I think part of my lack of success so far is my apparent inability to follow things through in my little art world. I'm fully aware of this and unfortunately my parents- who bear the brunt of my 'wa waa I'll never be good enough' outbursts - are also aware. (Above: Mads Mikkelsen portrait)

I'm always presented with options from them eg. 'paint this, submit it here, speak to so and so, call these people'.... except I really lack the confidence in myself but also my work. So how am I going to gain that confidence? Get better duh!

So off I go planning projects for myself and something always comes up to make it fall through, either I lose interest or its too difficult/not going the way I want it.

BUT THIS TIME! I'd mentioned in my previous post about working towards a stronger illustration route. While I'm not ruling out concept art I want to try my hand at other options. With this in mind I decided it was time to create a portfolio and do stuff with it. I've never had a firm portfolio (besides the compilation of old schoolwork that I used to get into university) and that's mostly down to the lack of confidence in my work.

So, to the point of this post, I'm currently working on a game of thrones illustration! I'm hoping book readers will recognise this part and will also like my interpretation!

"Pycelle’s chambers were beneath the rookery, a spacious suite of rooms cluttered with racks of herbs and salves and potions and shelves jammed full of books and scrolls. Ser Kevan had always found them uncomfortably hot. Not tonight. Once past the chamber door, the chill was palpable. Black ash and dying embers were all that remained of the hearthfire. A few flickering candles cast pools of dim light here and there.

The rest was shrouded in shadow… except beneath the open window, where a spray of ice crystals glittered in the moonlight, swirling in the wind. On the window seat a raven loitered, pale, huge, its feathers ruffled. It was the largest raven that Kevan Lannister had ever seen. Larger than any hunting hawk at Casterly Rock, larger than the largest owl. Blowing snow danced around it, and the moon painted it silver.

Not silver. White. The bird is white.

The white ravens of the Citadel did not carry messages, as their dark cousins did. When they went forth from Oldtown, it was for one purpose only: to herald a change of seasons.

“Winter” said Ser Kevan. The word made a white mist in the air. He turned away from the window."

No spoilers there ;)


And here's what I have so far! (ignore the black banner on the top that'll be gone).

I did a few thumbnails for this looking at different angles and stuff but I kept them generally pretty straightforwards with my main focus being on the window and the white raven.

I'm really pleased with how it's going so far, I'm kinda fixing and working some things out as I go but overall- pretty chuffed. I think this is the first 'interior' piece I've ever painted and I'm learning a lot as I go, so I'm excited to see how it turns out!


Also not straying entirely from the classic Hazel pieces, I painted this Elizabeth I Mucha-esque painting after watching Elizabeth: The Golden age. Good fun!