Sabriel Interior

Another thesis illustration is complete! Apart from perhaps some minor changes and additions I may add later, here is my interior for Garth Nix's Sabriel.

Here is the process. First thumbnails, then sketch and value studies. The far right is where it was last week and then I spent some time boosting it up and re-working it this week.

Sabriel faces the unleashed Mogget

Sabriel Book Cover

Some may have noticed (maybe not) that I haven't been posting on scheduled Wednesdays and Fridays. Because of my schedule this semester, I think I'm going to change up my blog post dates to Tuesdays and Thursdays. This way I'll be able to get back to posting regularly since my days aren't as busy then. So brace yourselves for a post tomorrow and the coming Tuesday!

In the meantime, I just finished my book cover version for Garth Nix's Sabriel. Below are process pictures along with the final version.

First there were thumbnails. And they were good. I came up with several ideas and then went with the one I felt strongest about (middle right). I also liked the bottom right corner idea, but felt like the composition was more interesting with the latter thumbnail.

The drawing!

I did a few value studies then settled on my values, moving onto a color study. Sometimes in the past I've been too impatient in starting a piece and skip these two vital steps. Never again. It makes the actual painting process much more fun since I found myself way less confused and angry when I would get lost. Guides are great to have, as it turns out! Just running blindly into the forest isn't always the best idea as I've discovered after years of getting lost in its midst.

And the final illustration! This was drawn in graphite and ebony pencil, then painted with inkwash and some white gouache for details. I then scanned it and did some photoshopping for textures, color correction, and value pushes. I really enjoyed working traditionally and digitally.

Let me know what you think!

See you all tomorrow on the interwebs when I get back to my new posting schedule!

Return to Regularly Scheduled Posts: In Progress Illustrations

I nearly missed today's post, too.

Just as I got home this evening I thought to myself, 'Alright, time to sit on the couch and chill... but wait... what day is it again? Shit!' You see, the specifics of days have been elusive to me the past week or two.  Do please forgive my absent mind. The exact day isn't so much important for me to keep track of in my schedule right now, resulting in Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday often becoming interchangeable.

But anyhoo...

I'm working on a cover and interior illustration for the book Sabriel and thought today I would share some in progress work!

Here is the drawing for the cover. I'll be working traditionally for this one, in an inkwash with some watercolor methinks.

Behold, the interior! This is of the scene between Mogget and Sabriel after the Paperwing crashes. Going to ink this digitally and then probably do some flat color washes.

Lastly, value studies! Going with the left one for the cover and still figuring out the interior (but I'm leaning towards the darker one on the right).

I'll be sure to share the end result once they're finished!

Sabriel Head Studies

Sorry for being a day late! I realized last night what day it was (you'd be surprised how often I lose track) far too late, while drawing some head studies.

Allow me to share! Sabriel head studies! 

For one of my classes this semester (Narrative Illustration), as well as my thesis, I'm doing both a cover and interior illustration for Garth Nix's Sabriel. So before I start the drawing for them, I wanted to nail down her character a bit. I think it's going to be a synergy of the first two on the top left.

I'm excited to work on these illustrations and will definitely be sharing them as they develop!