It’s finally here (and I am FINALLY posting it)…the last three Alphabook characters!!! It’s hard to believe that it was 26 weeks ago (well, more now) that I started this challenge. I am SO glad I decided to do it…I feel as though I have improved my skills and style, stretched myself, and developed a better work ethic in my art. It’s been a fun run, and I’m looking forward to participating in the next challenge. But for now I’m glad to take a little break from it. Thanks for following my Alphabook challenge! :)(And in case you don't know what Alphabooks is, here’s the lowdown: Alphabooks is a blog in which all artists are welcome to draw a book character corresponding to the letter of the week. For instance, A for Aslan, B for Bilbo Baggins, etc. Feel free to check it out!)X is for Prince XizorShadows of the Empire by Steve Perry
I find it amazing when how I think an art project will go one way, and it ends up taking a completely different direction. That’s what happened before I created Xizor. I was faced with the dreaded letter X and didn’t know who do draw for it while the week neared the end. The only person that came to mind was Prince Xizor from Shadows of the Empire—the story of what happens to Luke and Leia and other characters between Star Wars episode V and VI. Although there was no movie made, Joel McNeely composed a soundtrack inspired by the novel—which was how I first came to be familiar with the story. Now, I will admit that I haven’t read Shadows, but after doing this piece, my curiosity has been kindled and I know I will delve into it sometime in the future. May it be known that I was resistant to do Xizor, since—let’s face it—he’s the creepy villain! Yet time was running out, and he had to do. I decided to give yet another shot at digital painting.Halfway through the picture, I was shocked to realize that I had discovered a digital painting method that worked for me. And not only that, but it was actually looking good! Talk about MAJOR BREAKTHROUGH!!!Now I know it’s not the best painting in the world, but after having soooo many of my pictures look photoshoppy with that horrid digital airbrush effect all over them, I am SO happy to have something that looks decent!! As I was painting, Xizor felt so real and alive that it almost seemed like he would glance my way and flash a creepy smile. Here are my biggest takeaways from this piece:Linear sketch: I started with a linear sketch, then created another layer and painted in a rough base layer.Oil Painting Approach: Instead of operating on two separate layers (lines and color, like I do in cell shading), I MERGED the sketchy, unfinished lines and the rough paint. From there—carefully using oil painting techniques that I learned in college—I blocked in the rough shading , smoothed it down, and added details. Rinse, wash, repeat.Using multiple colors: Working with green skin actually worked to my advantage—it allowed me to not work in a single color (green), but to block in purple and red shadows, while adding yellow skin tints along with greenish blue highlights.Line Weight: Lighter weight on the edges that had highlights, a heavier line weight where the shadows were. I still liked a rough outline, but I used a more painterly approach to adding an “outline” instead of a solid, inking style line.The bottom line: I am freaking EXCITED. I feel as though something just clicked, and although this by no means indicates an easy road from here on out, but at least I now have a good vector for digital painting. I can’t wait to try it out on future pieces!! (3 hours)Y is for YvaineStardust by Neil Gaiman
After completing Lady Una, I decided that Yvaine, the “star” (haha :P) of Neil Gaiman’s Stardust needed some stage time. AND, I also got to listen to the audiobook while I was painting this piece, so win-win! :) I wanted to make it be sort of a matching piece to Una, with the whole are nouveau feel and bold outlines. I don’t know really what else to say except that I’m really happy with it and that it was a lot of fun to make. Probably one of my favorite parts to creating this piece was adding the sparkly glitter at the end (which, unfortunately doesn’t show up on the digital piece). However, if you hold the physical picture in your hands and tilt it from side to side under a light, it’ll glitter and sparkle. Fitting, no? :) I have to admit that the scanned version of this didn’t turn out as well as I’d like, and I may try to rescan or photograph it later. For now, it’ll do.And also, this is a fitting song to listen to while viewing this piece.Lady of My Dreams by Vast(12 hours)Z is for Zeddicus Z’ul ZorranderSword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind
Zedd is a wizard. He takes being a wizard pretty seriously, and thinks others should too. He’s quite a talker.And he also likes food.:P(??? minutes)