Sorceress

Recently I moved back to Sweden, but managed to finish off some projects that have been on my easel just in time for a photo shoot before I left.
This project started off with a desire to create a compelling background for my characters, something that was mellow enough to push the characters without being too busy, while at the same time contributing to the characters story and still being visually interesting.

I mostly paint men, its easier to look at anatomy in a mirror, with myself posing I can at anytime change poses or correct a hand. So I decided to remedy that.
A reason for not painting and drawing fantasy style women is also cause I dont want to add to a common cliche. I wanted a powerful character with appeal, but without resorting to minimal clothing.

In this case I have used a medium I created specifically for this ideaso i could push around the paint with a rag while already dry (its a tincture of pure gum turpentine, stand oil, distilled damar and some fattening fast drying medium).

I had the intent to follow this character up with some smaller paintings of her minions, but that idea needs to sit for a while to evolve into something that works on its own as well as with this piece.

One thing I did find interesting with this was how I use refrence. Next time I will try to use a live model during my reference stage, used a stockphoto I paid to use and felt very limited by it.

So here you are;
Lady of the Deep, oil on canvas on board.

Fantasy Illustration

So haven't posted in a while, due to a relocation to from Australia to Sweden.
But back on track with some new goals and some new ideas. While I have been looking for a studio space, I have started experimenting with new ways of creating in a small space that needs to be multi-functional (cue IKEA joke..).

Recently I finished a drawing for the Illustration Friday website that continues with what I was working on in the Osiris painting previously, and I feel more comfortable with the medium this time.
If you have the time, have a look at the other contributions and wander around the site.
http://illustrationfriday.com/

I still have some paintings I finished in Australia on the Photoshop easel, I will show you some samples next week.
Until then, "Shy" for Illustration Friday, graphite on colored paper and digital coloring.

Osiris

A friend of mine who is a writer and I, decided to see if we could do some work together, for fun and for practice. The idea was to send images and text between each other and evolve and get inspired by what the other part had created.
I decided to try some new things, put some time into learning that new photoshop thing they talk about, and get back to water colour again.
This is the first one, learned a lot and am gonna change it up a bit for the next one, work more on some detailing now that I know how it turned out.
Let me know what you think in the comment section.

Osiris- Lost parts, watercolour and Photoshop

Working in small colour ranges

Just finished a fan piece from the Warhammer game, a very blue experience.
Wanted to work in a small colour range and see how far I could push tangents of opposite colours. Also worked on a larger scale then usually and this time changed board for canvas. Breaking away from what I usually do was really good, and this time it fed into some new ideas that I hope to be able to show in the near future.

Still around

Just wanted to popp my head in, show that I'm still alive.
Recent colour work.

Dark matters

Lately I´ve been drawing a lot, getting back into it after concentrating on oils for the last 3 years. Its been really fun, and has enhanced my values a lot in painting as well. 

This is one of my later pieces, after this is started doing more thorough cartoons for my planned paintings.

Dark matter

Graphite on paper

A4.

In the light

Been working on this series of pictures, all about light and getting facial characteristics working for me. Got one more to go in the series, this is the latest one.
In the light, oil on board, to accompany the 'Into the light' from my last entry.

This is the painting I finished the Student in recidency award with at Edith Cowan University, and award that granted me studio space for one semester, giving me the opportunity to work within a studio environment without the pressure of rent, as well as easing the transition between being a student and carrying a professional career.
The award allowed me the time to experiment with surfaces, gesso and mediums as well as working with skill and finding my voice.

"Into the light", oil on board, 60x90cm

Surviving without a studio

So have been spending the last few months in Sweden, living without the comforts of a studio space.
Thought I enjoy the company of family and friends, the need to create is always there, so I usually bring my wacom tablet. I did this time as well, but I cleverly forgot the pen. So I have been concentrating on my drawings, and this is one of the results.
Nimrod Barr, one of my characters with my roleplaying group.

On the issue of too much information...

Have talked about how easily I can get obsessed or just occupied with a question, and the idea of presenting narrative is still something that im wrapping my brain, and my brushes, around.
Im at this point distilling some kind of story essence, trying to find a point where information hinders the story instead of helping it.