Dandelion Sky

Just started a new summer promo/personal piece. I'm calling it 'Dandelion Sky' ...inspired a bit by Miyazaki movies, a bit by Ray Bradbury's book Dandelion Wine, and a whole lot by the feel of summer!

Much more to go: but I like the way it's shaping up!

(As you can see I also decided, after coloring the initial sketch, that this would make a really nice wide-format wallpaper.)

Magic of the Eternal Fire - Color!

I got to do one of my favorite illustration bits today: work out a color-scheme. =)

Much care was taken on the greens chosen for the magic, its intensity, warm-cool balance, and making the wizard recede. I love how this has come together over the past few hours!

Many many hours of work to go until finished, of course, but very much looking forward to painting this one.

Moss Dragon - Sketch & Color Rough

Trying to get better about posting updates as-I-go for pieces (when I can). Today I started a new personal piece. The idea is an ancient moss-covered well in a magical forest. In this well lives a friendly "moss dragon" who enjoys sunning himself and having his chin scratched. =)

I've been listening to the Princess Mononoke soundtrack as I was working today ;)

The Woodcutter (Sketch & Color Rough)

So, I've finally got another project-in-progress to share (ie one that is not NDA...like the big ones I'm working on). The client is an author by the name of Lorn Wolf and he needs a cover for his up and coming fantasy book: The Woodcutter.

In this scene the main character (and family) confront the Giant who has supposedly kidnapped his daughter (the girl in the center). At this point in time, the daughter has rushed out to "save" the misunderstood Giant but is rapidly loosing control of her magic.

A Hint of Magic - Cover WIP 1-3

Just started on a new book cover for Liz at Zumaya. This is the cover for the up and coming book A Hint of Magic by Linda Andrews.

Still a ways to go... but 'tis coming along. Color sketch is the current stage.

Owls!

For a few months now I've been working on a large (29"x46") acrylic painting as a personal piece. I've fiddled and tinkered and gone through more "tweaks" and revisions on this one than is probably healthy for traditional media. So, I have now hereby declared this done! (All that remains is the UV protective coat.)


Owl's Eye Nebula:








Also, today, instead of a "Daily Sketch" on the DSi I started work on another owl painting: this one digital. I'm torn as to whether I want to finish this out in Photoshop or make it an acrylic.



"Why owls?" you ask... Well, why not? They are rather cute. =)

Mother Goose and Steph Portrait

First up. I just started another lovely book cover for Kalliope Audiobooks. This is for the audiobook version of The Mother Goose in Prose by L. Frank Baum. The story I chose for the cover is "Little Bo-Peep."







Also onto the next character portrait for Tom Tancin's Time Warriors series:

William and the Witch

So my little fingers have been flying around the ol' Wacom... Below are some recent projects: the first a WIP character portrait for author Tom Tancin (of Time Warrior fame).

The second is a quick black & white interior illustration for fantasy author Mark Milbrath. This is the first of a series of images for his upcoming book Pumpkin Tales (working title). The particular story I've illustrated is called "Matilda's Ingredients" -about a witch, three orphan girls, and a mysterious cat.

Daddy Long Legs and Moving

It's been a bit since the last post. At the end of February I moved both my home and office (one in the same) and have been busy coordinating a series of exciting projects with clients as well as unpacking! (And buying copious fantasy prints with which to adorn my expanded wall space.)

One of the current projects on my easel is a cover for the audio book version of Daddy Long Legs, to be published by the wonderful people at Kalliope Audiobooks. You can see the publishers page for it here: http://www.kalliope-audiobooks.com/daddy-long-legs

The first two WIP (work in progress) images:

Illustration Friday: Forgotten

It's been a long time since I've done an Illustration Friday. This week's topic is "Forgotten." The image below was created in Art Rage 2 in 1.5 hours.

Let There Be Color!

The "colorful" beginnings of the two current covers.

Book 7 and a Daily Sketch

I finished Harry Potter Book 7 today! I actually had only just started reading it yesterday. I swore to myself that I wouldn't read more than an hour a day, but, well, that didn't quite work out... I won't spoil anything for those who've yet to read it, but I can say that it was gripping and enjoyable -even if it wasn't quite the way I envisioned.

The image below is inspired by that book and also done for the topic "Harry Potter" on the CG Talk Daily Sketch Forum. Done in ArtRage 2 again.