Behold, a dwarven commander whose troops carry the flag of the Emperor! Read Rob Heinsoo’s notes on the commander at this post.
I’ll work backward on the process this time around, for some variety. Below is the original image that I sent Lee Moyer. Lee added the Emperor’s flag to the final illustration, as you can see above, not to mention greater contrast and golden light illuminating the scene. (Could that light be reflecting from a guarded treasure trove, perhaps? Or perchance they have encountered the fleeting essence of The Gold Wyrm?!)
The charcoal sketch:
And a preliminary sketchbook drawing of the Commander in repose:
It’s a process post for 13 True Ways! I had fun doing these posts for some of the 13th Age core book art about 2 years ago that I called “Behind-the-Illustration”. The first image below is a preliminary pencil sketch in blue and red col-erase pencils. You can see a little thumbnail scribble in blue, top left: I added some color and Lich King symbols fused with Archmage emerging from the volcanic rock below her feet before turning it over to Lee Moyer: And Lee gave the image an ethereal quality as if the adventurers witnessing the scene can’t be sure if their eyes are playing tricks on them or not: Rob Heinsoo wrote a fun mechanic for the necromancer that you can read here.
Also, I’d like to invite anyone interested in 13th Age to consider contributing something to the first issue of a 13th Age Fanzine called ICON that is currently accepting submissions (deadline for the May issue is April 24th). Click the banner below for details:
The first teaser to offer a clue what this comic might be about! Above are the inks and below the color by Matthew Bogart who is helping me color this book to meet the deadline. I love the warm morning light he brought to this panel. It’s delicious! (And probably more delicious than the liquid breakfast these poor children are drinking!)
News! I will be drawing Part 2 and 3 of a 3 part story adaptation of Robert E Howard’s Dark Agnes published in the Dark Horse anthology Savage Sword #6. I stopped by a comic shop yesterday and had to look in the back issues for Savage Sword #5 released in August 2012. Here’s a preview of 5 that includes a couple pages from Dark Agnes Part One drawn by Francesco Francavilla. I’ve been a fan of Francavilla’s pulpy artwork and couldn’t be happier to fill in for him on this adaptation. In addition, the adaptation is written by Periscope Studiomate Paul Tobin! Paul and I went to a Portland dive and smashed flagons of ale over each other’s morions to get in the right frame of mind for this tale. (Maybe I only imagined we did that, because in actuality the book was late to press and I started working on the pages immediately after I got the script. It’s all a blur whether the ale is to blame or not.) I’ve been approved to post preliminary drawings for the story here on my blog, so I’ll get that rolling with a character sketch of Agnes in the forest!
More News!! The Gettysburg Address: A Graphic Adaptation will be released next week! Here’s a link to the listing on the HarperCollins website. There are already some favorable reviews that will become public very soon, but in the meantime may I remind you of the excellent website with videos, annotations and more available at graphicgettysburg.com Below is another process image from the book: Inks to final colors. But I don’t have my comps yet, and if you pre-ordered a book there’s a possibility you’ll get your copy before I do…(I’m making this up, just tryin’ to keep things exciting here at aamcconnell.com…truthfully I know nothing about the distribution process.)
And speaking of printing, I’ve been enjoying these delightful teaser images of 13th Age going to print courtesy of Pelgrane Press. One day I’d like to actually visit a print shop when one of my books is being printed, but I have a feeling printing people like to keep illustrators removed from that process to avoid any unreasonable demands or unnecessary interruptions. These pics, though, are giving me an appreciation of the process from afar. Also, there’s a new review of 13th Age at RPG.net. Spoiler…they like it.
And finally, here’s an illustration I did for a start up gaming company Unrestrained Games. “Orc of the Spires” (aka “Lord of the Flies” since orcs are basically teenage hulks). Thanks for following my blog!
Rob Heinsoo keeps releasing thumbnails for drawings I have yet to finish for 13 True Ways. Makes me nervous, but since it’s already adrift on the internet waves I’m owning it here. Read more about the Murder Pixies at Rob’s blog.
I met with Rob Heinsoo and Lee Moyer the other night. After enjoying a bowl of Lee’s chicken hominy soup we went through the “Art Order’ for 13 True Ways to see where we stand in the process. There’s a lot of artwork in this book, but a good amount of progress has been made and I will continue illustrating finished pieces this upcoming month. This weekend at Stumptown Comic Fest I’ll bring prints from the first book including many of the Icons and some interior illustrations of gnomes, elves and other high fantasy adventurers. Here’s an illustration that will be included in 13 True Ways:
I’m going to test the limits of my blog this week (but hopefully not the patience of my blog readers:p) in preparation for the upcoming Stumptown Comics Fest April 27-28, Sat-Sunday. I spent a good part of yesterday rifling through old drawings to put together a little collaborative sketch comic with my son. Layout is taking longer than I expected and I’m pruning out some stuff, but leftovers may as well end up here. This is a random page from a 2012 sketchbook. I think the pen was doing the thinking…
…and I nearly forgot. I’ve been wrapped up in a lot of scribbling lately, and eventually the results will show up here (and in print!), but for now I offer a random sketchbook page. Head studies. Some of these were drawn from photos (can you spot a celebrity or two?) and others were drawn from comic panels by Hugo Pratt, and still others appeared from the mind’s eye. My studio practice compressed in a page.
“But where’s the life drawing?!” you ask. Alright, it’s embarrassing, but here’s a self portrait drawn on the Odopod sketch site:
Aaron McConnell 