The end is in sight.
I been drawing a whole lot. I've started enjoying drawing again. This is, for me, a major thing. When I lost confidence in myself as an artist some years ago I stopped enjoying drawing for its own sake. I only drew because I needed to produce an image. A means to an end.
Holy crap, it feels GOOD to enjoy drawing again. I would never have expected that forcing myself to illustrate a book would have this effect; I was expecting to feel like I was slogging through thick mud. There are times when I am very glad to be wrong.
Here are a few of my favorites. More are up in my DA gallery.
One Wednesday Afternoon in Oz by ~Negaduck9 on deviantART
Not a book illo, just drawn for shits and giggles. Don Martin's style is so much fun to mimic. I like the comments left on my Martin-esque pics from others who fondly remember the golden age of Mad Magazine.
How to tame the Patchwork Girl by ~Negaduck9 on deviantART
Scraps smushed under the Cowardly Lion. Another fun pic.
"I'll even CAPER." by ~Negaduck9 on deviantART
Scraps threatening to annoy the ever-lovin' blue-eyed crap out of the Tin Woodman. That crosshatch scumble is rust, though to me it looks like an amazing case of 5 o'clock shadow. I used to crosshatch like this all the time, and even though I haven't done that in years, it came back easily and feels just right. Hope it looks decent in the book...
Thist and Mecha-Dragon colored by ~Negaduck9 on deviantART
There's a little story behind this. The Lost Princess of Oz included a city full of weird-looking people and their mechanical dragons. The people were illustrated. but the dragons weren't. I asked on a scholarly Oz mailing list if there were any official or semiofficial images of these dragons. Several people responded with scans from foreign editions, links to inspirational material, and info about Baum's possible influences. I did this pic and posted a thanks to the list with a link to the pic for those interested. Immediately I got some very high (and very unexpected!) compliments from some people who work on a number of the fandom's big publications. They've asked me to illustrate a book and contribute illos to the literary annual. Wow, talk about ego-boo! Bet you can guess what my answer was.
Holy crap, it feels GOOD to enjoy drawing again. I would never have expected that forcing myself to illustrate a book would have this effect; I was expecting to feel like I was slogging through thick mud. There are times when I am very glad to be wrong.
Here are a few of my favorites. More are up in my DA gallery.
One Wednesday Afternoon in Oz by ~Negaduck9 on deviantART
Not a book illo, just drawn for shits and giggles. Don Martin's style is so much fun to mimic. I like the comments left on my Martin-esque pics from others who fondly remember the golden age of Mad Magazine.
How to tame the Patchwork Girl by ~Negaduck9 on deviantART
Scraps smushed under the Cowardly Lion. Another fun pic.
"I'll even CAPER." by ~Negaduck9 on deviantART
Scraps threatening to annoy the ever-lovin' blue-eyed crap out of the Tin Woodman. That crosshatch scumble is rust, though to me it looks like an amazing case of 5 o'clock shadow. I used to crosshatch like this all the time, and even though I haven't done that in years, it came back easily and feels just right. Hope it looks decent in the book...
Thist and Mecha-Dragon colored by ~Negaduck9 on deviantART
There's a little story behind this. The Lost Princess of Oz included a city full of weird-looking people and their mechanical dragons. The people were illustrated. but the dragons weren't. I asked on a scholarly Oz mailing list if there were any official or semiofficial images of these dragons. Several people responded with scans from foreign editions, links to inspirational material, and info about Baum's possible influences. I did this pic and posted a thanks to the list with a link to the pic for those interested. Immediately I got some very high (and very unexpected!) compliments from some people who work on a number of the fandom's big publications. They've asked me to illustrate a book and contribute illos to the literary annual. Wow, talk about ego-boo! Bet you can guess what my answer was.