Speak with the Spirits

Tempest Brookshire, Lv. 11 Badass

And so it began two years ago when our new adventuring guild was formed on the West Coast. When moving from Chicago to the Bay Area three years ago I left behind not only awesome friends and family, but my previous adventuring party. I wasn't really too sure that we would play much once moving, but luckily the word of our DnD nerdiness got around and we met our wonderful members of our guild. A Guild Called Quest was formed and we've adventured ever since! I've been wanting to do some direct DnD-inspired illustrations depicting our characters since my Chicago guild's adventures. At last, the process has begun! First, of course, with my own character.

different pose sketches with notes on all my current equipment; I wanted to make sure I had everything!

I wanted to do an interior illustration similar to what I see in the Dungeons and Dragons books. I decided to focus on my character in a pose with minimal background. I started sketching different poses and concepts--either surrounded by numerous spirits of the dead or summoning spirit animals.

Add another five to the drawing challenge!

I then started drawing heads to get a feel for Tempest's character. I've sketched her out before but this time I really wanted to nail it. I liked the middle top one since it felt the most animalistic, was different from other ladies I'd drawn, and most importantly felt like Tempest to me.

They're watching you....

Next I knew I needed to design her totem. I am currently equipped with a Lv.8 Watchful Spirit Totem. I did research on Native American totem poles and then image research on the animals: I knew there had to be a raven since Tempest worships the Raven Queen, then went with two favorites: owl and wolf!

I did a rough sketch with little reference for the details just to get an idea for what all her equipment might look like and her position in the pose. It was time to get up!

Don't mind my hotmess of a closet back there...

I took a bunch of photos in the pose with different hand and head positions. When you need a staff, get a broom! One day I hope to have sweeter props: validate my cosplay and fantasy purchases as illustration costume pieces! Yes!

Then the tight drawing... I left the staff to draw once I transferred the drawing to bristol for inking. I did some research and internet browsing for armor ideas and was inspired by Leather Lore's designs. I haven't had the pleasure of purchasing anything from them so I can't speak on the quality exactly but damn does it look cool! I also wanted something that was a bit feminine/sexy but still made sense as armor--not just a bra.

There ye have it! I inked each wolf separately, Tempest and her equipment, then through the magic of Photoshop was able to manipulate the lineart like I wanted with ease.

Tempest, in progress

More to come in the next week. It's Photoshop time!

Adventure Awaits

As you may have noticed by now, I'm a big fan of fantasy and its use of the quest and adventure. Last year I was told to read The Kingkiller Chronicle, a fantasy trilogy by Patrick Rothfuss. I was not disappointed. Seriously, if you're a fantasy fan and haven't yet made your way to reading these books start NOW. Yes, they're that good. I had just finished The Wise Man's Fear, the second book in the trilogy, and was super inspired by its narrative. Thus, I present to you, another illustration I created for my thesis for the aforementioned novel.

First, of course, I did some thumbnails. The main character is very much a bard but in this book you're told the story of how he became a warrior as well, so I thought it was important to show this.

I fused #2 and #3, then did a color rough.

I then shot a model in the pose, gathered reference, and started drawing. I decided to omit the lute because it didn't make sense to me how it was hanging, and any other way just made his warrior stance confusing. In its fictional reality, Kvothe would never, ever have his precious lute out with his sword. So I decided to focus instead fully on his traveling warrior aspect.

many hours in Photoshop later.... the final illustration!

Kvothe is so damn cool....

Magick

I've always been very interested in magic, both of the fantasy nature as well as pagan/spiritual practices. So for one of my thesis illustrations, I decided to depict a magick user. I'm thinking she's a warlock badass with her sweet celestial feline familiar, just beginning to conjure a spell.

progress from thumbnails to ink

I then took that into Photoshop for painting and digital textures... and the final piece!

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!

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!

Kvothe the Bloodless (one of many names)

I do believe I mentioned the reading frenzy I have been in previously. One book that I've nomed up in the process has been Patrick Rothfuss' The Name of the Wind. It's a really great fantasy book and was super addicting; it was hard to do anything but read whenever I had the chance! I even cleaned a part of my room to create a little reading nook! Now that's dedication....

So for today's post I wanted to draw some more heads while also keeping in mind the rules and teaching of these great videos:

He has really great tutorials and there's more on his site here.

Here are my first head studies for Kvothe:

I think I like the bottom most left, middle of the middle row, and the bottom right corner. I still want to develop his character a bit more. This is meant to be him in his story that he tells the Chronicler in the first book when he's attending the University, about 15 or 16 years old. I think he still looks a touch too older in my drawings...

I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series, but am also a bit concerned about the lack of doing anything else in life when that happens. Ah, literary addiction.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Dany and Drogon

As anyone who knows me or has been following my blog, I am a huge A Song of Ice and Fire fan. Henceforth, last semester when we could illustrate anything for Digital Painting I went to one of my favorite characters. 

This was the original drawing done on bristol before I took it into the computer and expanded on Drogon some more, changing the size and proportion of the illustration. Much was learned.

I tweaked the drawing quite a bit and this was my first time ever drawing a dragon, so it was a definite learning experience. Will practice dragon-drawing more in the future!

And the finished product! One breast flying in the breeze. ~_^

King in the North : Reprise

And so came the time for me to finish the drawing inspired by A Song of Ice and Fire, "The King in the North!"

The sad part was that the sheet of bristol the drawing was originally on (drawing on the left) started falling apart after the first wash and lifting of whites. Yikes! So I had to transfer the drawing to some hot press illustration board I had. So begins the laborous process!

Since I lack both the epic light table I so desire, as well as that fancy stuff called transfer paper, I went the old, cheap faithful method I learned from Fred Nelson: graphite on the back, then trace over. The only thing is it was exceptionally light, and of course I needed to work on the line art again anyway, but now it REALLY needed more definition.

However, I must say I like how his expression and face came ut better this time. Watch the drawing appear out of thin air!

Tada! The finished line art in H pencil with shadows. Now for that sweet, sweet ink....

Blue wash in process... this was what the bristol just would not stand for...

Finished blue! But I wanted to add a touch more color; I do enjoy working in a limited palette but I wanted the light source to have a bit more feeling.

The finished product! I ended up going over some parts with a black carbon pencil to darken up, add more contrast and attention to the main points of interest. I plan on experimenting how different pencils, pastels, and charcoal hold up with ink wash. Time for further experimentation!

The King in the North ; Winter is Coming.

Ba-da-bum-bum, Ba-da-bum-bum

That's meant to be the opening tune to A Game of Thrones.. phonetically sung via type.

Yes, you could say I'm a bit obsessed... absorbed... but there's nothing like getting swept up into a new series and taken away by it.

Having said that, of course when the assignment of a still life for my Expressive Drawing course came up, I was in my A Song of Ice and Fire throes. And so I give you... "Winter is Coming"

One of the most interesting things I learned about this Summer semester was the wonder that is Matte medium and collage. Of course this technique sprung to mind when I thought of my still life subject matter. Words! Glorious words!

And here is the finished result.