Waiting for Santa ...

Raindrop

Erin Stead

http://blog.erinstead.com/

Illustration: working process

Roughs and final outcome for a book project on Oxbridge interviews.

Final image:

Illustrations

In order to make my Lord of the Rings obsession a little more productive, I've vowed to draw an illustration every time I pick it up again.

Here's one from Chapter IV, 'Treebeard':

And from the end of Chapter V, 'The White Rider':

Tolkein always gives amazing descriptions of landscapes using unfathomable words like, 'sedge', 'swath' and 'meads'. This drawing is from a particularly poetic description:

'Slowly the sun fell from the sky down into the west. Looking out over the great plain, far away, the riders saw it for a moment like a red fire sinking into the grass. Low upon the edge of sight shoulders of the mountains glinted red upon either side. A smoke seemed to rise up and darken the sun's disc to a hue of blood as if it had kindled the grass as it passed down under the rim of the earth.
"I see a great smoke", said Legolas. "What may that be?"
"Battle and war", said Gandalf. "Ride on!"

Doesn't it make you want to draw something?

Milan Topalovic

Before I post any new work, I think its about time I posted up this link to my fellow illustrator Milan's lovely blog. Follow the link to see frequently updated posts of charming little creatures and characters, always beautifully drawn and expertly coloured. Lately he is working on a series of bee characters - sad and sweet and totally lovable!

Also, if you are looking for portrait work, his photo-realism is really second to none.

http://paperfables.blogspot.com/

(PS. Look carefully and you might find yours truly on there!)

New post!

Finally a new post!
I have been slacking with the posting of late. Not that I haven't got anything to put up. On the contrary, I have so many sketchbook drawings I may have to publish them in a huuuge long post that will break my blog! (or opt for dribs and drabs like I am doing right now.)



(ps. If you can guess what book this last one is from, you win!)

End of the year

Here's a somewhat belated update on all my exciting news -
I graduated my from Illustration course in June, armed with a 1st and an award.
And now I finally have some photos of ....

My degree-show exhibition space:


And my space at the 2010 Brian Awards, where I won 1st prize for Picturebook Illustration:


So, in all, its been a very good end to the year! :)

PS. Thanks to Hannah Larkin for the photos