I received an update from my illustrator on how the illustrating process will work. I gave him a collection of images that act like pieces to a puzzle along with a detailed list of instructions of which piece goes where. This will give him an idea of what I want my fictional dinosaurs to look like. He is going to start by creating a collection of rough sketches and he will present them to me. I get to choose which of these rough sketches will serve as the template for the final design of the real illustration. This is similar to how filmmakers create a collection of concept art before settling on a finalized design. Above are examples of early unused concept art of Jar Jar Binks, Kylo Ren, and Chewbacca for Star Wars. That is essentially the kind of process I am working with in regards to my illustrator. I will let you know when I get to choose the finalized design of the first illustration. Wish me luck!
At the museum, I saw a number of necklaces made from teeth from humans, sperm whales, dogs, and wild boars. It reminded me of the necklace Numen the Slayer wore after he slew the monstrous bear known as the Graega. The necklace Numen wore was made from the Graega’s claws and held together by bronze links instead of fiberous string.
My author colleagues, the Winner Twins, once said that when you are writing, you must always copyright your work no matter what. A month and a half ago, I followed their advice and had these images copyrighted to prevent anyone from stealing them. If you are an author and want to protect your work, I highly recommend taking this route.
I went to see The Greatest Showman tonight and it made me think of The Man Who Invented Christmas. Comparing these two films gave me an epiphany. The price of creating a legacy that will last until the end of time is high beyond measure. I am not just talking about financial price. I am also talking about the social and spiritual prices. Many pay the price and end up destroying themselves, never getting another chance. Some pay the price and destroy themselves and those around them, but their legacy and names will live on. Both P.T. Barnum and Charles Dickens created legacies that changed the world into what it is today, but almost destroyed their relationships with their families and loved ones as well as facing financial ruin. There are a rare few who do not pay the high price all at once, but gradually over time. I would say that I am one of those rare few who creates a perfect balance of paying the price yet maintaining my relationships at the same time. The road to an ultimate legacy is longer, but it reduces the risk of me destroying myself and it has worked out well for me so far.
Here is a sketch I made of one of the swords that will appear in my fantasy book. I am on a roll with this drawing. I haven’t drawn this much since I was a child drawing stories on the yellow tablets my parents gave me. Brings back refreshing memories.
In order to better visualize some of the characters and concepts of my fantasy series, I have started to make sketches. Here is a possible idea for a crown in my fantasy series. I have not decided which character should wear it, but I think it is a good model to start from. What do you think?
I went to Knott’s Berry Farm yesterday and I got to see a blacksmith at work. I could smell the smoke, feel the heat of the forge, and hear the clanging of metal on metal. This gave me a little preview of what to expect when I start my blacksmithing class. I cannot wait and I will keep you posted on any updates.
I found this concept art of Kylo Ren and Supreme Leader Snoke’s appearance in The Last Jedi. Based on this picture, it is clear that Supreme Leader Snoke likes to dress in more rich and regal garb compared to Emperor Palpatine such as red and gold robes and a ring that may have a black kyber crystal. Kylo Ren’s new look makes him look more like his grandfather, Darth Vader. He is wearing a full cape instead of his short tattered cloak. I look forward to seeing these two lords of darkness in all their sinister glory when The Last Jedi comes out.
Another common medieval weapon was the mace, which was a powerful bludgeoning weapon that was strong enough to crush armor with a single swing. I prefer the flanged design like the one in this picture instead of the spiked design because the flanged design could cause more damage to armor than the spiked design. I am thinking of making it the weapon of choice of one of the major characters in my fantasy, who is the heir of a long lineage of formidable knights.
Grady P Brown - Author 