Hermux Tantamoq is a watchmaker who is pulled into all sorts of adventures in Michael Hoeye’s books. My drawing is from Hermux in Time Stops for No Mouse, the first in the series, but my favourite is The Sands of Time. 
Inktober 2018 #19 & #20 – Trennte & Jeffrey
A double update! Both characters are from The Princess of Nowhere, the first novel I ever finished writing. Trennte is the manservant of Prince Jespar, and is the prince’s friend and mentor. Jeffrey is a tie. For some reason I cut Jeffrey out of the later drafts, something I regret as he was one of the things that made the first draft special. It’s possible that one day I will return to the story … I think it may work as an animated series, something a bit mad where talking clothes make sense. With that in mind the Trennte sketch is Gravity Falls-inspired.
Inktober 2018 #18 – Finn
Finn is a half-Indian, half-English boy who Maia meets and befriends.
Unfortunately I missed yesterday – I’m away from home at the moment, and yesterday proved too busy! I may do a double update tomorrow to catch up.
Inktober 2018 #17 – Maia
Maia is an orphan, sent out to Brazil to distant relatives in the care of Miss Minton.
Inktober 2018 #16 – Miss Minton
Miss Minton is a severe but wonderful woman in Eva Ibbotson’s Journey to the River Sea, a beautiful book set in the early twentieth century about a young girl discovering the Amazon and the people who live there. I’ll be drawing a couple more of the characters over the next few days.
Life Drawing, 9th October
The second day back at life drawing I felt more relaxed. Maxime modelled, holding some lovely and difficult poses.
I’m still behind with uploading drawings from the 16th, but I’ll try to post those next weekend.
Life Drawing, 2nd October
I’m a bit behind with posting my life drawings! The first evening back Clara modelled.
Inktober 2018 #15 – Richard
In this Cinderella-style story, Sarah is asked to dance by Prince Richard.
I took inspiration for Richard’s costume from John Peacock’s book Costume: 1066 to the Present.
Inktober 2018 #14 – Sarah
Back in 2009 I wrote The Dance for NaNoWriMo, or National Novel Writing Month, which takes place every November. Sarah is a maidservant in the court of the king when a magnificent ball takes place. Though she is cleaning, Sarah is asked to dance …
For Sarah’s clothes I took directly from this Crows Eye Productions video. It’s worth checking out their YouTube channel for more videos on period costume!
Inktober 2018 #13 – Manaus
Manaus is Rudy’s son and as such has been through many of the trials she has.
There is something very interesting about the ‘relationship’ between a writer or artist and their characters. It’s possible to be very cruel to them to serve a story. I don’t remember thinking much of it at the time, but looking back now I feel very sorry for Rudy.
Inktober 2018 #12 – Rudy
Rudy is a very old character of mine, but this is the first time I’ve draw her. In her world centaurs are considered like animals and are hunted for sport (though not to be eaten). As such the stories I’ve made up about her are often quite grim. I’ve heard that many peoples’ first stories can be dark. Her stories will likely never see the light of day …
Inktober 2018 #11 – Esther
For today’s character design I’ve drawn Esther from the Book of Esther in the Old Testament and Tanakh. A Jewish orphan, she became queen of Persia. I enjoyed researching Persian clothing and hairstyles around 500 BC, though I haven’t had time to research in great detail! For Esther’s face and figure I’ve heavily referenced Meg from Hercules.
Action Gestures
I meant to post these last weekend, but forgot. I drew them last month, using the Bodies in Motion site, beginning with 30 second poses and gradually giving myself more time. The site is excellent for capturing poses that a model would never be able to hold.
Inktober 2018 #10 – Bree
Bree (or Breehy-hinny-brinny-hoohy-hah, to give his full name) is the titular horse of The Horse and His Boy. Shasta is the boy. I had wondered about drawing Aravis and Hwin, the other main characters, but there are so many other characters I want to draw I initially decided against it. Now I’m two weeks through the list I made I’m starting to wonder about some of the characters I initially scheduled, so Aravis may appear later in the month …
Like yesterday, I’m looking at The Secret of Kells for design inspiration. Several of the animals like wolves and deer have legs that come to a point. Though it’s quite elegant I think, if I were designing for a real film, I would rework Bree to have hooves.
Inktober 2018 #09 – Shasta
Shasta is the main character in The Horse and His Boy, my favourite of C. S. Lewis’ The Chronicles of Narnia books. I would love to see it on screen as I think this story has so much scope – adventure, horses, battles, an escape across a desert. Now Netflix will be developing new films and series (see here for more information) it’s possible my dream will come true!
For design I’ve followed Cartoon Saloon‘s style quite closely, particularly their film The Secret of Kells. If you haven’t heard of them, check them out – their work is beautiful, especially Song of the Sea which is one of my favourite films.
Inktober 2018 #08 – Dragon
At the end of a bitter battle with a dragon, a knight searched its layer and discovered its egg among the treasures. Feeling its warmth he found himself unwilling to kill an innocent, unknowing creature. Instead the knight wrapped it carefully in his cloak and cradled it on his saddle as he rode all the way home.
This is the opening of a story I wrote a few years ago about what happens when a knight tries to raise a dragon. In short, nothing good. Today’s drawing is of the young dragon the knight keeps chained, and drugged with herbs.
Inktober 2018 #07 – Corlath
Corlath, King of Damar, from The Blue Sword. He and Harry do not always see exactly eye to eye.
Inktober 2018 #06 – Harry
These next characters come from Robin McKinley’s The Blue Sword, a fantasy novel I adore. As it’s set in the desert land of Damar I took inspiration from The Prince of Egypt for design. Harry (full name Angharad) is the heroine, and I show her here near the beginning of the story when she has been kidnapped by the hill folk.
Though I took time to colour her I really like the pencil lines, so I’ve uploaded them on their own too.
Inktober 2018 #05 – Wentworth
Captain Frederick Wentworth, for those who haven’t read (or watched) Persuasion, is the love interest of Anne.
Inktober 2018 #04 – Anne
Persuasion is one of my favourite Jane Austen novels (I find it hard to choose between it and Pride and Prejudice) so I thought I’d draw Anne Elliot for day four. I wanted to draw her in a style similar to some of the cartoons of that time – lots of lines and hatching.
