Talking Bird, Singing Tree, Golden Water -- Background Sketches 1

 Some sketches for some layouts for the Talking Bird, the Singing Tree, and The Golden Water. Made with ballpoint pen, and then shaded with photoshop

Image 1: The holy woman telling Princess Parizade of the Talking Bird
Image 2: Princess Parizade telling her two brothers about the objects
Image 3: Princess Parizade watching one of her brothers ride out

Italy Sketchbook Part 6

 More from my Italy Sketchbook. This grouping is assorted, I just liked them. As you might guess, the Half Price Books one is actually from america, but it was all from the same sketchbook, so there it is.

Italy Sketchbook Part 5

More from my Italy Sketchbook. This grouping is about architecture and color. The top one is from Vernazza, a beautiful town on the western part of Italy. It's part of a set of 5 towns called Cinque Terra, a place I was recommended to go by a friend. Thanks Generosso!

Italy Sketchbook Part 4

More from my Italy Sketchbook. One of the things I was really interested in in this sketchbook was mixed media pieces, especially with found materials that somehow related to the memory of the image. The top and bottom images were painted on a small fashion magazine I found in the area (which was also a hot spot in the evening). The top left quad was painted on the paper that that pastry was wrapped in. The top right quad was painted on top of the wrappers of the candy I was eating while I painted.

Italy Sketchbook Part 3

More from my Italy Sketchbook. This grouping is about line work people. My favorite is the last one. There was a guy selling belts in a stall across from where I was sitting. If you got too close he was sure to attack you and put a belt on you. Anyway, this guy got too close, and here he is trying on a belt while the stall owner holds up a mirror for him. 

Italy Sketchbook Part 2

More from my sketchbook from Italy. This set is about some people studies, with an emphasis on color and shadow

Italy Sketchbook Part 1

I was lucky enough to study in Italy for the month of July. Here are a few sketches from my sketchbook. The theme of this group is architecture with an importance on shadows. There was a lot of beautiful light  there!

Have You Met My Friend?

He can be quite whimsical

Talking Bird, Singing Tree, Golden Water -- Wife of the Sultan

Princess Parizade's mother, as a young woman and as an older mother of three. She is the youngest of three girls and when she married the Sultan, her older sisters became frightfully jealous. They ended up convincing the Sultan that their youngest sister gave birth to a dog, a cat, and a piece of wood. The perfectly healthy children were thrown into the river in baskets while the Queen herself was thrown into a prison constructed for one. As you can imagine, this gives her a pensive and solemn demeanor to her already quite nature.

Talking Bird, Singing Tree, Golden Water -- Sultan Kosrouschah

Princess Parizade's biological father, the Sultan Kosrouschah. While a very successful ruler, he is easily manipulated by his own fears. When it comes to matters of state he is able to step back and view the situation thoughtfully, he is more often rash and proud in regards to personal matters. He does not wish to appear weak, and will hide  or destroy his faults at all costs

Talking Bird, Singing Tree, Golden Water -- Prince Bahman

Princess Parizade's eldest brother, Prince Bahman. Prince Bahman looks remarkably like his father, The Sultan, but he is much more like his mother in demeanor. He is quiet and thoughtful, and much more reserved and calculating than his two siblings. He may have a dreamy look now, but one day he will become a great ruler of people

Talking Bird, Singing Tree, Golden Water -- Prince Perviz

Princess Parizade's Second Brother, Prince Perviz. He is the more reckless than his older brother Bahman. Despite his impetuousness, he is extremely loyal, never dreaming of opposing his brother, and protective of his younger sister. He has his mothers looks, but not her disposition. He has much more of his father's brazen attitude. 

I rather like him

Have You Met My Friend?

She Could Kick Your Ass...

The Bear King -- Lene's Family

I found a name for the daughter in The Bear King, Lene, and here is her fanily
Dalla -- The practical and frugal eldest sister
Fastny -- The Mother, who only worries about what other people think about her
Valdis -- The second eldest sister, obsessed with marrying richly. Biggest complaint: The shape of her nose
Fredrick -- The Father, who loves his family, and tries his hardest to please, but he's not a very capable person
Aesa -- The baby of the family, at 4 years old, she has been mostly cared for by Lene
Lene -- Our Heroine, the 3rd daughter, who tries her best to please everyone and see past their faults. She has everyones best intentions at heart