This painting is a commissioned piece, cover art for the novel Mermaid Drowning.
Title: On the Northern Coast
Size: 12″x16″
Medium: Oil paint on gessobord
Sittings: 5
Completion Date: 1 November, 2012
To see all the Work In Progress images -
Project: Mermaid Drowning
My parents are preparing to publish their very first novel, and I am creating the cover art for them. The title of the novel is Mermaid Drowning. The cover art depicts the main character, Evelyn, watching the sunset at the beach with a storm looming on the horizon.
Mermaid Drowning – WIP 1
First sketch concept art for Mermaid Drowning book cover.
Mermaid Drowning – WIP 3
Sketch 2 for the book cover of Mermaid Drowning. They decided they wanted her to be wearing completely different clothing. Aside from the horizon line, the straight lines are all there to help me lay out the composition appropriately for a book cover.
Mermaid Drowning – WIP 4
12″x16″ gessoboard
To transfer the details of the concept sketch I used carbon paper and traced the sketch using a the tip of a paintbrush.
Mermaid Drowning – WIP 5
12″x16″ gessoboard
I masked out the central figure so I can seamlessly paint in the background around her. I also masked off the horizon line so I can underpaint a clean and straight horizon. I used ordinary painter’s masking tape of the kind you find at any hardware store.
Mermaid Drowning – WIP 6
Oil paint on 12″x16″ gessoboard
The central figure is currently masked out with normal blue masking tape so I can seamlessly paint in the background around her. I also masked out the horizon line before laying down the underpainting for the ocean, but I had removed the tape while painting so I could paint the rock on the right. I’ll be painting the ocean, waves, and sky all in the same sitting so they will accurately show the same colors. The underpainting will help to give the ocean depth beyond the sky colors it reflects.
6″x9″ white colored pencil on black paper.
This clockwork doll has seen much better days.
Yesterday I created a few more mini-paintings on jewelry items, which I will have for sale at Clockwork Alchemy this coming weekend. They have all been varnished and are ready to go.
Starry Raven in Brass Dotted Pendant
This mini-painting created in ink is roughly 1/2″ across and 3/4″ tall. The entire pendant is 3/4″ wide and 1″ tall. The foundation is a commercially purchased cameo-backing. The mini-painting is on watercolor paper, glued to the pendant with archival glue. It is varnished with archival museum varnish.
Brown Boots on Large Gold-Tone Pin
This mini-painting created in brown ink is about 1.25″ across and 1″ tall. The mini-painting is on watercolor paper, glued to the pin with archival glue. It is varnished with archival museum varnish.
Mr. and Mrs. Cats in Heart Locket
These mini-paintings created in brown ink on watercolor paper are each about 3/4″ across and 3/4″ tall. The vintage heart locket which holds the paintings is 1″ tall and 1″ wide when closed.
Brown Clockwork Doll in Large Brass Pendant
This mini-painting created in brown ink is about 1″ across and 1.25″ tall. The mini-painting is on watercolor paper, glued to the pendant with archival glue. It is varnished with archival museum varnish.
Brown Paper and Feather Pen in Book Locket
These mini-paintings created in brown ink on watercolor paper are each about 1/2″ across and 3/4″ tall. The book shaped locket which holds the paintings is 1″ tall and 3/4″ wide when closed, and has a small scroll engraving on the front.
Coffee and Biscuits in Oval Locket
These mini-paintings created in brown ink on watercolor paper are each about 1/2″ across and 3/4″ tall. The oval locket which holds the paintings is 1″ tall and 3/4″ wide when closed, and has a small scroll engraving on the front.
Silver Rose on Brass Pendant
This mini-painting created in ink is roughly 1/2″ across and 3/4″ tall. The entire pendant is 3/4″ wide and 1″ tall. The foundation is a commercially purchased cameo-backing. The mini-painting is on watercolor paper, glued to the pendant with archival glue. It is varnished with archival museum varnish.
I’m in a busy push to get more art finished before Clockwork Alchemy next weekend. I did take photos of the corded regency corset on my friend, but I may not have time to post them until after the event.
In the meantime, what I have ready to show you are six larger impasto acrylic paintings on gallery wrapped canvas, all of which will be for sale in the Artist Bazaar at Clockwork Alchemy.
Icy Reach
8″x16″x2″ Impasto acrylic paint on gallery wrapped canvas. This is painted with shimmery paint.
Strawberries and Cream
6″x12″x2″ Impasto acrylic paint on gallery wrapped canvas.
Springtime Stroll
12″x16″x1″ Impasto acrylic paint on gallery wrapped canvas.
Greasy Gears
9″x12″x1″ Impasto acrylic paint on gallery wrapped canvas. This is painted with shimmery paint.
My Goggles
10″x20″x2″ Impasto acrylic paint on gallery wrapped canvas.
Fearsome Depths
12″x30″x2″ Impasto acrylic paint on gallery wrapped canvas.
8″x10″ dip pen and ink wash on Aquabord
Steampunk artwork, created by first drawing with dip pen and ink, and then shading it using a wash of the same ink.
An airship pirate stands poised at the end of the docks, sword drawn and knife in hand. Someone picked the wrong fight, and it wasn’t her.
Shown below is the line art stage, scanned in grayscale.
8.5″x11″ dip pen and ink wash on watercolor paper
Steampunk artwork, created by first drawing with dip pen and ink, and then shading it using a wash of the same ink.
In a post-apocalyptic desert, a neo-bedouin warrior scouts the horizon in the early afternoon heat.
Project: On The Trail
The first rendition of On The Trail ended up being ruined, so I had to start over. In doing so, I also decided to rearrange the composition a little. This is the pencil sketch before inking.
On The Trail – Sketch
8.5″x11″, pencil on watercolor paper
Project: On The Trail
8.5″x11″ watercolor paper
Today I have been working on a drawing featuring a post-apocalyptic neo-bedouin steampunk woman. At least, that’s my main inspiration personally. I could see her in any near-eastern or multicultural steampunk world. Her outfit is inspired by Renaissance faire tribal fusion belly dance wear, with the addition of a few re-purposed machine parts, moccasins, Native American style warrior feathers, and a really big knife.
The line art version scan is black and white, but the real drawing is in dark brown ink, applied with a dip pen nib.
Project: On The Trail
8.5″x11″ dip pen and ink wash on watercolor paper
Steampunk artwork, created by first drawing with dip pen and ink, and then shading it using a wash of the same ink. A steampunk woman is getting ready, but she seems to have forgotten her shoes…
This is a revision of an earlier drawing. I kept looking at the artwork, and the longer it sat the less finished it felt to me. I added some shading in the background, and unfortunately had to repair some lift on the skirt which is a result of using masking fluid. Despite the slight repair, I am much happier with the artwork as it is now, than as it was before.
Reference: 
by ~xXtimeless-stockXx
Project: Almost Ready