Raven - cover design

Thanks very much! My first attempt at drawing a mirror, too. Fortunately, it didn't call for reflections.

LOL! Thanks, Breth.

It wasn't too tough, actually, I just had to do some research, since I'd never really drawn birds or mirrors before, and I wanted to see especially how the raven's anatomy works. Thank you very much for your lovely comment!

You're welcome. Anything to encourage a fellow artist.

This was the cover picture for the book. It's not out yet, and it won't be big, I don't think, as it's the guy's very first publishing, and I think he's quite young (but I couldn't say). It's called Flight of the Rayven: The Writings of Rayven Aileron.

Yup, I did an illustration for inside the front cover. It's in my gallery here - I posted it right after I posted this one.

lol. Thanks very much for the critique.

The red was originally supposed to be blood, though I don't know if it gets read that way...

Thanks, EBS, for the encouragement and comments.

Well, as it says in the description, it was a commission. My client asked me to make a raven coming out of a mirror, so I did a -lot- of research on ravens and mirrors, and this is what I came up with. Glad you like it, luv.

Awesome! I knew it was a comission, but I was'nt sure how specific they were about what they wanted you to do. It's beautiful... *sigh*

Thanks, luv. *hugs*

Ooh, you did find the time to drop by! Thanks, Tsuki. I could see if my client would mind me making prints of it...

Well, he's got the cover of his book posted all over his website - and this is it. I have to find a good mat for it before I can send it off to him, and that needs to be done soon (after all, he DID pay for it). I was sort of proud of it until recently... When someone rather belatedly pointed out some mistakes that I can't fix. With any other piece, it wouldn't have mattered, but with a published commission? It sort of depressed me.

Never let critism bring you down my friend, if I had listened to peoples critism about my art I would of stopped drawing when I was 12.

It wasn't mean criticism, just -very- late. I posted this WAY before the final stages asking people if they could see anything wrong with it, and they all gave me the OK, so I proceeded. Now I get a message showing me the mistakes. Kind, well-meant constructive criticism - but the tardiness made me want to rip my hair out and sob all the water out of my system.

Majority rules, its a very good piece!

*hugs* I can do better. lol. Thank you, my friend.

Your welcome. Now kick some ass with that pencil!

Actually, It's bed-time. But I think I'll bring my sketchbook.

Thanks! I'm sending this one off to the client on the morrow.

Yurs, money money money. Not very much, but enough that I can say I've done paid artwork. LOL! And the blood might be a little dry by now, but you're welcome to it.

Well done with that Robbo, I'm still looking for my first paid job. Good work getting your foot in the door!

That's the funny thing - I wasn't actively looking. This guy wrote to me after finding my elfwood gallery.

I've had a few of them but never for money... it's quite a good way of getting spotted... oh, by the way, I'm gonna stick a link up to your elfwood page from mine when my ticket clears if that's ok with you?

Yers... That's fine with me indeedy. Thanks, Andy! Now I feel all loved and stuff.

Which reminds me - he's wanting me to send him this file through my server...

I have the copy with all the lettering and such as well. When I made it into a book cover, I had to fade out the top and bottom of the mirror... *sigh* All that detail, gone.

Glad you like it! I like yours too.

That's a bummer :p I was also thinking of where the lettering had to come when I was making my version; that's one of the main reasons for the black border/sea in the bottom of my pic.

Can you send me your version-with-letters? Just curious what it looks like^^

I can, yes. But it will have to wait for a little bit. Tonight I am exceptionally busy, and won't have a moment to spare (I don't think) after I'm done replying to comments. lol! I made the background on this one easily extendable, though, so it wasn't a big problem when I had to extend it for lettering. I was actually intending a centered drawing with the writing as a sort of top-and-bottom border. That's not really how it turned out, but our minds are strange things - they're always changing.

Vous êtes tros gentille, lillymayhem. This piece took me a long time to get right - breaking glass is hard to draw! I'm glad it could touch base with you. It was made as the cover to a poetry book called Flight of the Rayven.

I love it when my pieces can reach people like they do you. It makes all my efforts worthwhile.

And this one did touch me, i gape for a full minute when i saw it. If you ever have the inspiration to draw a raven again, let me tell you you'll have a fan forever in me (im already am, but i might consider starting a cult or something ) Your art is truly incredible Minimaid, i cant express how much. Merci pour les petits mots en francais, ca fait plaisir!

Now you know I will -have- to draw a raven soon. I just have to do my commissions, first! *lol*

Well, my dear, I'm back to work. Have a lovely day, dahling.

YAY! I'll prepare myself so that i dont go in catatonic shock when i see it!