Artwork from the Dawn of Time!

[rj_anderson]

I blame lizbee for this. Well, that and the fact that I finally have a scanner.

You wouldn't know it from my artistic output now (she said, looking ruefully at her neglected deviantART gallery), but I used to draw at least one picture every day. In fact, back in my teens I couldn't imagine giving up drawing any more than I could imagine not writing. I seriously thought about taking a double major in university, with the eventual hope of writing and illustrating my own books. As time wore on, however, the writing kind of pushed the drawing out of my mental spotlight, and here I am twenty years later, still working away at the writing, but only dabbling now and then on the artistic side.

So. All that being said, I've unearthed some of my old sketches and drawings, and now I shall inflict them on you share them with you, for whatever it's worth:

First, the rather random sketch of a fairy assassin (in spandex!) circa 1986 that eventually turned into a story, which turned into a fantasy novel, which... well, who knows what's going to happen there, but anyway, it took on a life of its own. Pity the drawing itself kind of sucks (as does the scan), but here you have it...



Second, here's a couple of portraits of Steerpike and Fuchsia I drew as part of a handout for my independent study on Mervyn Peake's Gormenghast books in grade thirteen English (1987). I sketched the Countess and Lord Sepulchrave as well, but they didn't turn out very well, so I didn't bother to include them in the scans:

.

Finally, a drawing of the hero and heroine of my first novel There Came a Traveller, which is beyond awful in so many ways, not to mention terribly derivative of the Fifth Doctor fanfic that was its original form. But I do like this drawing style, and I kind of wish I'd done more with it:



I have one more piece of old art to share, but this one was drawn by a real master -- Bill Sienkiewicz. My brother Pete commissioned it from Bill when he was visiting the Silver Snail comic shop in Toronto, and I have no idea what happened to the original, but since I still have a photocopy, I've scanned it for the amusement of my fellow 80's comic geeks. kateorman at least should get a kick out of this one, since I know she likes Warlock at least:



I scanned a few more pieces last night for lizbee, but they're the kind of thing best saved for a "Humiliate Yourself in Public" meme (i.e. illos and fashion designs for my pernicious and now mercifully defunct sword-swinging Time Lady princess Mary Sue, who scored a smashing 102 when I ran her through the Litmus Test), so I'll spare us both the embarrassment.

Comments

[ozratbag2.livejournal.com]

I am always so impressed by those who can draw faces and get the essence of what they're trying to show down on paper.

I actually like the fairy. Yes, so she's a 'bit' aggressive, but I like the comic book style of the drawing.

I used to draw a lot of flowers and buildings way back in the misty eons, but people and animals forget it. Now, stick figures I can do. :p

...they're the kind of thing best saved for a "Humiliate Yourself in Public" meme

Oh, if I wanted to do one of those, I need only resurrect some of my eariest writing attempts (or the stick figures). I think it's bad enough that I inflicted them on unsuspecting readers the first time around, let alone doing it again. :D

[kerravonsen]

Cool pictures! The fairy does not suck!

sword-swinging Time Lady princess Mary Sue

LOL!
You give us hope -- Rebecca is human!

[rj-anderson.livejournal.com]

Oh, my word, you have no idea. My juvenilia is excruciating.

[kateorman.livejournal.com]

Envy, for so many reasons.

[cesario.livejournal.com]

*stares*

dude, it's not fair how you are talented. SO TALENTED.

Which is to say, those are gorgeous. I especially like the one from There Came A Traveller. Which may or may not be awful, but has an awesome title.

[rj-anderson.livejournal.com]

The title was the best thing about it -- but thank you!

[sannalim.livejournal.com]

Oh, wow. Your faces are all amazing.

[rj-anderson.livejournal.com]

Thank you! *blushes*

[(Anonymous)]

Love your Steerpike--your drawing captures that element of physical crookedness.
Too bad it's not colored--those dark red eyes!

Naomi

[pharnabazus.livejournal.com]

So "that's" the original Knife drawing, before there was any story about her. I remember you telling me about it ages ago.

Mind you, whatever its faults, I did enjoy reading There Came a Traveller, and was sorry to hear you'd lost its sequels.

[owl]

Oh, you can draw so well! I like the 'There came a Traveller' illos best.

[owl]

Oooh, and your Steerpike looks like a fair version of my image of Miles Vorkosigan—also someone who's physically odd. And that jumped out at me before I read who the drawing was.

[rose-in-shadow.livejournal.com]

Ah! So that's the "original" Knife. I remember you said your first ideas for her were an "assassin fairy" kind of deal. Way cool. I love the sense of motion in that picture.

As for the rest, don't be ashamed. It's great! I'd love to be able to draw my own characters.