Project Fables

A few weeks ago I made a little black and white illustration inspired by the book Till We Have Faces. At the time I was just doing this project as a sort of warm up. But it inspired me to do more other illustrations based on stories I like. I had originally planned on just doing books for this, then i decided to add fairytales.  But then that didn't seem like enough so I added poems, myths and folklore. Eventually I ended up with the beginnings of what I am calling "Project Fables". Is a working title. The by the end I expect the project to have over 100 full color painted illustrations from different stories, myths and poems. Below are rough outline sketches for the first 4 fables I intend to include.

I know all of the following images are rough at this point, as a mentioned before I intend to use these sketches as an outline to paint over later.

Annabel Lee

Something to get everyone in the Valentine's Day spirit. Based on the Poe's poem of a kingdom by the sea, and two children who loved with a love that was more then love. Is difficult to tell in this rough image, but the background is meant to be a rough sea bashing against to coast. Annabel's ghost is seen in the moonlight looking to her former love, who makes his bed within her sepulcher. Normally I would have the angel on the tomb in a more mournful posture, but in the poem the speaker blames the angels for killing his love, so I set the statue in a more triumphant stance.

 Pandora Box

The original "Dark Chest of Wonders". Based on the Greeks take on paradise lost and the problem of evil. I had a lot of fun planning this one. Every one of the evils jumping forth from the box is a creature from myths and folklore from all over the world. Everything from Celtic folklore of Banshees and the Nuckelavee to a Native American Wendigo to Hamlin plague rats. And of course my personal favorite Krampus. Pandora's face is one of mixed fear, wonder and gilt. In her hands her grasps Hope, the only good to be contained among evils.

 The Count of Monte Cristo

For those with a thirst for vengeance burning in their heart. Based on one of my favorite books of all time, we see Edmond Dantes here at his absolute low, locked deep in the dungeons of the Chateau D'if. I am mostly pleased with the overall composition of this image and the used of lights and darks, although I might add a little more in the floor, straw a bucket some rats that sort of thing. Something to emphasize his suffering while also filling up the blank edges o the image.

 St. George and the Dragon

The Red Cross Knight himself. This image doesn't have the same level of shadows on it as the others but that mostly because I don't expect light and darkness to play the same role in this as the others. As it is a think the image tells the story pretty well as it is. I wanted to make it original from the translational Christian paintings as well, while still maintaining the meaning. As such I decided to set the scene right before to actual battle begins, rather then at the end with the dragon already vanquished as most other images depict. As such, George is approaching sword and shield at the ready, and the maiden Alexandra chained to a tree (in a Christ like pose) ready to be sacrificed to the beast.