Oaxacan Coyote, Stage 5!

Scratchboard: Fate Up Against Your Will

"Fate Up Against Your Will"
5" x 7" Scratchbord
(yes, the brand is spelled that way)
approx. 45-50 minutes

Sketch from my Creatura sketchbook.

A quick scratchboard experiment based off an older sketch. With better planning (i.e. gesture and composition), I'd like to create a larger scratchboard piece like this one; it's a great medium for moonlit werewolves!

I've got more progress photos for the Oaxacan Coyote coming soon (finally!). The poor guy has been subjected to my fickle inspiration. And to think I sketched him in February.

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.

EDIT, April 15, 2013: Get your copy of The Beast in the Bedchamber here on Amazon!

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/

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!

Oaxacan Coyote, Stage 3!

Change of scenery: the kitchen table and a drafting board.

Pattern impressed with a stylus.

Working upside-down on the profile to get nearer the face.

The cutoff point for the night arrives:
my Sunburst Yellow keeps breaking.

The Oaxacan Coyote thus far, representing roughly 5.5 hours of work. 

Oaxacan Coyote, Stage 2!

Starting the clean linework with a True Blue Verithin.

This is one of the handiest tools I've ever used:
the Giottos AA1900 Rocket Air Blaster.
It's great for cleaning my electronics and keeping my artwork dust free!

First few layers of color added to lips on profile view.

With most layers colored in for the lips on the closeup view,
I keep a thin line lighter than the surrounding area for a highlight.

I use an X-Acto knife to pare away a bit more color.

Highlight finished by coloring over with a White Prismacolor.

Short update for now. I've roughed in some patterns for the Coyote and will begin coloring the head and body soon!