Chore day, Feb 6, and the Final Version of Page One of My Third Book in the Jimmy Jay Series

Marooned!

After doing my chores (laundry and vacuuming), I cooked up a batch of white sauce with artichokes and kale, and enjoyed a satisfying pasta lunch. Afterwards I got to work on another version of page one. This time I kept it simple. I used a large round opacity brush and blocked out the waves, the sand, the hills, volcano, and sky. I changed to a wet oil brush for the sand dunes, clouds, and the figure.

I decided to show Jimmy as marooned rather than as washed up on the beach. I was thinking of Howard Pyle’s pirate picture called Marooned!. It’s a beauty indeed, especially if you like pirates.

And now, on to page 2.

A Pirate Cat Character for My Third Children's Picture Book

I’ve added a pirate cat to the story. He’ll be one of the residents of Easter Island. Yes, my Easter Island has pirates and talking birds and living moai. That’s the beauty of imaginary worlds — you can think of it, you’ve got it.

My pirate kitty was inspired by Howard Pyle’s illustration of a pirate on standing on the rolling deck of a his pirate ship.

Al Fresco Art Club Challenge, Dec. 20, 2020 - Paint From A Master (Howard Pyle)

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Painting from Marooned, Howard Pyle, 1909, painted with Clip Studio Paint

Today’s challenge was to copy from one of our favorite Golden Age illustrators. My favorite of that gang is Howard Pyle. I was introduced to his illustrations as a kid by my uncle Roy. He had heard that I was an eager reader. He gave me an illustrated classic work of literature every Christmas until I turned into a surly teenager. There was Tom Sawyer, Huckleberry Finn, Dr Jekyl and Mr. Hyde, and Treasure Island. I loved the illustrations in Treasure Island most of all.

Today I decided to copy Pyle’s Marooned because it’s one of Howard Pyle’s simpler paintings. I got the colors right, but the figure needs some work; he doesn’t convey the emotions of a man marooned on a desolate island. My guy looks like he’s taking a nap. It amazes me that I can look directly at a reference but miss the important details.