Concept Art: Approaching Rapa Nui

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The silhouette of Rapa Nui from a distance. Drawn and painted with Clip Studio Paint EX. My reference was a photo from John Santic’s account of his 2004 voyage to Easter Island. It’s a fascinating read.

Today I fiddled with my blog, experimented with some digital brushes, and made a few concept drawings. The picture above is one of them — Rapa Nui as it would look as you approach it by sea.

The plot for my third book is evolving. I think there’s going to be a whale involved, and maybe a dolphin. The plot is a big stew bubbling in my brain. While the plot is cooking, I’m working on improving my painting of water, waves, and clouds.

Part of my frustration for the past few weeks is that I’m having a hard time finding my way with Rebelle 4. My intention was to develop a realistic oil painting style that would work for my books. I was thinking of realism in the style of John Singer Sargent — a kind of impressionistic realism. Rebelle 4 has the best digital representation of watercolor and oil painting, but for reasons unknown, I’m not adjusting to it. Perhaps it’s because I have no experience with oil painting. Perhap’s it’s because I’ve grown so comfortable with Clip Studio Paint that my mind resists and admonishes me: If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it! Double down on CSP!

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