"A Villainous Gentleman", inspired by J.M. Barrie's novel "Peter and Wendy".
12x16 oil on canvas
Sketchbook 2016 preview
Most of the time I try to provide, thoughtful, in-depth, considered blog posts that are hopefully informative, thought-provoking and interesting. Well today I'm taking a break from all that to bring you some shameless self-promotion. No more salad and steamed vegetables, it's time for cheeseburgers made of donuts and bacon!
Today I'm sharing a preview of Annie and I's Sketchbooks for 2016, which will be available for pre-order August 25! For Justin's sketchbook, this year will feature many gryphons, dragons, dwarves, orcs, and all manner of pestilence and assorted villainy.
As with previous years this sketchbook will include a great deal of development sketchwork as well as finished paintings. It gives an overview of the development procedures that go into designing and illustrating the scenes I paint.
While my book focuses on misadventures and monsters both foul and wicked, Annie's sketchbook focuses on creatures a bit more magical and refined...
Annie will be showcasing 5 new oil paintings in her sketchbook as well as the preliminary sketches, drawings and developmental work it took to create each one. It also features and in-depth tutorial where Annie outlines both the tools and techniques she uses to achieve the classical feel of her work. Her book covers a variety of fairytales and folklore from the early 19th century including works by Hans Christian Andersen, the Brothers Grimm and J.M. Barrie
Both books will be available for pre-order on August 25 at 12 noon EST from our shop. Each book in this limited run is hand-signed and numbered by the artist and will ship in September.
The first 50 individuals who order will receive a highly limited signed and numbered mini-print. (More on that soon!)
And as with previous year's book we will be offering a limited edition run of books with a hand-drawn original inside. We hope you will drop by to take a look on the 25th!
GenCon 2016
Come see Gallery Gerard at GenCon in the Art Show Booths 12&13. We will have original paintings, canvas giclees, prints, books, original drawings, and more!
Show hours:
August 4-6, 10am-6pm
August 7, 10am-4pm
The Five Sisters
16x20 oil on canvas
Yet often, in the evening hours, the five sisters would twine their arms round each other, and rise to the surface, in a row. They had more beautiful voices than any human being could have; and before the approach of a storm, and when they expected a ship would be lost, they swam before the vessel, and sang sweetly of the delights to be found in the depths of the sea, and begging the sailors not to fear if they sank to the bottom.
-Hans Christian Andersen, "The Little Mermaid"
Envious Heart
"Envious Heart" 11x14 oil on canvas
"Snow-White longed for the beautiful apple, and when she saw that the peasant woman was eating part of it she could no longer resist, and she stuck her hand out and took the poisoned half. She barely had a bite in her mouth when she fell to the ground dead."
-The Brothers Grimm, “Little Snow White”
Little Snow White
A small study from my Snow White painting.
Tinkerbell
A toned drawing of Tinkerbell for my 2016 sketchbook. I hope to have it all ready for GenCon this year!
A Villainous Gentleman
A sneak peek of a tutorial I will be sharing in my new sketchbook
The process for a painting of Captain James Hook, inspired by J.M. Barrie's novel "Peter and Wendy". Music by Julia Mosley
Mermaid Monday
Happy Mermaid Monday! I think I need to set this one aside for a few days before I add the final touches.
A Villainous Orc
Hook
A little preliminary sketch of one of my favorite characters in literature. If you guessed Captain Hook from yesterday's post, you got it right!
A Regal Captain
It seemed inappropriate to have mermaids in my fairytale book, and not paint the portrait of a regal ship captain. Can anyone guess who I’m painting next?
On rough waves
Sketchbook 2016 Vellum Proof
I just got some proofs back from the printer. I plan on showing how I develop a drawing using vellum pages in this year's sketchbook.
Hello July
Wildest Grace
I have finally finished the third piece in my fairytales & lore series. I am getting excited for my sketchbook this year!
"Wildest Grace"
11x14 oil
How I miss the sea...
The underpainting is finally complete, and I think I'm about ready to start adding some color!
A tiny ship
Mermaid Sisters
For A Few Dragons More...
Quick post today! After my last post A plague of Dragons wherein we saw some wonderful dragons that have been illustrated throughout the ages I couldn't help but start scribbling a few myself. So today I am sharing a few fine scaly fellows that will be appearing in my Sketchbook 2016 later this year.
Hope you enjoy!
Bonus: This is a spread from my 2013 sketchbook which shows briefly how I tend to work up a sketch of a dragon. I hope to do something more in depth in this year's sketchbook:
