Original Art Sundays No. 153: placeholder: A Micmac Legend (gouache, collage)

Well, I'm rethinking figure positions on the next Cowgirls page, so either later this week or up for next Sunday's entry.
Meanwhile, here's another unused editorial piece.
This one incorporates illustration as a border element.
There are aspects of this that I really like, but in retrospect, I would have handled the type differently- nothing really wrong with it, but it doesn't have much character.

The illustration is just detailed enough. The layout is intended to draw the reader right into the text. The costuming of the lower figure is authentic, at least according to my research.
As indicated above, this was done at 100% size in gouache with elements (leaves, photos of earth) collaged into it. I'm hardly a huge fan of collage, but in this case it works.
Very hectic week at work coming up, but I hope to make time to complete that page. The top half is already wonderful; I just must make the bottom half follow suit!

Original Art Sundays No. 148: Fall Into A Book!

On this cold blustery day, I should have a Pooh image for you!
Instead, we're going with an older piece.
I don't often work in gouache, but I do like its richness and versatility- it has some of the advantages of oils with less hassle and cleanup.
This was a blind submission, intended for a Barnes & Noble fall ad campaign. Obviously unused, or  you'd have seen it before.

I like the idea of leaves reading- pages of books being sometimes called leaves and all- and the space left for the logo has a nice ornate, woodsy feel to it.
The palate is limited, and based in the blue paper I had on hand to use as a frame for the deckle edge heavy watercolor paper.
Again, I think my art is at its best when I try not to be too precise.
While I'm not really set up to paint right now, I am feeling the itch a bit.
But then, that might just be dry winter skin!
Next: scanner access is back, so probably another Surrealist Cowgirls page. Between now and then, that neglected Wolverton post!

Original Art Sundays, No. 15: Day for Night

I had hoped to post the first page of my 24 hour comic from this year today. Well, tomorrow, but I'm posting a few hours before Sunday, as Fallcon is still running tomorrow.
However, a delay in scanning made posting p. 1 of 24 hour book 2009 impossible, at least short term. Problem to be fixed forthwith.
Meanwhile, loath though I am to do so, I am posting an inventory piece, just to maintain my self-imposed schedule.

this was a proposed cover for the Spock's Beard album Day for Night. When I met lead singer Neal Morse about a year after I sent them this, he told me that they liked it but it lost out to another concept on a close vote.
I don't often work in gouache. Perhaps I should. I rather like this! It has a simplistic yet eerie feel about it. The nebula inside the cloak is an obvious collage, but I think it works well.