02-17-2014, 01:26 AM
Hello Jenny
Thanks for posting the examples of your work. Ancient battles are really difficult to depict not only in an illustrations but in re-enactment also, however you have captured the essence of the face to face aspect of ancient warfare.
It looks to me that you have not drawn from real models which is brilliant. That is a skill you should treasure as it is not always possible to get people to pose for you. However working from models will help in getting the proportions of the figures correct and more importantly help with the scale of the equipment.
As an anecdote I do recall being asked to illustrate some English Civil War soldiers and was presented by the editor with a layout which had the soldiers already sketched in. However the design only worked well because the Pikemen all had six foot pikes!
In illustrations it is not always appreciated but the illustrator also has to literally tell a story and make it clear to the viewer. The illustrator has to know how everyone get where they are in the scene and what will happen to them moments later. The artist has to know who threw that pila and where is that sword or spear going too etc.... You also have to think about how everyone will fit into the scene in 3D even though you are producing a 2D image.
With ancient battles there is also a matter of taste. They were literally butchers yards but rarely is this shown. Nevertheless some Graphic novels for the continental market such as the 'Murena' series, live up to the term graphic but in Britain illustrations are very often regarded as being more suitable for a younger audience so you have to be careful what to show.
I have attached some of my recent illustrations for the Pen and Sword 'Roman Conquest' series.
Graham.
Thanks for posting the examples of your work. Ancient battles are really difficult to depict not only in an illustrations but in re-enactment also, however you have captured the essence of the face to face aspect of ancient warfare.
It looks to me that you have not drawn from real models which is brilliant. That is a skill you should treasure as it is not always possible to get people to pose for you. However working from models will help in getting the proportions of the figures correct and more importantly help with the scale of the equipment.
As an anecdote I do recall being asked to illustrate some English Civil War soldiers and was presented by the editor with a layout which had the soldiers already sketched in. However the design only worked well because the Pikemen all had six foot pikes!
In illustrations it is not always appreciated but the illustrator also has to literally tell a story and make it clear to the viewer. The illustrator has to know how everyone get where they are in the scene and what will happen to them moments later. The artist has to know who threw that pila and where is that sword or spear going too etc.... You also have to think about how everyone will fit into the scene in 3D even though you are producing a 2D image.
With ancient battles there is also a matter of taste. They were literally butchers yards but rarely is this shown. Nevertheless some Graphic novels for the continental market such as the 'Murena' series, live up to the term graphic but in Britain illustrations are very often regarded as being more suitable for a younger audience so you have to be careful what to show.
I have attached some of my recent illustrations for the Pen and Sword 'Roman Conquest' series.
Graham.
"Is all that we see or seem but a dream within a dream" Edgar Allan Poe.
"Every brush-stroke is torn from my body" The Rebel, Tony Hancock.
"..I sweated in that damn dirty armor....TWENTY YEARS!', Charlton Heston, The Warlord.
"Every brush-stroke is torn from my body" The Rebel, Tony Hancock.
"..I sweated in that damn dirty armor....TWENTY YEARS!', Charlton Heston, The Warlord.