Friday, October 30, 2009

Corvus Corax or Common Raven



Sketch of a Raven for All Hallow's Eve... eve.  :P

(The term Halloween, and its older spelling Hallowe'en, is a shortening of All Hallow's Even - e'en being short for even, which is short for evening.)

Why a Raven?  As a carrion bird, Ravens became associated with the dead and with lost souls.

Monday, October 26, 2009

A horse, of course!



I was going through my closet today, and I came across a box of old books - one of which was my favorite as a little girl.  The book?  Walter Farley's The Black Stallion, which is inspired loosely on the story of Alexander the Great and his horse, Bucephalus.  For those unfamiliar, the Black Stallion is about a boy (Alec), and a wild Arabian stallion who become stranded together on a deserted island.  They eventually become friends, and at one point the boy rides across the island's beach at full gallop (no saddle or bridle, mind you) with his arms held out to his sides like wings.

Now, I've loved horses since the very first day I laid eyes on one as a young child, and when I turned eight, my parents bought me my first horse.  Well, one day I decided to try that stunt from the story, and fell off... resulting in a broken arm.  Though it scared the daylights out of my mother, it didn't stop me from getting right back on.  Riding was just too much fun, and I loved my horse more than anything.

This drawing is inspired by that love of freedom, power and beauty that every little girl dreams of.

Friday, October 23, 2009

Making do...



So, while I was waiting my turn at the cable company today to sort something out, I reached into my bag for my sketchbook and realized I had left it at home on my desk.  Darn!  Plan B - I found my car insurance envelope and used the back of it to satisfy my sudden impulse to draw.  Later, while I was making some phone calls, I tried to recapture my semi-manticore (less the human face) in my pocket moleskin.  Moral of this story... be sure to keep your sketchbook handy at all times.

A lil' sketcheroo


Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Hurakan challenge - Part 3


Thumbnails for the Hurakan book cover, and...




the B&W character drawing of Hurakan.

Since Hurakan is the god of storms, I felt like his physical appearance should resemble to some extent the angles and gestures seen in storms:  angles similar to arcs of lightning, a wild and unrestrained attitude akin to high winds, and a mouth that can boom like thunder through the hills.

He's one wild and crazy guy!



Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Goblin Scout (sketch + painting)





In regards to the painting... it was started in oils, but was finished in Photoshop.
(Note to self: painting with a mouse is very frustrating... get a stylus and tablet!)







Thursday, October 8, 2009

Bull Ceradon (sketches + painting in progress)




These three sketches were my final picks for a painting I'm working on for my portfolio.  This creature is based on the one developed by the folks at Wizards of the Coast / Magic: The Gathering.  He's big and mean and ready to rumble!

...and here's my painting so far.



Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Sunday, October 4, 2009

Hurakan challenge - Part 2



Part II of V

Thumbnail sketches of the Mayan god, Hurakan, for the art challenge being held on ArtOrder.

Saturday, October 3, 2009

Thursday, October 1, 2009

Dragon doodle





Another quick sketch I made on a scrap piece of paper - sucks that I ran out of room at the bottom.  I was initially just going to sketch the head, but then got a bit more involved in my drawing and, well... darn!  Oh well, I got my general idea down.

I've been wanting to paint a dragon for a while.  This is just one of my more favored idea's for its design and pose.  Wings?  Maybe...