Stories from a clever mercenary in a wild world.
Looking for Zare? Click here for Episode 44!
I kind of love this tee shirt, if I do say so myself. It’s super soft (it’s the new tri-blend shirt at Redbubble) and a little roomy for a relaxed fit.I like it’s looks with the sleeves cuffed, but I have not the gift of making them stay cuffed.
You can get your own here, if you like: https://www.redbubble.com/people/ravenslanding/collections/469418-elemental-horses
We were pretty close to having a Zare episode today. I wrote for hours yesterday–and still didn’t get one finished. But I got a lot of things worked out. So. That’s good. Bodes well for next week!
In the mean time, I have this:
Yup, I made myself a tee shirt! I kind of love it.
You can have one, too, if you want. I have it for sale at Redbubble.
Also, there is more than t-shirts; pillowcases, mugs, bags, notebooks…
Also, Redbubble is having a 20% off sale today (Monday, 6/20) use code CARPE20
Sharpie, plus marker, plus watercolors.
Available for purchase at http://www.redbubble.com/people/ravenslanding
I have always loved the Irish–there is a solid smattering of the British Isles in my blood, but I married a man whose Irish lineage is much more prominent. St. Patrick’s Day is a big deal for us, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
There is, of course, more to the Irish than shamrocks and Guinness.
There are potatoes, too.
J/K, there are potatoes, but there is so much more than that.
St. Patrick’s story is an amazing one, you should look it up. The short version is that he was kidnapped by Irish marauders as a kid, and enslaved by a warlord on Ireland for years. He eventually escaped and went back to England (Patrick’s English! What!), at which point God told him to go back to Ireland and spread the Gospel.
So, he did.
He had epic showdowns with the king’s druids, and legend holds he drove all the snakes from Ireland–legend takes that literally, but I suppose it might be figurative, too.
Patrick is only one of Ireland’s saints–they all have pretty amazing stories. This little book, Celtic Flames, is a good appetizer to get you into their stories.
In the mean time, I made it easy to find the lucky clover. Had fun sketching a bazillion clover for this one, it’s up on Redbubble if you’re interested!
When I set out to draw something in particular these days, I end up browsing Pinterest for reference pictures, and end up working off of one or two. I never used to work from pictures, but I’m finding it really helps me improve; learn how to draw new things, new angles. Also, searching for Mustangs is a lot of fun. There are some great pictures out there, and I’m starting to recognize the iconic stallions of the various herds around the west (just search for Picasso the Mustang–or Cloud, for an even more famous name–and if you want wild horses in water, search for the Salt River Wild Horses of Arizona.)
So, here is the progression of the water horse, from pencil to ink to t-shirt. This was draw taking inspiration from one of the Salt River Wild Horses, (you can find some of my inspiration on this Pinterest board)
Add water:
Add eyes:
Scan, clean up, and add to Redbubble.
Voila!
Remember this post? No, I didn’t make Zare shirts–not yet (too soon?).
BUT…I finally made a tee shirt for the Attolia books!
This is not the first tee shirt I’ve designed–college fencing club for the win!–but it’s the first one I’ve done by myself. Wow, digital clean up is a bear. 
But the end result is worth it.
After a little searching around, I decided to join the Redbubble community for this project. I have no interest in dealing with production or fulfillment myself, and Redbubble handles all of that. I’ve also bought from them several times and really love their products.
Redbubble always has a Black Friday deal, you should head over there and get your one-of-a-kind fan art.
By the way…it’s not just t-shirts. Home decor, bags, iphone and android skins…even stickers.
Right now, mine is the only art for Attolia. I don’t really see that changing…but I would like to do more Attolia art so you have options. And more art in general.
I have plans and nearly-finished projects just waiting to go up!
The Legend of Zare Caspian 