This is the first full illustration, done during summer 2004, I've done for my first novel (the one with Phil, Jak'edrac sel'Gury, etc). I may yet do this picture all over again, since my inking and coloring skills have improved. This was my second-ever pen and Prismacolor picture (the first being Cali-Pauly, Part One) and the first picture where I really took some risks. Technical gripings aside (and there are plenty of them!) there is a lot I like about this picture although there is definite room for improvement.
So what is this picture about? Early on in the first novel we are introduced to all the principal human characters (this is some time before Jak'edrac arrives on the scene). The main character, Phil, is forced into making a major 'crossroads' decision in his rather young (early 20's) life. Yet this isn't a typical dilemma, because Phil has very special powers which are used at tremendous risk. Phil has the ability to bring his imagination to life, yet does not have conscious control. Some very good things have happened (such as bringing the good-natured though fierce sentient gold dragon Jak'edrac to life), but many very bad things have happened, also, some of them rather creepy. In an extended 'flashback sequence' that takes up a good chunk of the early part of the novel, Phil considers the wisdom of using his powers again, based on previous experience.
So what is this particular illustration about?
---CAUTION: BIG WORD ALERT AHEAD!---
This is the disembodied conscience of five-year-old Phil, seperated from his resting body, compelled to visit a portal at the center of an interdimensional prison located inside an artificially engineered time-space continuum---without the benefit of singularities or a gravitational gulf located near a pinched-off Einstein-Rosen bridge.
---END OF BIG WORD ALERT. YOU MAY COME OUT OF THE AIR RAID SHELTER NOW---
The leering, crouching bipedal creature is the leader of an alien, hermaphroditic race, whose people are of generally placid, civil demeanor despite fearsome appearances an a lot of extremely dangerous natural weaponry and special defenses. However, this leader is a cartoonishly evil exception to the rule. When Phil inadverently brings them to our world, its doom is assured at the hands of its disgruntled peers, for the preservation of this extremely capable but woefully undersupplied alien race. Much interesting stuff transpires, along with everything else in the novel . . .
Yes, this species does have a name, but I'm getting ready to attempt trademarking it
Originally done for an Elftown contest called 'Waking Nightmares II', run by TheRogue, AKA <a href='http://elfwood.lysator.liu.se/art/t/h/therogue/therogue.html'>Marc Guerrero</a>. Go there and bow down before his art, and see what a real SF/F artist is all about! Me? I'm a total duffer by comparison
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