Monday, April 8, 2013

The Beast in the Bedchamber: book cover progress!

It's time for me to share a project I've been hard at work on for the past few weeks: a book cover for my good friend Tiana's short story anthology, The Beast in the Bedchamber. I met her on deviantART ten years ago--sharing with her a passion for animals, writing, and classic films--and I was thrilled when she asked me to create the cover for her book. She is a fantastic writer (I had the pleasure of reading each story as she finished it) and a joy to work with. The anthology will be self-published through Amazon, released on April 15! This post will include a direct link to the book once it's out. Keep your eyes peeled.


Thumbnails drawn from imagination and stock photos.

^ Digital drafts sketched in Photoshop.


^ Real media drafts: at left, Tombow Dual Brush Pen and white gouache;
at right, black acrylic paint. Both are on sketchbook paper.




Washing the wall with my hake brush.






The Beast in the Bedchamber for T. L. Bodine.
Acrylic paint and acrylic ink on cold-press watercolor paper.

A sepia-toned version on the left (contrast fixed in PS without color correction) and a more true-to-life version on the right. Tiana opted for the sepia version, and the type looks great with it! Check it out on her blog post here: http://tlbodine.blogspot.com/2013/04/the-beast-in-bedchamber-cover-reveal.html

Oaxacan Coyote, Stage 4!




 Not a big update, but it's progress nonetheless.

For the Oaxacan Coyote, I included a bit of Zuni influence: the "heartline." These are common on Zuni fetishes and are usually depicted as an arrow running from the mouth down the side of the body. One interpretation states that it "starts at the mouth, where breath gives life, and points to the soul, where faith, spirit, and inner strength reside." http://www.sedonawolf.com/crnmaid3-2/zuni-animal-fetish-meanings/

Monday, April 1, 2013

Wishing Finch a Happy Birthday: process!

Initial 2012 sketch: one of those silly things
I had to get down on paper before it disappeared.
Brainstorming!
...Nice side-butt, Finch.
That's better. So much enthusiasm!
I may color this at some point, OR recreate it with more of my Brainsick characters. Until then, enjoy my silliness!