Steam Boat Race

This illustration for the Notable Missourian book on Joseph Kinney saw some changes since the most recent composition sketch.  Mainly, I changed the angle of the steam ships so it looked more like they were passing by instead of heading right for the poor spectators.  I also changed the POV of the ships to make it appear as though the crowd is on higher ground instead of near the shore line. Below is the final illustration along with some of the original composition sketches for this chapter.

This artwork is for the Notable Missourian book on Joseph Kinney, written by Maryellen McVicker and published by Truman State University Press.

Final illustration of steamboat race

Final composition sketch showing steamboat race 

An early idea sketch for this chapter showing the race from inside the wheelhouse.  I still like the potential of this one.

An early rough sketch.  Hell I'm not sure why I'm including this one.  It doesn't look like a race or anything really.  It more looks like some knucklehead just hanging out with his lady and waving a flag while ships pass by.

Young Joseph Kinney watching an early steamboat

Here a young Joseph Kinney is seen working for his uncle and admiring an early steamboat passing by.  And so began his life long passion for steam boats. 

This one went through a few changes in editing.  It was decided that it was more likely that Joe would have had a clerical job than a labor job when working for his uncle so I changed him from pushing a barrel to pushing a pencil.  While at it I tweaked quite a few other aspects of the illustration too.  Compare them and try to spot what's different.  

This artwork is for the Notable Missourian book on Joseph Kinney, written by Maryellen McVicker and published by Truman State University Press.

Final version - Joseph Kinney counting barrels and watching an early steamboat

First version - Joseph Kinney pushing a barrel watching said early steamboat

Joseph Kinney NoMo Composition Sketch

Here's a sample of a comp sketch from the Notable Missourian (Truman State University Press) story on Joseph Kinney, a steamboat builder/operator in Missouri during the mid 1800s.  During the civil war many of the railroad bridges over the Missouri RIver were destroyed.  Joseph Kinney's steamboats would be used to get the train passengers and freight across the river to a location where the railroad could pick them up again.  This is one of several composition ideas for this chapter and may not be used.

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