I love illustrated books! As a child, I would spend hours studying the pictures by my favourite artists: E.H. Shepherd; Pauline Diana Baynes; Charles Keeping… That’s why I always get really excited when I learn that an artist has created some artwork after reading one of my stories – and why I was so excited to hear from Marcelle Natisin recently. I’ve linked to Marcelle’s wonderful paintings before and I still cherish the hope that we might embark on a project together one day. She has a very distinctive style that’s all her own and I just love her vivid use of colour and movement.
Her three latest works were inspired by chapters 11-13 of ‘Tracing the Shadow’ – and if I had to choose a personal favourite, it would probably be (by a whisker) ‘Light and Sound’ http://mnat.deviantart.com/gallery/#/d2q2pa2 although ‘Get Me to the Church on Time’ http://mnat.deviantart.com/gallery/#/d2q5zd3 and Rieuk Mordiern: Character Sheet http://mnat.deviantart.com/gallery/#/d2o8ili are very special as well.
Check them out for yourselves and see which ones you like the best! I’ve provided links to two other Artamon-related works – but there are also paintings inspired by fantasy authors such as Meredith Ann Pierce and Naomi Novik to enjoy.
The Price of His Power http://mnat.deviantart.com/gallery/#/d2114t6 An Ecstasy of Shadows http://mnat.deviantart.com/gallery/#/d14dx14
And how could I leave out one of my own personal favourites? Songspinners http://mnat.deviantart.com/gallery/#/d20xqot
Wow! Utopiales is really something else! We were given a very warm welcome at the SF festival in Nantes. We were very impressed by the exhibitions of artwork and the many fascinating discussions of topics relating to SF and Fantasy (although mostly SF.) I’m very grateful to my editor Audrey Petit for inviting me and giving me the chance to meet some French readers (always a great pleasure!) It was also my first time to see the new Livre de Poche edition of ‘Les Enfants de la Porte du Serpent’ in the paper, so to speak, and to admire its cover by the talented Didier Graffet.
It was also a great pleasure to meet and talk Fantasy with Robert V.S. Redick (‘The Chathrand Voyage’) Fabien Clavel (‘L’Antilegende.’) and Anne Fakhouri, the winner of the Prix Jeunesse for her magical two novels ‘Le Clairvoyage’ and ‘La Brume des Jours’ about a young girl drawn into a fairyland so very different from that of the ‘Rainbow Magic’ novels.
And as a ‘Dinotopia’ fan, it was amazing to see a superb exhibition of James Gurney’s detailed and imaginative paintings – and to hear the man himself talking about his work. Lepidopters rule!
• July 4th, 2007 • Posted in
Artwork •
One of the most exciting moments after delivering a manuscript is waiting with bated breath to see the artwork that’s been commissioned by the publishers to go on the cover. And I was so excited when my editor, Anne Groell, sent me my first preview of the cover by talented artist Phil Heffernan.
I’m really thrilled and delighted to be able to present it to you! If you’d like to see more of his work, please do check out his website at www.philheffernan.com.
• October 16th, 2006 • Posted in
Artwork •
I’d been wondering for some time what image a manga [-inspired] artist might draw after reading The Tears of Artamon.
Here is Andy Hepworth’s striking portrayal of Khezef after Gavril’s final transformation in Children of the Serpent Gate.
To view more of Andy’s work, please visit www.andyhepworth.com.
And here’s a handy guide to identifying a Drahhaoul.
The Seven Angels of Destruction — or the Seven Drakhaoulim
- NILAIHAH — the golden-tongued, the Poet (golden eyes)
- BELBERITH — the Warrior of the Malachite Armour (green eyes)
- ADRAMELECH — the Dreamer (amethyst eyes)
- SAHARIEL — the Spell-Binder (scarlet and black eyes)
- ZA’AFIEL — Silver-Haired, the Spinner of Winds (silver eyes)
- KHEZEF — the Bringer of Death (indigo eyes)
- NAGAR/NAGAZDIEL — Prince of the Realm of Shadows (black and scarlet eyes)
