A Shakespeare Feast

A color sketch- about 80% complete of William Shakespeare. The piece is one of several ideas I'm working on for the cover of a book of recipes taken from meals in the works of the Bard. This is based on the well known woodcut that was executed years after his death. 

The two color portraits are believed to have been painted while Shakespeare was still alive. The authenticity of the portrait on the left, known as the Cobbe Portrait is disputed by scholars. The center painting bares a much stronger resemblance to the woodcut (right.)

Judi, Judi, Judi

Click picture to enlarge.

Book Illustration 1

A drawing done the old-school way. This started out as a quick pencil sketch a few days ago. I used to use india ink, water colors, pens (the kind you dip into a bottle of ink) and brushes every day of my working life but it's been quite a while since I worked in that fashion. To me- few methods match the beauty of a picture composed with lines of varying weight and density used to create depth and texture. The master of this technique was the late Ronald Searle.

It's a dying art form that's rapidly being replaced by simulators (styluses and tablets.) I see some gorgeous work being done digitally but it's hard to tell one artist from the next. The same can also be said for the overuse of felt tip pens and spray paint. Ideas-creativity, whether in writing, music or art, start with a simple pencil and a piece of paper.

The drawing was too large for my scanner so I had to piece it together from two separate scans in Photoshop. There are several (too-dark) lines that were enhanced in p/s.

Here's an experiment with superimposing one drawing- the little girls, over a separate background. It's the common practice for animated cartoons that would be useful, at times, for book illustration. Both layers are executed with watercolor on paper.