I’m testing pastels and papers with some of the subject matter I will be rendering. Uart sand paper-like surface, which I brushed water over the first layers of both. The top hut is Mungyo Semi-Hards and the bottom is Conte Crayons. The Semi-hards clearly have better intensity, but the Semi-hards are a bit wider, 1/4 vs. 3/8, both are square, The problem is, less hardness has better purity of hue, but requires the stick to be thicker.

More rough drawings for the picture book, to determine their content. Once they are approved I will do detailed drawings.

My Father passed away the Feb 7th, through hospice and a period of mourning, I had to put my work aside for a time. Now I am returning to my normal routine and trying to catch up.

In the picture book I’m illustrating about “The Lost Boys of Sudan” this is a page about his family and several people from his village walking to Ethiopia, an arid land with acacia trees. I might need to make the people smaller in proportion to the trees, they are much taller than one might think.

David as a boy soldier, this is one option for this pose, I don’t know what emotion should be on his face. A longing for home is what I’m guessing at this point. The next is part of the story I’ll leave as a mystery right now.

This is a concept sketch for an illustration for a conference. The theme is “Overcoming Inertia.” I drew it from imagination and did a value study to figure out the shading. Net I will do a color version in pastel on pastel card.