Art of Death - The Cover Reveal

Okay, I deeply apologize for "cockteasing" you guys all week, as it's been said! ^_^  So here it is!  The cover art for Art of Death!  Click here to see it all giant and big!

I occasionally still giggle when I look at this.  I'm like, "Yo, Riley.  Why're you standing around half naked with a bunch of fruit?"  But at the same time, it all makes such perfect sense to me!  Nude model at an art school?  Then yes, this is life.

The first edits are now back with the publisher, and I'm excited at the prospect of soon having a pretty manuscript to go with the (imho) pretty cover!

As mentioned, I plan to do a 12"x18" glossy print giveaway in the next couple months.  Keep an eye on my blog or Facebook page for details in the near future!

Countdown to the Art of Death Cover Reveal! #1

We're down to the last preview before I reveal the Art of Death cover art tomorrow!  As some of you may know, I like to post "ridiculously cropped WIPs" of my cover art in progress.  I think this crop would fall into that category.  I call it, "Would you like an apple to go with that six pack?"

Countdown to the Art of Death Cover Reveal! #2

Holy crap, with the way my workload has been for the past few weeks, I can't believe I'm still alive! :cue melodramatic music:  But I am, so here's another preview of the Art of Death cover!

Yesterday we saw the finished image of Riley's lovely face for the first time.  Today, I'll share a little "behind the scenes" look at painting his face.  I paint in three basic steps - sketch, underpainting, and final painting.  The sketch is pretty self explanatory (although I have to admit it's a little sloppier than usual, since I didn't have to send in a clean and pretty draft for approval this time).  Underpainting is the translucent color, lighting, and shadow I lay in so I can still see the sketch, and the final painting is all the detail work.

There are a lot of painters in Art of Death, and a few scenes that describe the process of oil painting.  I haven't done an oil painting in years, but this story makes me want to grab some oils and play around again - if only I had the time and money!