This illustration for the Notable Missourian book on Ella Ewing (Truman State University Press) shows the Missouri giantess Ella Ewing as an attraction at a state fair.
Final Art
Rough sketch....she was a little too big here. I was approaching "Lord of the Rings" giant size.
Rough sketch with details honed in.
Animated GIF showing the difference between the final art completed on the computer and the rough base hand painted on panel.
Alphonso is another Notable Missourian to be featured in the Truman State University Press series by the same name (Notable Missourians). This book was written by Mary Barile.
Alphonso was a veteran of the war of 1812, a leader of expeditions on the Santa Fe Trail and an all around adventurer. Even better, he was a good story teller too. I suppose one has to live up to a name like Alphonso. I can't even imagine anybody named Alphonso being a couch potato. Heck, when naming my kids, I kind of wish I would've thought about the name Alphonso. Alphonso Hare. Yeah, lucky for them that never crossed my mind.
This illustration shows young Alphonso studying hard in his families cabin. Alphonso was smart and curious even at a young age.
Original rough sketch showing evening life in the Wetmore cabin.
Alternate rough sketch showing the tension between the new settlers and the Native Americans.
Another sketch illustrating the tension.
And another.
Here is another illustration for Truman State University Press book on Notable Missourian Maria Meyer Fower (Written by Christine Montgomery). Here she is shown climbing out onto the wing of her JN-4 Jenny. A common thing for her, but this time was different. They were flying through downtown St Louis on a particularly gusty day while attempting to whip up crowds for a show. The intense wind made it harrowing enough that the pilot cut it short and returned to the open air in short order.
Final Art
Rough Sketch
Alternative Rough Sketch
This Notable Missourian book (written by Christine Montgomery and published by Truman State University Press) is about Marie Meyer Fower. Not only was she one of the rare women pilots in the early days of flight, she was also a barnstormer, wing walker, and all around daredevil with a true love of aviation. This first illustration shows Marie playing with the other kids in St Louis and noticing an early airplane flying in the distance.
Rough Sketch
Colors roughly blocked in by hand in acrylic
Finished art, completed in Photoshop
This is the first illustration for the Notable Missourian (Truman State University Press) book on Jean Bartik written by Kim Todd. Here a young jean is shown looking out of her family barn's hayloft and doing a bit of daydreaming about her potential future. If that was me in that loft I would be daydreaming about hitching a ride to town and getting a box of Claritin.
