Christopher Burdett on Getting Serious

Monster man Christopher Burdett has posted an article on getting serious in the illustration business, which is worth linking to so I can find it again... http://christopherburdett.blogspot.com/2010/01/2009-year-i-got-serious_06.html

Some good advice to bear in mind, eg having an efficient portfolio website containing only the best examples of one's work. I've got to get on with my Adobe Dreamweaver & Flash course (and get my head around CSS, which is more exacting than Latin) so that I can give my website http://www.dashinvaine.co.uk/ an over-due revamp, and turn it into a more viable showcase featuring better and more recent work on. (I should probably set up a second site especially for my historical writings, and keep my two spheres of activity more distinct.
The subject of specialization also arises in Burdett's article, in terms of illustration style and subject matter. At the moment I have projects on which couldn't be more different. In some ways it is good to have a variety, and to supply more than one demand. Hmm.

I'm snowed under figuratively and literally. There is a snowman in the garden who somewhat resembles Winston Churchill.

I'm presently doing some traditional paintings of imagery for Christmas card, having secured representation by Image By Design Licensing. I've already done a sample nativity with shepherds, http://dashinvaine.deviantart.com/art/Nativity-Scene-146660137 (digitally). Some wise men on camels should be arriving soon (bearing some singularly inappropriate presents for a baby, which Mary and Joseph will probably be putting on ebay).

For something completely different, I've also worked on illustrating some horror comics including paid and grace-and-favour jobs. I've also done some concept art lately including character design.

Dragonmeet

Yesterday I went to Dragonmeet 2009 in Kensington, London http://www.dragonmeet.co.uk/index.php/news/93

Some interesting stands and things going on. Also privileged to meet Jon Hodgson, http://www.jonhodgson.com/ and Linda M Pitman http://www.sheblackdragon.com/ who were selling prints of their lovely artwork, fantasy and gothic respectively. (Bought a couple of Jon's).

My latest traditional painting is 'Dungeon-Bound Dragon', the subject of which is in a spot of bother. It's a reversal of fortune for the dragons in my fantasy art, who are usually having a better time of it, for example in this one... http://dashinvaine.deviantart.com/art/Tamlina-and-the-Dragon-s-Ring-129936265

and this... http://dashinvaine.deviantart.com/art/Dragon-and-Captive-reloaded-129209195

I was quite pleased with how the texture worked out on the tail and on the flagstones.

I've done a couple of other darker pieces lately, in photoshop, including a halloweenie visitation called 'Scary Monsters' http://dashinvaine.deviantart.com/art/Scary-Monsters-142680713

and some rather scenes for a horror comic, 'Her Room in Hell' a version of which appeared on the Hellbound Web. http://dashinvaine.deviantart.com/art/Her-Room-in-Hell-comic-cover-144295522

I've got another comic coming up with them, called 'King of the World', a grim fable set during the Albigensian Crusade, straying into the fantasy/horror genre of Clive Barker's Hellraiser. Also upcoming on that site will be 'Sisters Under the Skin', again adapted from something I wrote a while back. I shall do some rainbows and fluffy bunnies one day, promise.

Highgate

Last wednesday I met up with an artist friend for a day in London. Sketched an Amazon riding a horse backwards in the British Museum, then went up to Highgate Cemetery, before coming back down to Camden. Highgate is a dreamlike place, a whole world of ivy draped monuments, crosses and angels. It probably looks at its best on such an autumnal evening.

Reissue of 'The Rise and Fall of the Knights Templar'

I am pleased to announce that my first book 'The Rise and Fall of the Knights Templar' is presently being reissued in paperback. With this version I have had the opportunity to make minor improvements to the content. The cover has also been slighty redesigned, featuring an improved version of my original painting, which I was able to rework slightly in photoshop. The book also features my original illustrations. It is published by Spellmount, an imprint of the History Press, ISBN978-0-7524-5382-8

A little slideshow of some of my oil paintings and digital art. Hope you enjoy...
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