What I’ve been drawing . . .

Posted on by Rachael Ritchey

I’ve got this idea, and I’m not done with it yet, but I wanted to see if what I imagined in my head is going to work. And I think once I’ve finished the project it will be just what I wanted, but it might take some time. And then, I got this idea for making a calendar out of these guys, but also with snippets of text from The Beauty Thief, Captive Hope, and The Treasonous!

12-guardsmen2

These are 12 individual sketches that a put together on the computer. Now I just need to get crackin’ on finishing these drawings (they will all be wearing various outfits and armor, some holding weapons, some not. It should be interesting when it’s done!

31 thoughts on “What I’ve been drawing . . .”

  3. I always love to see the first draft of something and then see the finished article. I know it sounds silly but I always feel that I am seeing right into the artist’s creative process- the tiny little decisions they make reworking and redrafting their ideas. It is a real pleasure seeing your finished figures. They have so much individual character that it’s like looking at real people.

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    1. Awww thanks, Paul! I can understand exactly what you mean, and I think that’s one of my favorite parts of the creative process. I’m thinking these will need some more refining still, but if I have no more time for them, I’m happy with how far they’ve come. These drawings help give physicality to the characters in my head. 🙂

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      1. I totally understand that. It’s true what they say: a picture paints a thousand words. Having an image in your head of your character puts them squarely into the story against all the other characters.. even minor things like are they tall or short. Often you can spend hours painting the mental picture then not really use half of it in the book. But I think what it does for you as an author is give your character weight – i.e you know them as a physical presence and know how they move and their physical impact within the landscape. I think when an author knows the character that well the reader can always tell. I often find that When writing a first draft I go overboard with description that gets thinned down to essential features in later drafts. The reason is have no clear vision of the character in my head- so writing to excess brings them to life for me- it’s called over-egging the pudding. Then once I know them as people can reduce the description to the same level as you would describe a friend.

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        1. Great insights, Paul! I agree. It often happens that way. There were a couple places in The Beauty Thief where I went way overboard and had to seriously pare them down to the important. Another great tip is taking all that description and intermingling it in small ways throughout character action. That way the over-egging of the pudding isn’t nearly as noticeable. 😀

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          1. And that is a great idea Rachael… It can really put me off learning everything about a character in the first few minutes. Because I don’t know the character at that stage I don’t care about them… where as 50 pages in I can’t wait to find out more about what makes them tick

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      1. I miss this lovely blogging world! Which I am determined to get back into! 🙂 I am getting there. Life has thrown me for a loop, but the ground is settling beneath me now and I am looking forward to getting back to blogging and being online! How are you doing?

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        1. So good to hear! I’m doing okay. Just trying to keep up with life and enjoy every day for what it is. You know? Sometimes stuff just gets overwhelming. Got to take it one day at a time! I’m trying to just post what I feel like when I can and guest posts! I launched The Treasonous on Tuesday, but I’ve been so distracted I’ve barely made mention of it. haha

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          1. I think your attitude to it all is brilliant. One day at a time, and enjoy it as much as you can. Good words to live by. 🙂 It’s amazing what distractions will do! 🙂 I hope the book does well. I will add it to my list to read. Are you working on the next one?

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