Keyboard Grazing (updates)

I don't like leaving things too quiet for too long, and realized that as I'm poking away at the couple of paintings (and a sketch) I'm working on for this month, I haven't actually made much noise here in a while!

First up, I want to apologize that I won't be able to get to do a patron sketch for this month.  The 'Dayjob' has seen some delays that means I need to scramble to do some cleanup work this month that was supposed to take place next month.  The fall gets a bit busy since there's a garden I tend (Harvest tiiiime!) as well as the rest of the property and care-work I've been doing.  I'm simply running out of time in the day to do arty stuff.

However, that is not to say that I'm not enjoying the time I do get to draw.  I've shifted my perspective on things when it comes to creating and its been an absolute revelation.  I suddenly switched from artwork stressing me out to artwork being the thing I most enjoy doing.  I'm feeling a lot more free to create than I've felt before.  Its kind of amazing what a shift in view (with some help, of course) can do to suddenly revitalize a hobby.

The paintings are the 'Rain is Coming' image that the flats were posted of last month, as well as 'Berb and Muu' featuring Chime and Torvael meeting.  I also want to get the image of Cinders coloured in that I posted recently as well.  I have a few illustrations on the go as well, one along the line of the 'Always pet small delivery horses' that features some of my favourite things to draw, namely: neighs and buildings during autumn.  And of course an image of wolves meeting Lorrnath for a fall exchange of good before the winters separate their trade-trails for the season once more.  Its got a tribal vibe to it, as the Javarran (wolf folks) tend to be along the lines of ancient Celtic with some Native American/Acadian weaved into their cultures.  The Lorrnath are more like an evolution of Ancient Norse that walked their way out of slavery.  And surprisingly the two races have had an alliance that's lasted for hundreds of years.

I'm also working on maps again.  These are still a perfect way to just unwind when I don't feel like researching/referencing things for full character images.  I hope these will also help visualize some of the environments I draw from.  The image (above) is the interior of the Grazing Fields Herbalists and Alchemists featured from the last image I posted, a sizable store in itself, packed with various tinctures and herbs, and large enough for a 7 ft. tall Haunok and his partner to move around in comfortably.

I have another map of Klincaern on the go too.  Its got a very 'Sleepy Hollow' vibe to it.  Very 17th century/18th century buildings settled into a coastal town that's near one of the major trade centers to it's North.  

Klincaern also has countless 'spook' places.  Dark spots that draw out haunts and spirits of all sorts.  It boasts Witches (namely, women who chose to live separate from society, live by the old ways, and grow herbs for cures and curses) living in the outskirts of society, in the barriers between the last few lights of civilization and the darkness of lonely forgotten cold beings peering from leaf-choked ruins.

I figured this would be a good theme going towards October.  Far more 'spook' and 'Cinders with pumpkins' before the longer grey of winter ghosts itself across the landscape.

Hope the week has been kind to you all!  Hoping to get some painted and sketched stuff eeked out and posted between workdays! :)

-T.J.