Kushiel's Dart

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Time Lapse Video & Marque Design:

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EDIT:  I've re-uploaded this painting with a few changes suggested by the amazing folks at IlluXCon.  You can still see the old version here.

In an ancient land founded by angels, a young woman discovers her destiny as one touched by the Angel of Punishment, himself.  This is the tale told in Kushiel's Dart, one of my favorite mature fantasy novels and an endless source of inspiration for me.  I decided to test myself by designing a wraparound cover for this book as an exercise in my artistic and book illustration skills.  Check out the original cover by John Jude Palencar to see what the original cover looked like.

What I Learned:

-  Keep it simple!  If I were to start over, I would make this even more simple, since I got very carried away by all the details.  Clear figures and composition with a hint of narrative to tease the mystery are better than jam packed images that tell you everything.

- Master copies are the best medicine if you're ever stuck on a piece!

- Don't be afraid to 'murder your darlings'. I changed this image SO many times by the end that I pretty much destroyed it - ALL in service of making a more successful piece.

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I'm keeping a journal, of sorts, of my Kushiel related art over at Kushiel Concepts and its tumblr mirror, for anyone wanting to see more.  The stuff that's too racy to be in this account's gallery will most likely end up there and over at angelicremains.  

You can also find more Kushiel's Legacy inspired work over at Nights-Doorstep:


PS.
Thanks to Zephyri and the Oatley Academy for all the great feedback!  I never would have pushed myself so hard without your knowledgeable guidance and ceaseless encouragement not to settle for less.