Notes from the Studio

One project that has been simmering on the back burner for awhile now is a new YA anthology edited by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling, ‘Coyote Road, Trickster Tales’ (Viking) for which I’ll be painting the cover and drawing a little over 20 smallish b/w pieces. The book, a follow up to the earlier collections, ‘The Green Man’ and ‘The Faery Reel’ has a brilliant list of contributors, such as: Carolyn Dunn, Chris Barzak, Nina Hoffman, Delia Sherman, Ellen Klages (go Ellen!), Dora Goss, Charles de Lint, Holly Black and Jeffrey Ford among others. I’m very excited about finally jumping in and working on this one. Here are my sketches and the finished cover art for the book. I really enjoyed the first sketch but the powers that be at Viking ruled in favor of the second image. And truth to tell, after I’d finished painting it, I agreed with them. Perhaps I’ll use the first piece as a title page drawing? Anway both images show the creation of the world with a host of trickster archetypes reading to jump in and start the wheel of life rolling on along. Later, as I finish up some of the black and

In mid-October, Bloomsbury will be publishing a collection of Susanna Clarke’s short stories, ‘The Ladies of Grace Adieu’ which will contain almost 20 illustrations by myself. I was thrilled when asked to contribute to this book as I’ve long been a fan of Susanna’s writing and knew that it would bring out the very best in my art. However the due date was tight and even with a great deal of deadline manipulation on the publishers part (thanks to the the redoubtable Polly Napper!) and all my good intentions 5 planned for illustrations were never completed, much to my sorrow. So here’s a taste of some of what I did manage to finish… And here’s my initial sketch for the same: Each of the 8 stories have their own full page illustration as well as its own illumunated as well as hand lettered title page design. Then there are the fun extras that I like to include in any book. Here are a few of my interior illustrations accompanied by its pencil sketch. As you can see I reversed the density of the foreground and background in the inking stage. That hedgerow just seemed to call out for some texture.

Okay, here is the finished painting for the new Stardust hardcover. I posted the preliminary pencils last week if you want to compare them. I really wanted a more 19th century poster effect for the piece than strict naturalism, hence the more densely outlined contours of Star and her hair. There were really only minor surprises waiting for me in the translation from pencil to paint. The biggest of which was a large slippage of the dark blue background sky color over the top of Evaine’s hair due to my slopping the paint around much too casually. I thought that a bit of opaque hair color would quickly fix that right up. two or three hours later major portions of her hair had been repainted. This type of thing can be maddening when on a tight deadline but here I like the effect gained. Enjoy! Charles

I can’t believe that this book is finally out. When George Martin asked me way back in the winter of 2001 if I wanted to illustrate one of his books I never thought that it would take quite this long. But, after years and years of stop and start work, the limited edition of the third volume of George R. R. Martin’s fantasy epic, A Storm of Swords has finally landed. This rather lengthy gestation can only be blamed on me and my desire to make a beautiful book. Storm is so damn huge (almost a thousand pages in length without the art!) that the publisher decided to divide it into two volumes, each with it’s own dust jacket art and both contained within a lovely foil stamped slipcase. All told, I completed almost 70 b/w illustrations, four interior color plates and the two cover paintings for the project. That’s a lot of drawings!! But It looks great and it feels splendid to at long last hold the book in my hands. Here’s the art for both dust jackets. And here are a few of the black and whites: This is the title page art for the second volume of

This weekend the sixth annual Rhythm & Roots Reunion music fest will be happening in my hometown of Bristol Va/Tn. Karen and I have always enjoyed attending this festival as the music is eclectic, stretching all the way from Old Time and Bluegrass on through Piedmont Blues up to contemporary singer/songwriters and New Grass. The difference this year is that I designed the poster image (which was also used on nifty ‘t’ shirt and a lovely mug) and here it is… If you’re in the area come on down for a good musical weekend and I’ll be signing posters (and anything else you might bring by) all three days of the event: Friday: 6.30 – 7.30 pm at the R&R Autograph Station. Saturday: 11.30 am – 12.30 at Mtn. Empire Comics. Sunday: 3.30 – 4.30 pm at Mountain Aire Music. http://www.bristolrhythm.com See you there! Charles