Nynaeve al'Meara

My first attempt at Nynaeve al’Meara. There will be more Emond’s Field Five and other WOT characters in the future. This illustration was probably more abandoned than finished. I continued the trend I started with Mat Cauthon in using Midjourney to create several references and then made a sort of amalgamation based on one primary illustration.

I’m not happy with my depiction of the one power (not to mention everything else in the drawing), but I accept that I have considerable more learning ahead in my use of light and shadow. I wanted to make her hands glow and have the lighting in the rest of the scene reflect the primary focus of the one power emanating from her hands. This result is a compromise of that intent because I was ready to move on to the next project. I think for my next drawing I’m going to look at some environmental art, probably the Doors of Durin environment to support my still forthcoming Unboxing Legends video for YouTube.

Below is the main reference from Midjourney that I used. I had generated dozens of versions including several that used Sandra Bullock’s likeness for the face. Many of them were very good but I ended up preferring the sort of calm grace of this image. Obviously, my image falls far short on about every criteria of a good illustration, but at least it’s all by my own hand.

Mat Cauthon - Son of Battles, Prince of the Ravens, Hornsounder

Mat Cauthon from the Wheel of Time. One of my favorite characters in fantasy, probably because I often see myself in him. This was the first work I did using generative references from Midjourney. I included a few of the references below, as well as the render of Mat’s dice I created in Blender. You can see from the first reference image, that it is the one I used for the pose and framing.

My version was drawn by hand and I used the Photoshop grid to check my work as I progressed. There was no tracing done to my recollection, although you could argue using the grid is tracing once removed. It’s mainly used to ensure I get the proportions and perspective correct, then everything after that is essentially my own, although I did use the lighting for reference as well. Only to change it moonlight instead of sunlight much later in the process. This drawing stretched out over several months as I added more background elements and details to his characters.

I tried to include several small details although no one seems to notice them when I share on social media. If they do, they don’t comment. Of the few comments I do get, they tend to be about the scarf being the wrong color (it isn’t) or that he needs more lace (he doesn’t). I’m generally satisfied with this version, although the rendering still reveals my lack of skill. I’ve already generated several references for Nynaeve, Egwene, and Rand. I’m going to need to get back on the ball with my art school curriculum. I’ve been neglecting it for Berklee requirements as well as just wanting to draw my own stuff and not necessarily what’s best for my growth as an artist.

Eilonwy Portrait WIP

See the previous post, Eilonwy will likely get a reboot from a new set of MJ references.

Eilonwy the Archer

Another WIP from a set of reference photos. Like the other Prydainian portraits, I’m probably going to reboot Eilonwy from a new set of MJ references, especially now that I can find a more idealized version of her face that matches my headcanon. I don’t hate this one, though.

Taran WIP

This was from a reference photo that was part of several photos of a young man that was somewhat evocative of how I see Taran. Like the previous post about Fflewddur Flam, I’m probably going to re-invent Taran after some brainstorming and Midjourney assistance in generating reference images. My experience with using Midjourney as a reference generator was mainly for a Mat Cauthon image I’ll post soon. I ended up going through about 5+ dozen iterations and still didn’t get the perfect reference. I ended up using the pose from one and then adding multiple elements from my own imagination. All that to say my future Taran will look different. The other nice addition to Midjourney is that you can now create and save faces from images (photos, illustrations, etc.) so that you can use them for different poses and framing, but the face will remain consistent. Again, the goal is to do this from my own imagination, but it’s a process. Baby steps…

Fflewddur Fflam WIP

A blatant rip-off of a Janny Wurts cover that I planned on further adapting to fit FF the character. I’m now thinking of a complete re-invention. I’ve been able to use AI (Midjourney) to brainstorm and generate references and this may be a primary workflow until such time as I can reach a level of skill that I can draw completely from imagination. I use AI as a reference just like I would use reference photos or other artwork, but the creation on canvas is from my own hand, stylus, pencil, etc. I don’t generate artwork and then try and post it as my own. I find the technology fascinating and useful, but it doesn’t fill any of the creative impulse that actually creating something by your own hand does.

Manga Moving Pictures

This is probably the first image I published to social media, back in May 2022. It was my version of a long favorite image I’ve had on my computer, although the original features Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon. I’ve never been able to figure out the original artist despite searching, but I always loved the image and associated with Aeyong. The original has been her profile image on Facebook for years. I’m not sure she even thinks about what the image means, but it’s still a favorite.

The Castle of Llyr Jean Leon Huen Rendition

Continuing the Prydain cover series, this was arguably my least successful of the three, despite the typical improvement over time and successive projects. I think this was one where I was getting tired of the image and just wanted to move on. Every project has completely new elements to me as an illustrator, for example, cat fur among a few other things. I’m still struggling with some of these basics even today. Each subsequent project does provide some new experience to grow on, but the pace of improvement can be slow.

The Black Cauldron Jean Leon Huens Rendition

Continuing the Chronicles of Prydain book covers series. I started this in July 2022 and finished in September 2022. My glacial pace is mostly due to my lack of skill and an efficient workflow, but it’s also hampered by my other creative disciplines and I only end up drawing about an hour on a good day.

The Book of Three Jean Leon Huens Cover Rendition

Not my first drawing, but my first artwork that I “published” and shared on various social media back in June 2022, almost a year to the day.