Jack somehow (in a sketch to be created at a later date) has escaped the witch and is back on the river again.
This is a fitting drawing for my final piece as an Art Center student. Like Jack, I can look back at the many challenges and obstacles with a giant grin. It has been quite a journey for the both of us, but as always where one journey ends a new one begins.
Here are the usual process composition thumbnails:
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In the glow of the hearth’s light, the witch’s shadow caste upon the wall reveals a sinister truth. The inviting glow of a warm flame invites Jack into a well-played snare.
Who is to say what happens next? Will Jack succumb to a cute facade or will he see the truth in shadows?
Thumbnail Compositions
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“The artist alone sees spirits. But after he has told of their appearing to him, everybody sees them.” ~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Thumbnail Compositions
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Jack is being led to the witches lair by a young girl who is actually the witch in disguise. She has been hunting him all along. A wolf in sheep’s clothing. Her name is Cypress…..
Below, a little bit of the Making of Witchhouse Cypress, some thumbnail house shapes and thumbnail compositions:
And to those who scrolled all the way to the bottom of the post, here is concept character sketch for the young girl:
Related Jack and the Shaman Sketches:
“Stand still. The trees ahead and bush beside you are not lost.” ~ Albert Einstein
Jack while running away from home gets lost going down a river. He is stuck in a swamp and follows a mysterious trail of candlelight to a shaman. The shaman reveals that Jack is being stalked and hunted by a witch who collects power by stealing souls. The shaman offers his help and guidance, but Jack is wary of the offer.
Below are some of the process thumbnail sketches that I made while composing this layout sketch (a larger view awaits those who click):
Also here is a xerox copy that I used for a marker tonal study for my final painting which is on the way.
Well, there is something new to show you……Updates to come : )
Related Sketches:
Many moons ago, I was working on the tonal study for a layout sketch of this Hawaii beach kite shop you see partially digitally painted today. Obviously, it is still a work in progress, but all my selections are made so the boring technical stuff is over.
The selection process essentially allows me to stay true to the shapes I created in my original drawing. With these shapes all selected out, I am able to paint within a particular selection which is a pretty powerful tool.
I am having some trouble thinking of how far I can push the colors for the kites in shadow. That is to say, how much color can I get away with without drawing attention away from the main kite the little girl is playing with and the story which is supposed to go along with that.
I refer you back to the origins of the sketch in original layout “Welcome, to Big Kahuna’s Kite Shop” and the first tonal step. I still have a ways to go, but things are coming together.
Below are some sketch concepts for the prop design for the kite shop. Enjoy…..
Well, I mentioned a number of posts ago that I was working on putting the melodic madman in an environment. He finally found his home amongst these nightclub yuppies, but that’s alright, he is the coolest dude in the room for sure.
I know this layout sketch has been long in coming. I had advanced it to the stage you see above some weeks ago, but had no good way in which to scan it. It is much larger than my usual layouts and the prospect of combining at least four distinct scans into one image didn’t seem all that appealing. On the other hand, neither did the fact that Kinko’s wanted to charge me $7.50 a square foot for an estimated total of 16 buckaroos to do a large format scan. What a rip!
Anyway, this is really just another perspective excercise with a little bit of character design thrown in. I am not sure I will ever get around to cleaning it up and turning it into anything in particular. I am more than content for the moment to leave it in this sketchy form. I often prefer that to the super polished stuff anyway.
Now, go listen to something cool, connect with that mad melody, and make your way back tomorrow you hear.
Related Piano Sketches:
“Towards thee I roll, thou all-destroying but unconquering whale; to the last I grapple with thee; from hell’s heart I stab at thee; for hate’s sake I spit my last breath at thee. Sink all coffins and all hearses to one common pool! and since neither can be mine, let me then tow to pieces, while still chasing thee, though tied to thee, thou damned whale! Thus, I give up the spear!” ~ Moby Dick, Herman Melville
“Fiction is based on reality unless you’re a fairytale artist. You have to get your knowledge of life from somewhere. You have to know the material you’re writing about before you alter it.” ~ Hunter S. Thompson
“This is bat country!” ~ Hunter S. Thompson
It has begun. I have had a mind to lay down some of my artistic flavor on Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas for a while and I am collecting reference on some artists to build my own Gonzo-styled universe.
The incredible work of Ralph Steadman is an obvious reference point, but I am unsure as to what extent I will be referencing him. Obviously, the idea for the project in itself draws heavily from the trail he blazed in across Hunter S. Thompson’s words and in fact, my bookshelf proudly displays his work. Still, I feel there is enough new ground to break to make for an awesome project.
This is my first crack at getting a feel for it and there is a lot of development work yet to come, but the journey has commenced and I feel safe or perhaps unsafe in reiterating “this is bat country.” There is no stopping here.
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