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Viewing: Blog Posts Tagged with: Adventures Of The Flying Boat, Most Recent at Top [Help]

Results 1 - 25 of 47

1. Some Flying Boat Sketches

By: Eric Orchard, on 9/6/2011
Blog: Eric Orchard (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: sketches, comic books, maddy kettle, Adventures Of The Flying Boat, Add a tag

Some (older) sketches of Maddy's flying boat. Which is a sort of sentient steam powered thing of mysterious origin. With Henry finally in daycare and Julie back at work I'm having normal working days. I'm able to plan ahead now and set deadlines for myself, which I found hard to do with Henry at home and with so many odd projects going on. I'm also cutting back on stuff: less reading, games, TV, internet time etc. But more audiobooks and music.

It's all of the sudden Fall! Which is my favorite time of year. Best food, more energy, Halloween, sweaters. I look better in a sweater.

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2. Silviold By Gabe Gill

By: Eric Orchard, on 7/24/2010
Blog: Eric Orchard (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Adventures Of The Flying Boat, silvio raccoon, cloudscape, gabe gill, pen and ink, harry and silvio, maddy kettle, Add a tag

I received this amazing drawing of an aging Silvio by new artist Gabe Gill. I think he captured something perfect and essential about the character. Something both cozy and a little dark and strange. Really wonderful. Gabe is going to be big.

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3. 3-D Raccoon

By: Eric Orchard, on 7/23/2010
Blog: Eric Orchard (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Adventures Of The Flying Boat, silvio raccoon, sculpture, harry and silvio, maddy kettle, Add a tag

Here's a little model I made of Silvio to help me work out shading, perspective and other drawing problems while I do the Maddy Kettle comic. I'm also planning on doing the other characters as well. He's a bit rough but he'll do the job well. I did him in Super Sculpey with a metal wire and aluminum foil armature. I painted it in black and white acrylics.

6 Comments on 3-D Raccoon, last added: 7/26/2010

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4. Gogi

By: Eric Orchard, on 7/21/2010
Blog: Eric Orchard (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: pen and ink, maddy kettle, ink wash, Adventures Of The Flying Boat, cloudscape, Add a tag

Gogi is an an air spirit that got stuck in cloud. Luckily it's a comfortable cloud.

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5. Doppo The Fox

By: Eric Orchard, on 7/19/2010
Blog: Eric Orchard (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: photoshop, clouds, pen and ink, watercolour, harry and silvio, foxes, maddy kettle, Adventures Of The Flying Boat, doppo the fox, cloudscape, Add a tag

A new face in the Cloudscape. Doppo is a cloud cartographer from 100 years before Harry and Silvio's time and he will have a major role in book 2 of Maddy Kettle ( if they let me do a book 2). Yesterday I found myself mapping out a huge overall story arc to the Maddy Kettle books. I'm sure this'll change as I go along. I'm so excited about these stories.

8 Comments on Doppo The Fox, last added: 7/20/2010

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6. Several Birds With One Fox

By: Eric Orchard, on 7/17/2010
Blog: Eric Orchard (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: sketches, marker, harry and silvio, foxes, maddy kettle, Adventures Of The Flying Boat, Add a tag

This is a character I think will be in the second Maddy Kettle book. He doesn't have a name yet (I'm thinking Doppo) but he's a Japanese Red Fox and he's an adventurer in the Cloudscape. I'm on a big Manga kick right now so bits of Japan are seeping into the Cloudscape. Another point of interest is that I drew this with ShinHan Touch markers. I did some more with marker which I'll share over the next few days. And lastly I used non reproducing blue pencil here. Which reproduced...Oh well.

5 Comments on Several Birds With One Fox, last added: 7/17/2010

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7. Kettle Thumbs

By: Eric Orchard, on 7/15/2010
Blog: Eric Orchard (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: sharpie, top shelf, oni, maddy kettle, thumbnail drawings, Adventures Of The Flying Boat, Add a tag

I finished the thumbnails for the first Maddy Kettle book yesterday. Right now, the book comes out to 110 pages. It was a lot of work, even though I had lots of story notes and sketches the story went to unexpected places while drawing the thumbnails. I expect surprises while I pencil as well. Since every editor in the world is at San Diego Comic con for the next little while I'm waiting for the go ahead on this. In the meantime I'm starting work on a short story for Oni.

2 Comments on Kettle Thumbs, last added: 7/15/2010

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8. Drawing And Writing

By: Eric Orchard, on 7/5/2010
Blog: Eric Orchard (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: pen and ink, maddy kettle, Adventures Of The Flying Boat, Add a tag

I'm in the midst of things and there's not much to report. So far the part time job has worked. I'm getting more work done then ever with out any of the freelance pressures. Toronto is once again sweltering after a brief reprieve. I have started outlining the second Maddy Kettle book. It's still a small idea but I'm following it to see where it goes.

4 Comments on Drawing And Writing, last added: 7/6/2010

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9. Balloon Filler

By: Eric Orchard, on 6/3/2010
Blog: Eric Orchard (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: maddy kettle, Adventures Of The Flying Boat, sketches, harry and silvio, Add a tag

A sketch of Harry and Silvio's cloud-mapping balloon.

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10. Spider Goblins March

By: Eric Orchard, on 5/25/2010
Blog: Eric Orchard (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: maddy kettle, Adventures Of The Flying Boat, harry and silvio, Add a tag

Here are some thumbnails from the first Flying Boat comic. I'm so busy right now with this and other projects ( including being a dad! ) that I'l scaling back my internet/networking time quite a bit. I think it's about time I recognizes that I am working on the jobs of my dreams right now and I don't have to anxiously be racing out to new clients etc. I also need more time to watch films and read comics.

3 Comments on Spider Goblins March, last added: 5/25/2010

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11. Spectrum 17

By: Eric Orchard, on 3/1/2010
Blog: Eric Orchard (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: pen and ink, comic books, harry and silvio, spectrum, maddy kettle, the cloud cave, Adventures Of The Flying Boat, Add a tag

I found out yesterday that not only did I get into Spectrum 17 but I got the silver award in comics! It was for this page from the Cloud Cave comic.

17 Comments on Spectrum 17, last added: 3/2/2010

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12. Spectrum Silver!

By: Eric Orchard, on 2/28/2010
Blog: Eric Orchard (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: comics, harry and silvio, spectrum, the cloud cave, Adventures Of The Flying Boat, Add a tag

Just found out I got silver in Spectrum's 17th Annual! I got in the comic book section. More on this tomorrow, I'm in pleasant shock. I do know it's from the Cloud Cave mini from the Flying Boat comic.

9 Comments on Spectrum Silver!, last added: 3/1/2010

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13. Landing Gear?

By: Eric Orchard, on 2/28/2010
Blog: Eric Orchard (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: sketches, pen and ink, ballpoint, Adventures Of The Flying Boat, Add a tag

Just an idea...In one version of the cover the boat is running across the clouds with extended metal feet, landing gear maybe?

2 Comments on Landing Gear?, last added: 2/28/2010

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14. Flying Boat Cover Process Eight, Final Picture.

By: Eric Orchard, on 2/25/2010
Blog: Eric Orchard (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: pen and ink, watercolour, gouache, maddy kettle, Adventures Of The Flying Boat, Add a tag

And here is the final cover painting! After the final watercolurs were applied, as seen in the last post, I decided to paint over the drawing in the sky with gouache. My initial plan was to just add some highlights with gouache but I ended up over-painting a lot of it and I think for the better. The gouache phase of a painting is always amazing to me; the way all of the sudden these colours are popping and everything becomes so vibrant. It's an amazing medium. I prefer it over oil and acrylic, really.

Top Shelf is already using it for promotion and I've already seen the comic mentioned in the same paragraph as Alan Moore, which is a real thrill.

Thanks so much for following along. More soon on the Adventures of the Flying Boat.

30 Comments on Flying Boat Cover Process Eight, Final Picture., last added: 2/27/2010

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Joe Hox said, on 2/25/2010 6:34:00 AM

Eric, You've made a beautiful piece. The colors just explode!

Victoria Stitch said, on 2/25/2010 6:41:00 AM

absolutely beautiful! i love the swirls! you have such talent!

Eric Orchard said, on 2/25/2010 6:44:00 AM

Thanks Joe!

Thanks Victoria!

I'm pretty proud of this. Can't wait to post more of the comic...

zoe said, on 2/25/2010 7:28:00 AM

it's amazing what you did with these colors! fantastic work, and congratulations!

Eric Orchard said, on 2/25/2010 7:30:00 AM

Thanks Zoe!

loodles said, on 2/25/2010 7:38:00 AM

just WOW....W*O*W....wow

mai s kemble said, on 2/25/2010 8:44:00 AM

looks absolutely delicious!

:)

ever used frisket? I sometimes do frisket over almost an entire image just to do the background's wash first... :/ takes a long time and its a crazy pain taking it off later, but I have trouble with washes too. .... I think your gouache really pumps it up here though so not even sure if you'd really want to do that...it really makes a unique look, too.
oh this is just such a great illustration!!!!!
:)
me loves!!

mai s kemble said, on 2/25/2010 8:44:00 AM

Eric Orchard said, on 2/25/2010 8:47:00 AM

Thanks louise!

Thanks Mai!

Jeanie W said, on 2/25/2010 9:02:00 AM

Brilliant! I love you color choices.

Eric Orchard said, on 2/25/2010 9:10:00 AM

Thanks Jeanie!

tim b said, on 2/25/2010 10:06:00 AM

This is really nice. All the drawing you've been doing is really paying off.

Eric Orchard said, on 2/25/2010 10:10:00 AM

Thanks so much Tim.

Eric Barclay said, on 2/25/2010 11:25:00 AM

Really outstanding piece. Best, EB

Eric Orchard said, on 2/25/2010 11:37:00 AM

Thanks so much Eric! Glad you dropped by, I needed to add you to my Google Reader...

Shorty said, on 2/25/2010 11:39:00 AM

Such beautiful work! your characters are amazing to stare at. And, I adore the blues!

Gabriel said, on 2/25/2010 2:29:00 PM

I ADORE the sky swirls, very cinematic, like something from a Henry Sellick film. So beatiful, I can't wait to see the book.

Gaia said, on 2/25/2010 2:54:00 PM

Ooh here it is! It's wonderful, Eric. That vibrant blue is perfect and so is the boat!
I enjoyed seeing the whole process and was very suprised to read that you don't use a light-box to transfer your drawings. I do have and use one, but I very much prefer transfer paper because it allows more flexibility

Kristeena Crabb said, on 2/25/2010 4:05:00 PM

Wow! I've really enjoyed watching the whole process. At many points it looked like a beautifully completed piece and then you kept adding more and more and it just got unbelievably better and better.

Thanks for sharing what you do with the rest of the world. It's such a treat.

Eric Orchard said, on 2/25/2010 4:19:00 PM

Thanks Shorty!

Thanks Gabrielle! I'm calling Mr. Sellick right now....

Thanks Gaia! Tracing paper is just one of those things I was taught to use in art school that really stuck. I check out the light baxes at the art store all the time but 1 or 2 hundred dollars is a lot of money to just try something.

Wow Kristeena! Thaks so much!

Sara said, on 2/25/2010 7:52:00 PM

Just incredible, Eric. The colors are stunning! Everything about this feels so magical!

Gaia said, on 2/26/2010 12:49:00 AM

Ooh yes! Light boxes are expensive, I mean the real ones! Mine is handmade. I bought the pieces from the hardware store and a friend helped me putting it all together.
Recently another friend of mine made a lightbox using a coffetable from Ikea. He replaced the glass top with white plexiglass and placed the neon lights inside. Looks better than mine for sure! :)
Anyway, I still find tracing paper better in most cases...

melanie said, on 2/26/2010 1:26:00 AM

I just love your work' it's alive!

Anthony VanArsdale said, on 2/26/2010 5:44:00 AM

That looks fabulous, Man! a job well done.

Christine said, on 2/26/2010 7:40:00 AM

Brilliant! Amazing piece. It's sure to grab people's attention and no one will be able to resist picking it up.

Ryan Yee said, on 2/26/2010 8:42:00 AM

Nice illustrations! I'm really glad I found your blog. Also very cool to see your process. I'll be checking back soon!

theartofpuro said, on 2/26/2010 10:40:00 AM

Wonderfl and amazing cover!Tha colours and tha concept are wonderful.

Jessie said, on 2/26/2010 10:55:00 AM

Beautiful! :o)

RYHOPE RANGER said, on 2/27/2010 2:05:00 PM

Beautiful man.

JC said, on 2/27/2010 8:01:00 PM

really beautiful Eric! colors, design, everything.

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15. Flying Boat Cover Process Seven

By: Eric Orchard, on 2/24/2010
Blog: Eric Orchard (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: gouache, harry and silvio, maddy kettle, Adventures Of The Flying Boat, pen and ink, watercolour, william joyce, Add a tag

One is the final inks again. This is on Arches 140 pound hot pressed paper which is great for both ink and watercolour. The drawback for using watercolour with hot pressed paper as opposed to cold pressed (or "non pressed") is that it's harder to do an even wash of colour. In cold pressed papers there is enough texture that the watercolour washes will fill large areas without any difficulty but this is harder in a paper with a smooth surface. However nibs catch and spatter in the tooth of a cold pressed paper making it less ideal for inks. I end up using gouache to solve this problem.

Two, three and four are the order in which I apply colour which is taken from this book (five) , more or less. William Joyce is one of my heroes and his process in amazing.

Two: I start with yellow and then red. At this point I already have an interesting almost monochrome picture. With each successive layer of colour more of the image is revealed.

Three: I start to add blues to the mix, in this image just concentrating om making the boat and the clouds purple. This photo doesn't quite show the richness of the three colours but it's quite astounding what can be done with a minimal palette.

And finally four, the sky. This illustrates the difficulty I have in getting an even wash on hot pressed paper. Instead of an even wash I end up with whorls of colour and variations in the density of the pigment. Ins stead of worry about this too much I try and use it. The unevenness suggests a Van Gogh-like movement in the sky and clouds that I use. Here I see another "mistake" I've made; the ultramarine wash has obscured my inking in the sky to the point where it looks terrible. I worried about this for some time because I had spent a long time inking the sky and was quite attached to the way it had tur

23 Comments on Flying Boat Cover Process Seven, last added: 2/26/2010

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Jeanie W said, on 2/24/2010 7:46:00 AM

Thanks for sharing your process, Eric. Do you have a particular reason for laying in the colors in that order?

I use the same type of paper when I work with ink line and watercolor wash. Works great. Fabriano also makes a 140lb hp that I buy when the sale price is lower than Arches. I can't detect any difference in quality.

Viviane Schwarz said, on 2/24/2010 8:14:00 AM

Woo Hoo! This is great to see.
I'm still wondering whether to attempt a proper classic ink and wash cover for my comic...

I've been told the secret to getting a flat wash on hot-pressed is pre-mixed watercolour (like Dr Martin's), masking fluid and a big expensive brush...
The bottled watercolour really helps actually, but I never braved the masking fluid after tearing a great big hole with it into one picture.

Eric Orchard said, on 2/24/2010 8:21:00 AM

Thanks Viviane! I'll try that, great to know, I've never heard that one before.

Eric Orchard said, on 2/24/2010 8:21:00 AM

Thanks Jeanie! I tend to think of the colours as being lightest to darkest but it's probably pretty arbitrary and it just really helps me to just work if I know what general direction I'm going in. I should have mentioned I use Winsor Newton artist quality paints too...

I love Fabriano papers but they can't take as much punishment as the Arches paper foe some reason and I can be pretty hard on my paper.

Viviane Schwarz said, on 2/24/2010 8:23:00 AM

Hang on! I just realised... Arches hot-pressed? Wow! I found that is almost impossible to get a flat wash on whatever you do! I cried about it in college because it's so great for inking and such a fiend for flat washes and the skies messed up all my pictures. When I started using slightly more textured paper it was like the whole world became a better place for me... but then I never thought of using gouache for skies!
They discontinued the paper I used to use, I've pretty much stopped water-colouring since...

Erin McGuire said, on 2/24/2010 8:24:00 AM

Haha, cool, I didn't realize you liked Bill Joyce, but that makes sense. I worked a lot with him on his last book, watching him paint is pretty interesting. You should follow the moonbot studios blog, that's his newest venture.
http://moonbotstudios.blogspot.com/

Eric Orchard said, on 2/24/2010 8:26:00 AM

I'm probably doing everything wonky and backwards, Viviane but what the heck.

Viviane Schwarz said, on 2/24/2010 8:26:00 AM

Oooh, do try Dr Martin's radiant watercolours if you haven't... They are slightly magic!

Viviane Schwarz said, on 2/24/2010 8:30:00 AM

:D I don't ever know what way up anything goes... What the heck, exactly! I've been painting on random paper with scraggly Chinese brushes for years. Bought my first expensive brush in 5 years or so last week, thinking "I think I should, really, ahemm" partly because I was reading your blog and thinking I should think more seriously about materials... he he

Eric Orchard said, on 2/24/2010 8:30:00 AM

Gah!!! I've been looking for a William Joyce blog or somewhere online where I can find more stuff of his! Thanks so much Erin for the link Erin that is so awesome! And it's awesome you're working with him. I'm only just hearing about this project now, what's it all about?

And how did you end up working with him? What were you doing? So cool...

Eric Orchard said, on 2/24/2010 8:31:00 AM

By the way, Erin, one of the highlights of my career was early on h=getting to be in the Totoro Forest book with him...

Rob Davis said, on 2/24/2010 8:33:00 AM

Ha! Well, I would have done the sky first and I agree with Viviane about Arches Hot-pressed - impossible to do washes on. But this is looking great so the best thing you can do is do it your way, Eric.

It's been great seeing this detailed process, quite educational.

Eric Orchard said, on 2/24/2010 8:35:00 AM

Viviane: I remeber being so obsessed with materials early on and it being a constant source of low self esteem for me. Now I see it more as an exploration rather then a looking for the perfect brush or ink or whatever.

When I started reading Gentian's blog: http://sketch-books.blogspot.com/ I really got into her playful approach to materials.

Also, I read somewhere that Frazetta uses the same super cheap Mickey Mouse watercolours he's used since he was a kid.

Eric Orchard said, on 2/24/2010 8:39:00 AM

Thanks Rob! I know!! That's the proper way to go about it but for some reason it never looks right to me when I do it that way. I think because I can't yet judge how extreme the contrast is going to be and I tend to prefer a higher contrast then watercolour naturally lends itself to, if that makes sense...It's also that early on I started messing with various materials and liked to see what interesting effects I could get when I combined lots of materials together.

Viviane Schwarz said, on 2/24/2010 8:59:00 AM

Wow thanks, Gentian's blog makes me want to try out different papers again actually... mmm... ha ha, I really like sleeping next to a plan chest full of different sorts of paper these days. Right, I feel inspired now :D

Eric Orchard said, on 2/24/2010 9:00:00 AM

That's what art blogs are for!

Anonymous said, on 2/24/2010 10:30:00 AM

Eric, Have you ever tried the Maxfield Parrish technique of using oil glazes over your pen work? It is easily achievable by using Liquin to thin out the oil color until it is transparent. Build up your color depth with layers. The layers dry quickly and the result is colors that glow without affecting the inking. It also works well with the Joyce technicolor technique.

Eric Orchard said, on 2/24/2010 10:38:00 AM

Thanks Anon! I haven't used oil in ages, I'll have to try that.

. justin segal said, on 2/24/2010 12:10:00 PM

really beautiful stuff, Eric — thanks for sharing your process! Seeing your art makes me want to embrace cross-hatching, that's for sure ...

Eric Orchard said, on 2/24/2010 12:41:00 PM

Thanks Justin! I'm trying to rescue cross-hatchings good name from...people....

zoe said, on 2/25/2010 7:34:00 AM

somehow, i missed this one, and now i'm coming backwards from the next post. this is so interesting to see--i really appreciate the process posts, it's very helpful!

Erin McGuire said, on 2/25/2010 8:57:00 AM

Hey Again Eric-
The studio I work for bought a lot of movie rights to his work (Dino Bob, a few others) and he developed some IP with us, which we sold to Dreamworks (Guardians of Childhood, you can look it up, there's a little bit online). Since he lives in Shreveport, which is only 3 hours from Dallas, my art director and I spent a few months over there helping him with a new book while he works on the movie and other projects. There isn't much else I'm allowed to say ;) His studio is inspiring though, I think there's a video on that Moonbot blog. My friend Adam Volker works with Bill full time now.

Anonymous said, on 2/26/2010 2:14:00 AM

What a great resource!

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16. Flying Boat Cover Process Six

By: Eric Orchard, on 2/23/2010
Blog: Eric Orchard (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: pen and ink, maddy kettle, Adventures Of The Flying Boat, tracing paper, Add a tag

1
2This is seeming a lot more involved and methodical then it is. The reality is I'm a lot more halting and sloppy when I work and this process is pretty vague and open. I'm quite easily distracted and find I need some kind of structure so I use this method based on the methods of artists whose work I love.

Number one is the tracing I used to transfer the pencil drawing on to nicer paper, in this case Arches 140 pound hot pressed watercolour paper. Arches has been my favorite paper since art school. It seems to have all the qualities to make it versatile and durable. I use pretty generic tracing paper and there is a fair amount of redrawing that goes on in the transfer. One thing Like about transferring a drawing this way is the opportunity it affords me to work on it in reverse where I can see if it's properly balanced and objects have enough symmetry.

Once the drawing is transferred and it is touched up and tightened on the Arches paper I ink it. Inking is probably my favorite part of the process, to me it's revealing the scene that's been hidden the whole time and it seems to develop like a Polaroid. I use a number of different tools for inking. Primarily I use a pen and nib. In this case I used a Zebra Comic Nib in a Tachikawa nib holder. For years I've been using Speedball drawing products but have recently switched to Zebra pens. The ink I use most of the time and used for this piece is FW Acrylic Ink, India ink and white opaque. I also used a variety of other disposable pens and brushpens.

Next step is the watercolours.

6 Comments on Flying Boat Cover Process Six, last added: 2/23/2010

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17. Flying Boat Cover Process Five

By: Eric Orchard, on 2/22/2010
Blog: Eric Orchard (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: pencil, top shelf, maddy kettle, Adventures Of The Flying Boat, Add a tag

For me this is where things begin to get interesting; the pencils. At this point I've done so much preliminary sketches that it seems to be already done, it's just a matter of making it visible. I do want to stress that the invention never stops, at every stage in the process there are surprises and things take unexpected turns.

I really like this picture. It has some pretty light hearted elements and some darker ones. It encapsulates everything about the story I want to get across.

This picture is done on Mayfair (I think) with 2B pencils.

11 Comments on Flying Boat Cover Process Five, last added: 2/23/2010

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18. Flying Boat Cover Process Part Four

By: Eric Orchard, on 2/21/2010
Blog: Eric Orchard (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: sketches, pen and ink, Adventures Of The Flying Boat, Add a tag

This is the final thumbnail before I move on to the final pencil sketch. I was ready to move on at this point so the thumbnail was done pretty quickly. I think over drawing comes when you start over rendering to soon not from drawing too much. Keep things loose as long as you can. So far I've been working on the cover for three days.

Tomorrow is the fully rendered pencil drawing.

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19. Flying Boat Cover Process Part Three

By: Eric Orchard, on 2/20/2010
Blog: Eric Orchard (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: sketches, pen and ink, airsips, Adventures Of The Flying Boat, Add a tag

1
2I went through another afternoon sketching the revised cover. Here (one and two) are a couple of sketches of Harry and Silvio's official cloudmapping hot air balloon. Again, this set of sketches prompted me to explore this world further.

Tomorrow; the final thumbnail.

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20. Flying Boat Cover Process Part Two

By: Eric Orchard, on 2/19/2010
Blog: Eric Orchard (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: sketches, pen and ink, Adventures Of The Flying Boat, james christensen, Add a tag

1
2
3As I mentioned last post Chris said he thought the boat should be wonderful and magical. He was right, the story had changed so much it didn't make sense to have the same broken down, mundane boat. It also gave the opportunity to add a really cool steampunk engine. Playing with this design let me push the boundaries to Maddy's world even further. I started to realize that these stories can fit just about anything.

The day I had to do these drawings I had a friend visiting so I carried bits of paper with me all day jotting down all my ideas as I went. They even sat next to me over supper. I got really absorbed in this boat and imaging it flying across the sky, chugging along, leaving puffs of smoke.

One and two are sketches I worked on during the day and three is the final design. This was done over about twelve hours whenever I had a spare moment.

And four is a painting by James Christensen whose work was a huge influence on this design. If you don't know his work check it out, it's wonderful.

6 Comments on Flying Boat Cover Process Part Two, last added: 2/19/2010

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21. Flying Boat Cover Process Part One

By: Eric Orchard, on 2/18/2010
Blog: Eric Orchard (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: photoshop, sketches, pencil, top shelf, van gogh, maddy kettle, brushpen, Adventures Of The Flying Boat, Add a tag

1
2
3
4
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6Today I'm starting a multi-part process series on the creation of the Flying Boat Graphic novel cover. Starting today from the earliest ideas to the final piece.

I've always been a bit embarrassed about the fact that I usually use one of my first ideas. That's bad design but I can rarely find anything I love more then the initial burst of creativity. Numbers one and two are my earliest thumbnails of the cover done in brushpen and it stayed very similar to this in composition. I try to work quickly at this stage, getting ideas out.

Three-When the idea seems to be evolving into something workable I start doing more detailed, exploratory sketches. You can see on the left side of number three I was toying with the idea of a lantern. This came back in the final design in another form. One reason I didn't like the lantern is that I didn't want to draw that type of light source all the time both for practical reasons and also I wanted the boat to be a bit stealthy looking.

At this point I have a healthy pile of loose sketches littering the floor of my studio. This is when I usually

8 Comments on Flying Boat Cover Process Part One, last added: 2/19/2010