"Call of the Raven" as it Progressed

Once I had decided that I really enjoyed working in the "series" format, it was really difficult to commit to a series. Thanks to all of you for all your wonderful and creative ideas. I have saved them all for future reference.

I decided to go with the Spirit Totem, or Animal Guide series for a lot of different reasons. The variety of images possible, the possiblity of marketing a set of divination cards, and being able to incorporate nature into my art, are just a few. However, what tipped the scales for me is the fact that Animal guides have always been a part of my life. So why not share that!

Day 1 & 2 - Then I had to choose which one to start with. But that was simple. Raven is the bringing of magic, the keeper of secrets, the power of the unknown at work. What better Spirit guide to start with.

Day 3 - Lots of doodles, lots of crumbled paper and lots of researched later, I think I hit on a concept here.

Day 4 - Tried a varitation on the above concept. Some of this I liked and some of it I didn't.

Day 6 - Got it!! I'm really excited about this. And I can't wait to get it started on canvas. So I'm off to the art store to get one.

Day 7 - Got a 30" x 40" Gallery Wrapped Canvas. It has a 2 1/2" depth. I use 30x40 for 2 reasons. First because it translates well to print and greeting card sizes and second because it's a nice size to paint details with. Any smaller and I go blind and my back aches for days.

I did the 5" square grid on the canvas and the sketch and transferred the image from there. I don't put alot of the detail in on the canvas sketch because it just gets lost in the first layer of paint anyway.

Day 8 - Got some of the base coat in and it's already showing the depth that I was hoping to get in the swirls. She's supposed to look like she's walking out of this swirling tunnel and I think it's gonna work!

Day 9 - May 16 - I had a blast today finding the base colors for the Raven and for that cape of hers. and I decided to add color to her face. It all worked out so well.

Not much painting going on tomorrow, I have a conference with an author about some concept sketches for her book cover. Woohoo!! Wish me luck.

Day 10 - May 17 - I did get a bit of work done on this. The bottom layer is now all in. And I think that the colors you see now will probably remain. Now on to the second layer where I can get into some more detail.

BTW- the conference with the Author went great. She's commissioned me to do 2 concept sketches for her manuscript which she will be submitting to publishers mid June! Way cool!!

Day 11- Time to add another layer to the light tunnel. This is gonna need a few layers to get the effect I'm after. Should be fun though, I love playing with colors. I just have to be patient and let the lower layers dry first.

Day 12 - More tunnel work. Adding some different colors too, to help give it more depth and to punch up the source of the light.

Day 14 - Got alot of work on the raven done. And it's really starting to look like the raven is flying right off the canvas. Hopefully it will stay that way.

Added a second layer of color to one side of her cape. That's gonna take a few layers of background work before I add in the trim detail.

Day 17 - I'm really having a blast with this one. She's just too much fun.

Added the trim to the left side of the cape and then filled in the detail on the center section of that trim. I made sure to pay close attention to highlights and shadows on the trim which helps the cape to really flow.

Added highlights and shadows to the hat drape and detail to the front bodice and her belt. Then I played with color on her skirt.

I also added a thin black line all around the cape to help pull it off the background. You can't see it here but I think it helps to add to the 3D effect that I'm chasing in this one.

Day 18 - Got a lot of work done this day.

First I worked on the details in her hat and added her necklace, then added shaping to the bracelet on her upraised hand. I also worked on shaping on her left most hand, but it's hard to see here.

I also added some rich shadows to the drape from her hat and some fun highlights to her hair.

Then some more color to her skirt (shadows to the left back side) with some reshaping of the hem edge on the left side. Then color and shaping to part of the belt.

Then back at the tunnel - Added more shadow along the front edge (she would be blocking the light). Then some shaping to the lower globes. They are giving off their own, so I added some reflected light to parts of the tunnel. I'll also have to add it to the bottom of her skirt, but I'll have to wait for that.

Here's a close up view. You can see the detail better.

(The image is a little spotty becuase the paint is still shiny and the "bumps" of the canvas are shining back at the camera.)

Day 19 - Worked on the globes in the tunnel. I added "fire" to each of the globes and then decided that I really didn't like it. It lookes tacky. So changed it so that a glow from each globe is reflected in the tunnel. Not sure I like that either. But I'll let it sit a while and see.

I also worked a bit on her skirt. It's a little difficult to see here, but I added a pale yellow line around the bottom edge to get it to stand out more and to help with the 3D effect.

I think that she also needs some more "jewelry". Not sure yet where it goes though.

Day 20 - I worked on her skirt quite a bit. Adding more shadows and highlights to get the movement and the shping I want in it. Then added back in the tails to her belt.

It's hard to see in this small an image because it's really subtle but her front boot got the design detail on the top that you can see in the sketch.

I think I will have to go back and work on the globes, I'm really not happy with them.

Day 21 - She's Finished!

Lots of tweaking done today.

More shadows in the cape, the hat drape and the skirt.

Some highlights to her face and hair.

More detail work on the end tails of her belt. And the addition of jewelry to her belt.

The globes were toned down a bit and the bottom of the tunnel got some more shadows too.

The boot of her back foot received detail work to match the front.