Exploring the Vikings (part 3)

Finally I am posting the 3rd illustration out of my Viking Illustration project trio.
This is meant to be the scene with the Well of Urd. In short: "The well of Urd is the well of life. It lies by the one root of Yggdrasil that is in Asgard. It got its name from Urd, who is one of the three Norns sitting in a beautiful hall by Yggdrasil, spinning the threads of destiny.

The Norns are the three fates who decide the peoples' and the gods' destinies. They also keep the ash tree Yggdrasil healthy with holy water from the well. Every day they pour water from Urd's well over the World tree to keep the branches fresh."




Illustration info:

Paper: Strathmore Bristol smooth 9x12 (image 7x 10'')
Colour: Koh-i-Noor colored inks + Daler Rowlney white gouache + Rapidograph (6x0/13)
Time:  Uncalculated, but a long time.

Process:

line work

at 95% completeness

detail

detail

detail

All 3 pieces together:

Pixiefied

One of my new illustration assignments (not related to the Vikings assignment). The objective was to use gauche paints and illustrate yourself in the form of a children book character. I decided I wanted to be a little pixie! I really enjoyed painting with green - it was so soothing! And I have a new love for gauche!

Finished piece:

Paper: Strathmore Bristol smooth 8x10''
Colour: Daler Rowlney CMYK(colours) gouache

Close ups:

Initial sketch:

Exploring the Vikings (part 2)

Second illustration for the same iconography project.
Let's see a couple of WIPs (works in progress)

Progress at 50%(ish) Unfortunately I didn't scan my line work.

at 75% ish

All done!

close up

Illustration info:

Paper: Strathmore Bristol smooth 9x12 (image 7x 10'')
Colour: Koh-i-Noor colored inks + Daler Rowlney white gouache + Rapidograph (6x0/13)
Time:  Uncalculated, but a long time..=D For the next one I will count the hours:)
One more to go!!

Exploring the Vikings (part one)

One of the latest illustration projects is to research about a culture and create three iconographic illustrations on it. I chose the Vikings:)

Here is the first illustration which I've been slaving over for a LONG time. It's the Yggdrasil tree, but I focused more on the animals in this piece rather than all the realms.


Here's a quick online excerpt of the myth: 

"In the Norse mythology birds of prey are found in the ash tree Yggdrasil, whose branches spreads over all the world. In the top of the tree live a wise eagle. Between its eyes sits the hawk Vedrfolner. At the roots lie the snake Nidhug, gnawing at the roots. The squirrel Ratatosk run up and down the trunk, bringing gossip between the eagle and the snake. The ravens Húgin (Thought) and Munin (Memory) are servants and companions of Ódinn--the chief god of the Norse mythology--whose domain includes knowledge, wisdom and poetry. Their mission is to fly around the world and report what they see to their master.

Paper: Strathmore Bristol smooth 9x12 (image 7x 10'') | Koh-i-Noor colored inks + Daler Rowlney white gouache | Rapidograph (6x0/13) |

Initial line-work:

And some close ups:

Hopefully the remaining 2 images of the series will be finished promptly:)

Me, Myself, and I

It seems this semester many of my illustration portraits are centered around "the self" and self portraiture. One of my teachers said that the reason he is having us do various self portraits is to have us focus more on experimenting with different techniques and materials. Since one knows oneself best, all concentration can go towards the image, rather than worrying of how to properly represent someone else.=P

Anyhow, here are a couple of self- portraits that we were supposed to do from the same sketch/reference:

9 x 12" | stretched canvas | acrylic paint

8.5 x 11'' | hot-press watercolor paper | watercolor paints | inspired by vintage fashion posters

And here is my reference sketch:

and reference photo: