a varnish, a 6mth wait time is required if you don't want to destroy the painting.

She seems just the right candidate for a Steampunk illustration, no?

Sketches for 8.5: a Steampunk Anthology

 After deciding on characters and composition it's amusing to go back and look at some initial thoughts:

Steampunk Cornelius

Two images going into 8: A Steampunk Anthology

When young Cornelius looses his parents he begins a quest to find there whereabouts. But has he entered a maze without end?

8: A Steampunk Anthology

This is a beginning illustration to get me going on the anthology. Young Cornelius is on a long journey searching for his parents, plucked from their clock workshop in the early hours of the morning.

Final drawing for Steampunk Anthology - I'm a little new to the genre, still feeling my way around... Many thanks to Sam Kirkman for the invitation to join the group. No one's ever referred to me as their 'secret weapon' before.

An initial sketch below:

Illustration Friday

The Lesson