Beren and Luthien

Not a bad first submission for 2010, eh?

A Principles of Illustration assignment, which was to do anything we wanted in the proportion of 4.5"x11". I actually wound up coming up with three usable sketches out of the four assigned, so at some point I'll be doing those, too, but this was the one Yuko picked as being the most different for me. So!

I spent the entire sketch alternating between staring at my Mucha poster (Repose da la Nuit) and cursing trees.

I've been trying to draw Beren and Luthein for a long time. Their story is my favorite, and it's been disappointing to fail at rendering anything of the tale. I guess it was time? It's not a particular scene I'm quoting, but in my head (ignoring details of setting) it's when they first meet.

Be proud of me: there is no blue anywhere. (Payne's grey does not count.) Palette inspired by ~SineSquared.

Watercolors, Arches 140lb block, lots of teensy brushes. Watermark because I love this.