The Archbishop Calls

Another illustration for Caliban Full Text (please check it out the image will make a lot more sense alongside the text). Im particularly pleased with this piece and thanks to everyone on Conceptart.org who have given me feedback as its improved. The piece is cropped A3 bristol board with graphite from HB through to 9B pencils. I used a number of reference photos of ottoman tea sets to construct this composition. I was planning to add elaborate scrollwork to the image but with my graduation exhibition looming and a history of overworking and destroying artwork I thought it best left.

The Contestants

Another illustration for Caliban. This story is on a sword fight between a young man and an aristocrat. The fight ends with the death of the aristocrat so used to the fine art of fencing rather then the reality of a true sword fight Read the full story. This particular piece, despite its simplicity in composition, took around 9 hours to complete due to the huge amount of graphite required to light the area by candlelight.

This is the original drawing on A3 bristol board but I felt it lacked the true atmosphere of a candlelit area. So using a simple texture of some old sepia toned paper with very dark edges I created this piece.

While it isn't true candlelight colour I think it does go much further towards creating an atmosphere of candlelight.

"Egg"

Second illustration for text by author Caliban. This piece of writing looks at the small signs that a mans marriage is collapsing. In this case his egg which normally always has its top taken off is left intact. The stark nature of the intact egg made for a very simple but powerful symbol. Check out the full text Here

Knight Arrival

Knight Arrival
First illustration for a collaboration between myself and a writer working under the pen name Caliban.
This story is a short descriptive piece on the arrival of a crusader to the Holy land and the quick realisations of the brutality of war.



Full text to accompany this illustration

Two new pieces

This is an image I've been working on for a while and am particularly pleased with the way its turned out. Its based on a vintage photo and I'm planning a few more pieces based on vintage photos as I feel the poses and feel of the images is something rarely captured in modern photos.



And this is my second design for our university valentines card fundraiser. Personally I'm not sure on the background but everyone else seems to like it. Im considering doing a fuller oil painting of the same subject as I do like the subject in the style it is.

Valentines day card

This is a design for a Valentines day card to help raise money for our third year graduation show. A3 pencil.

Start of a blog

Okay so I finally decided to set up a blog (decided/coerced). This will be where all my new work and works in progress will appear, hopefully at a good pace.

Thanks for stopping by,  I assure you it will get better.

James