Tales of a Scorched Earth

“And while the character has a wider spectrum to his personality, I got the feeling he's most dangerous when he has to act spontaneously. When he has to improvise. He can plan, and he'd rather do that, but he's most valuable and most potent when the shit hits the fan and he has to act spontaneously.” –The Dark Side of the Soul

Well, it only took me six months to make a new post. This has a lot to do with laziness and school, but for now, I’m just happy to be writing again.

Some time ago, I asked one of the most Talented People I know – the artist behind The Dark Side of the Soul, to render a drawing of Wolfe Nightshade for me (see previous entry). I gave him little to work with, just a vague description of Wolfe – Heck I don’t even know if I let him read the chapter that I posted in January – just to see what he’d come up with.

Well, when said creative genius finally had some time to work on it (hey, it took ME six months just to make a new blog post!) the result was… well all I can really call it is amazing.

I’ve never seen an illustration nail the look and feel of the character so dead on before. I believe this is because, rather than just sitting down and drawing a sketch, my friend who we will call “Shirley”, really came to know and understand the character from the inside.

To put it in Shirley’s words:

“While charcoal can create a smoother look (kind of, sort of, not really seen in the gray regions), I really wanted to exploit the look and spontaneity -- the sheer speed -- of charcoal. You can lay down nice thick black streaks with relative ease. And while the character has a wider spectrum to his personality, I got the feeling he's most dangerous when he has to act spontaneously. When he has to improvise. He can plan, and he'd rather do that, but he's most valuable and most potent when the shit hits the fan and he has to act spontaneously. (or, in other words, a "refined" render of this character would be more appropriate sans weapons, in a pose where he sits at the back of the room in shadows ... thinking.)

On that note, I went with the kukri for a weapon since it too reflects the full spectrum of his personality. It's a slick looking forward-swept weapon, very suave, dare I say "dignified" design; however, in use, it swings like an axe and feels like a butcher's implement.”

To read more about what went into the illustrations be sure to check our Shirley’s blog post at The Dark Side of the Soul.

All that I really know about the process is that it’s awesome. :)

So Without further ado, I present to you Wolfe Nightshade:

This is a really cool illustration, like I said, Shirley nailed it. Wolfe is a relatively new character, and arrived late in the book (part 2). However, he has quickly become one of my favorites and plays a pivotal role, and not just in the story. He is the embodiment of one of the central themes – that absolute power corrupts absolutely. Our favorite antagonist is the only “black mage” alive, and uses his dark magic for evil. Wolfe however, also uses the same power. His role, however, is to illustrate that it’s not the power itself that is evil, it is what we has humans do with that power.

Kind of like how guns don’t kill people, etc.

Anyway, it’s nothing new, typical fantasy stuff, but an important discussion none the less, and something I feel needs to belong, especially in this piece.

Again – to Shirley, thank you sir. I could not have asked for a better man or friend to be part of this, or to allow me to call “Shirley.”

For your enjoyment, here’s the render with the “tools of the trade”.

Enjoy!

Farewell, Goodnight, Last one out turn out the lights