Bits of this and bits of that ...

I don't know, you get a flu injection and within a few days come down with an infection. This is, as the title suggests, a bit of this and a bit of that of a post. It started out as one of my infamous short posts but I think I was carried away.

But do please keep going, for there are some new bits as well ;).

If anything seems familiar I must apologise but sometimes it's necessary, and sometimes it's because of my forgetting I've posted that before. Sounds familiar ... oh, sorry, I've posted that before. Blame the medication, officer.

I've had a few jobs this year that have yet to see print, but cannot mention or show you because ... you guessed? They have yet to see print. One in fact I was told today may not see print till 2014. One job is because it is still ongoing, although I hope to finalise the first part by the end of November. But I have finished a book cover and it will, I hope, be the subject of my next post when I intend to discuss, and show, as some of you I know are interested, the development from initial approach through to the 'delivery' of the final artwork. But more about that later.

The idea for this next post about the book cover, which is for John Whitbourn's latest 'The Two Confessions', came from Dave Morris, he of 'Fabled Lands', 'Mirabilis' 'Frankenstein' and other game related creations, including his 'new' series 'Critical IF Gamebooks' which gives me my link into my first series of pictures. Subtle, eh :). 

One of these gamebooks is Necklace of Skulls, for which I posted a lot of its art in an earlier blog, and another is Heart of Ice. 

 Now I've posted a few of its pictures before, but here are a few more along with some of my original character study roughs.

One of the fun aspects, when I worked on this project was that Dave allowed me the opportunity to help visualise, and create, the look of many of the key characters in the story. Here [below] you see a few showing my study rough along with the finished illustration.

One last rough study and if you'd like to read the whole thing, and more,  please do check out Dave's excellent Fabled Lands blog. 

http://fabledlands.blogspot.co.uk/

As I'm linking with some old bits from those days of yore when Dave and I were trying out ideas to see what would make a good project for us to work together on, here are a couple more.

This was for a proposed interactive e-comic, called Medra that he was writing.

This next is a couple of pages for another related to a slightly different take on the the legend of King Arthur, which, if memory serves, pre-dated the BBC series on King Arthur, called The New Knights of Camelot.

 

Not to be out done, as they say, here are a few character roughs I proposed for another graphic novel idea linked to The Fabled Lands, this time by its co-creator Jamie Thomson [and his brother Peter Thomson] which originally started life as a radio serial, The Heart of Harkun and is listed as ''a work in progress''.

Although, as Jamie is now in thrall to The Dark Lord [more details can be found linked through Dave's blog], a work in hiatus might be nearer the mark, but you never know.

Right... a few images found on the web.

This next that I found was listed under my name, and although unsigned I'm sure it is by me. It was done back in the early 70's when I was trying to perfect my brush work, long before I became involved with girl comics. I remember I did a few for this fanzine where I was given the topic but  otherwise had total freedom.

 

Next, we have a few from Games Workshop, and a scaled up piece from The Fiend Folio.

 

Finally those new pieces I promised way back at the beginning. These were done for Goodman Games a half page and a full page.

 

Lastly, an oldie from the again the 70's. The excellent Rosemary Pardoe, a devoted and enthusiastic expert on M.R. James wanted me to create a series of A3 [ish] pictures depicting scenes from various stories to be sold as posters. I recounted part of this before as all of my copies were destroyed, along with a lot of other works, when part of my roof collapsed. This was a favourite of my mother, who had the original on her wall for many years, depicting Count Magnus.

 

The next post, as mentioned at the start, will be based on the genesis of my work on a book cover from 'start' to 'finish'.

Bits and pieces and some news

I have been happily, health permitting, working on various commissions of late, though the future lies in shadow, when today,I had a nice email from film maker, writer, director, and producer Martin Gooch, of Death Ltd. about progress with his film 'Death'.

You may remember I posted a couple of bits about my involvement before.

Martin would like more people to get involved, especially if they ever dreamed of being linked to a film. Think of drinking champagne at Cannes, for example, as an associate producer .... and plugging your own projects.

As he points out, 'Filmmaking is very hard in this country. The only way you can prove that you are good enough to make a movie - is to make a movie - it's a classic Catch 22.
There is no funding in this country to speak of (especially if you wish to make slightly off the wall movies like this one).
When this film is complete it could open the gateway to a whole future for everyone on the movies in doing the thing we love - making movies.
You will help us actually make a movie. And your immortality will be achieved with you name on the credits.' So for a few pounds [if you have them :)] you can help an inspiring creative finish of his film and get involved into the bargain.
Please check out his link.http://www.sponsume.com/project/death-martin-gooch-movie

As for me, well I see some of my work up on a big screen. As well as some illustrative work for the production, I also contributed to to the films titling. See an examples below.

from the titles of the film Death.

production piece with my work included

So, their you have it for now, though apparently there will be a poster that includes work by me too. can't wait to see it.

Maps have also come to the fore of late, so here are a few, done a long time ago, for 'The Fabled Lands'.

My reworking for the last books of the original piece

These were found on the web as was the following.

Abraxas, the Lost Continent  Note: the original was huge.

Abraxas, the Lost Continent  has now been put onto Amazon as a game, which can be down loaded via kindle:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Abraxas-The-Lost-Continent-ebook/dp/B005FZ26MK/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1314463301&sr=1-1



http://www.amazon.com/Abraxas-The-Lost-Continent-ebook/dp/B005FZ26MK/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=

As I have no access to luxuries, [yes, I know that sounds sad], like Kindle, I cannot comment, but if you were [are a fan of The Fabled Lands] and do have kindle, do check it out. 

Finally, an oldie from White Dwarf that was linked to a Games Workshop box set.

 

example of a "style".

I've been meaning to post some work, for some time, where I have tried hard to create, in my illustrations, an 'identity' that matches, or rather mirrors, the written content. 

One such example is my work for the sixth, and sadly last, of the printed versions of 'The Fabled Lands' series: 'The Lords of the Rising Sun: Imperial Akatsurai, land of samurai and ninja'. Where I think, though some may disagree, such an identity is apparent, showing, as Dave [Morris] wrote, 'One of the things I like is that you used a slightly different style in each book, so they really do have the feel of depicting different nations and cultures.' 
[Dave Morris comment - added to my last posting.] 

See what you think, here are some examples from that book.

 

and finally, a little pastoral scene.

I had also been working on a draft post, after having a nice related email, that was related to the original FF 'Citadel of Chaos', telling some 'history' of that period of work, and add some 'fresh' news, a related email, and a little more, when it VANISHED!

One moment typing the next - all gone! Tried 'undo' no joy, and after a lot of trying to 'find' the draft and checking, etc. have come to the conclusion, that apparently a lot of other bloggers have found in the past, that the material is 'lost' for ever. What a shame as this was the greatest blog I was ever about to post. It had everything: facts, pathos, bravery, humour, comedy, tragedy, brilliant insight, intellect and rabbits.
What can I tell you? For you'll, sadly now, never know.

I will try to 'rebuild' it at some point, but it will never be the same.

In the interim, although it's been posted before, as requested and an  old favourite of my own from Book 6 - Dragon attack.