By Kitchen Knife

...but do not to cross the wife.

  Preliminary drawings before deciding which one of them done her in.

Propel

More illustrations for 'Propel'

When I decided to add drawings into the mix I wanted to use paper that was neither slick nor choppy and remembered I'd saved several sheets of Fabriano that sadly, so, so sadly, is no longer made. I'm never sure why manufacturers decide to nix good products--that goes for foods too.

In Memory of Mona

I've not done my usual Monday posting since my sister died in mid-September. I've dedicated the second part of my thesis to Mona since the appeal of crime fiction art was something we shared. I'm pleased that she was able to see parts of these paintings before she died and, hoping it all meets her approval, here are three of a series of ten--more to post soon.

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 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: