'Bits of Ivory'

[Himmapaan]

Don't be alarmed, there aren't any actual pieces of ivory. It comes from an Austen quote: '...the little bit (two inches wide) of ivory on which I work with so fine a brush, as produces little effect after much labour'.

Following on from my post in the member's section about our careers ( dinotoyforum.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=members&thread=914&page=6 ), Griffin kindly asked to see some of my work, so here are a few pieces. As I mentioned, the emphasis of my work is largely narrative illustration, so I don't know how much interest there may be for it here.

This is one of my most recent pieces and probably gives a good flavour of the kind of themes I often illustrate. It's a spread from my sketchbook and is personal work rather than for any project:
pics.livejournal.com/himmapaan/pic/0008srt1

From the latest to one of the earliest since I began working professionally. The rooster below comes from my retelling of the Grimm brothers' The Musicians of Bremen (Walker Books, 2004). It was my very first book.




This horse (and the butterfly below) might give an idea of the more straightforward 'realistic' representational drawing which I rarely find time to do these days. This one was from 2007 and was probably the last of this kind of work in recent years.




Graphium androcles From a set of illustrations I did for the novel, Operation Typhoon Shore, by Joshua Mowll, 2004/5




As with most things, the animals I often draw now, although 'realistic' in a broad sense, often have some degree of stylisation. This White-Collared Kingfisher (Halcyon chloris) is an example of this, although it's from the same set as the butterfly above.



Peafowl (2009):
pics.livejournal.com/himmapaan/pic/0000bec4

The following four are for Myths and Legends of Russia (Folio Society, 2009):

pics.livejournal.com/himmapaan/pic/00015fx9
pics.livejournal.com/himmapaan/pic/0001d1cb
pics.livejournal.com/himmapaan/pic/00018yct
pics.livejournal.com/himmapaan/pic/0008wx81

Two from The Red Fairy Book (Folio, 2008)
fc06.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2010/190/c/e/The_Little_Good_Mouse_by_Himmapaan.jpg
fc03.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2010/181/8/d/8dacef78e35ec02b1271f80ce0994084.jpg

Pop-up reindeer made for The Night Before Christmas (Walker Books, 2007). This was all hand cut with a scalpel
pics.livejournal.com/himmapaan/pic/0003bdq4

Sculpting is also something I enjoy but have next to no time for. This is a medallion/cameo of an Arabian horse head (sorry, another horse):
fc04.deviantart.net/fs28/f/2008/105/9/5/95b94a9fb87f0ab36781bb61c9659bff.jpg
A copy of it painted: pics.livejournal.com/himmapaan/pic/0008xfrt

I'm just posting some pieces which feature animals, as I think those might be more interesting to members.

But what about dinosaurs? Sadly, I haven't drawn a dinosaur in years. In fact, to my consternation, I can't recall when the last time was that I drew one. I just haven't had time nor opportunity. But I very much hope to redress that as soon as possible. In the meantime, here is a little dragon with some rather saurian characteristics. This is small, 3.5 x 2.5 inches:
pics.livejournal.com/himmapaan/pic/0008z3f4

Finally for now (I think that's probably been too much at once, sorry), here is a 'self portrait' (click the image to enlarge). There are a few notes which might help to explain a few things... himmapaan.deviantart.com/art/Self-Portrait-111615256

If anyone is at all interested, you can browse much more work at your leisure here:
himmapaan.deviantart.com/

Thank you for reading and viewing!

[sepp]

Just... wow. Your illustration for the fox and the crane (bone stuck in the fox's throat, right?) is especially striking to me, I loved that story as a kid, too.

You are an amazing artist, I'm very jealous of your colour work. Like whoa. I'm seppenator on deviantart, I just added you to my watch

Really though, amazing. Hopefully someday I can save up $90 to pick up that Myths and Legends of Russia book. It's a requirement for my personal library, now ;D

[Himmapaan]

Thank you so much, Sepp.

That fox and crane tale is the same one as the Aesop fable in which the fox invites the crane (in some variants, a stork) to a meal but serves it up in a shallow dish so that the crane is unable to eat anything. The crane 'returns the favour' by inviting the fox to a supper served in tall narrow-mouthed jars...

I think the one with the bone stuck in its throat was a wolf.

[sbell]

Jul 20, 2010 3:36:35 GMT Himmapaan said:

Don't be alarmed, there aren't any actual pieces of ivory. It comes from an Austen quote: '...the little bit (two inches wide) of ivory on which I work with so fine a brush, as produces little effect after much labour'.

Nothing wrong with using ivory:



That's a customized Starlux Anancus (neé Mastodon) with mammoth ivory tusks. I purchased it when it was toothless, and a friend made it more elephant!

[Horridus]

But you have drawn dinosaurs! Look, there's a lovely one right at the top there. (Someday I'll be able to resist saying things like this. Not yet though.)

REALLY nice work.

[Himmapaan]

Jul 20, 2010 14:53:25 GMT sbell said:

Jul 20, 2010 3:36:35 GMT Himmapaan said:

Don't be alarmed, there aren't any actual pieces of ivory. It comes from an Austen quote: '...the little bit (two inches wide) of ivory on which I work with so fine a brush, as produces little effect after much labour'.

Nothing wrong with using ivory:



That's a customized Starlux Anancus (neé Mastodon) with mammoth ivory tusks. I purchased it when it was toothless, and a friend made it more elephant!

No, not for found ivory at any rate. Hunted and poached, well, that's another matter... Your Starlux is beautiful, by the way.

Jul 20, 2010 15:02:03 GMT Horridus said:

But you have drawn dinosaurs! Look, there's a lovely one right at the top there. (Someday I'll be able to resist saying things like this. Not yet though.)

REALLY nice work.

Several, if it comes to that. In fact, plenty, just from these examples alone. I was thinking of them in the strict sense, but you knew that.

And thank you!

[hkhollinstone]

Your artwork is exceptional; I love the Myths and Legends of Russia illustrations. The horses are beautiful and the peacock and hen are stunning!

[hkhollinstone]

I was just exploring your site and your illustrations of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice etc are beautiful!
I also love your dragons and sea serpents. I could quite happily spend ages looking over all your work!

[sepp]

Jul 20, 2010 14:46:17 GMT Himmapaan said:

Thank you so much, Sepp.

That fox and crane tale is the same one as the Aesop fable in which the fox invites the crane (in some variants, a stork) to a meal but serves it up in a shallow dish so that the crane is unable to eat anything. The crane 'returns the favour' by inviting the fox to a supper served in tall narrow-mouthed jars...

I think the one with the bone stuck in its throat was a wolf.

I think you're right
I read the story with the inappropriately shaped food vessels as well, though. I had a collection of illustrated fable/tale books that I read all the time... I'm not surprised they all got blurred together a bit lol.
And you're welcome!

[Himmapaan]

Hkhollinstone, thank you so much. I've just had a browse of your blog myself and you have some very lovely work, too. I particularly like your 'Zoo Animals' piece; probably because it feels so illustrative!

And fancy that: you collect horses too!

[Himmapaan]

Jul 20, 2010 16:14:59 GMT sepp said:

I read the story with the inappropriately shaped food vessels as well, though. I had a collection of illustrated fable/tale books that I read all the time... I'm not surprised they all got blurred together a bit lol.

Hehe, yes, I can imagine!

[sbell]

Jul 20, 2010 15:52:35 GMT hkhollinstone said:

I was just exploring your site and your illustrations of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice etc are beautiful!
I also love your dragons and sea serpents. I could quite happily spend ages looking over all your work!

And now I am thinking--in a world of Pride and Predjudice and Zombies, it is time to combine your artwork into Jane Austen+Dinosaurs! ;D

[Himmapaan]

Jul 20, 2010 17:43:43 GMT sbell said:

Jul 20, 2010 15:52:35 GMT hkhollinstone said:

I was just exploring your site and your illustrations of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice etc are beautiful!
I also love your dragons and sea serpents. I could quite happily spend ages looking over all your work!

And now I am thinking--in a world of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, it is time to combine your artwork into Jane Austen+Dinosaurs! ;D

Hehheh, sounds perfect! ;D

[hkhollinstone]

Jul 20, 2010 16:21:03 GMT Himmapaan said:

Hkhollinstone, thank you so much. I've just had a browse of your blog myself and you have some very lovely work, too. I particularly like your 'Zoo Animals' piece; probably because it feels so illustrative!

And fancy that: you collect horses too!

Thank you I love your style of drawing and painting, it's just the kind I love. Were you inspired by the artist Arthur Rackham?

[Himmapaan]

I'm inspired by many artists and artforms, though Rackham is one of my main influences, yes. I wrote a little more about that in the thread I linked to in my first post.

[Griffin]

Jul 20, 2010 15:02:03 GMT Horridus said:

But you have drawn dinosaurs! Look, there's a lovely one right at the top there. (Someday I'll be able to resist saying things like this. Not yet though.)

REALLY nice work.

Haha I was gonna say that too actually. Rooster, crane....they all count technically.

Anyway fantastic work. I really love that first drawing up there with the sea turtle. There is so much going on!

[Himmapaan]

Thank you so much.

Hehe, yes, they do count, though I suspect until I draw, say, an obvious theropod of some sort, not many people really want to know. ;D *Tongue planted firmly in cheek*

[Meso-Cenozoic]

WOW!

What can I say that hasn't already been said here or on your Deviantart site??? Your work is simply stunning! As an artist myself (not in your category of course!), I am so pleased to find you here to witness such brilliance! Thank you, thank you, thank you for sharing!!

I hope you have continued success with your art and endless amounts of new creative ideas!

Thanks again!!

[Himmapaan]

Jul 21, 2010 0:51:17 GMT Meso-Cenozoic said:

WOW!

What can I say that hasn't already been said here or on your Deviantart site??? Your work is simply stunning! As an artist myself (not in your category of course!), I am so pleased to find you here to witness such brilliance! Thank you, thank you, thank you for sharing!!

I hope you have continued success with your art and endless amounts of new creative ideas!

Thanks again!!

Oh, gosh...

That really is so very kind of you. Thank you so much!

I'm looking forward to seeing much more of your work too. I remember seeing one or two pieces as I've been browsing, including the gorgeous T.rex in your signature!

[postsaurischian]

OMG, Himmapaan - I only just discovered that you're a true artist Love your BIRDS! Would love to hang a print of your 'Solitaire Crane' on my wall, even though it's a self portrait ;D.
Your Graphics are in one league with the 70s Berni Wrightson or Barry Windsor-Smith, two of my biggest comic book & illustration heroes. It's very enjoyable how you mix classic asian stylistics with modern influences - my deepest respect!!!