moonvoice (ravenari)

The back six for Inktober! Which now leaves 15 pieces for colouring, I might start doing that tonight.

All of these are for the Unusuals base deck, for the Expansive Animal Oracle, and from memory I think this means that all the inking for the cards is completed, which is wild to me.

That jellyfish was really complicated, but actually ended up being a lot of fun. I really love jellyfish, but don't illustrate them more often because, well, they're complicated. I'm also really happy with how the giant African land snail came out, because I feel like you really get a sense of their largeness.


Anglerfish // Himantolophus sp.





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Egg Yolk Jellyfish // Phacellophora camtschatica





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Whale Shark // Rhincodon typus





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Giant African Land Snail // Achatina fulica





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Bee Hummingbird // Mellisuga helenae





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Giant Pangolin // Smutsia gigantea





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Still filling the gaps! I have more to go with the Iconics deck than I thought (whoops) though not much more!

I ended up choosing the Domestic Silk Moth over the Luna Moth, because I thought out of the two, silk has literally contributed to the rise of so many trade routes (and murder and espionage and a whole bunch of other stuff). Reading about how domestic silk moths are actually treated (and valued), even though I was aware of some of the aspects of their life cycle, made me think this will be a pretty profound animal teacher to have in the Iconics deck. I made an immediate and lasting trance connection with domestic silk moth which has lingered since the concept sketch and has pushed me forwards. Her lessons swim around my head, in some strange unearthly shadowy place of mourning and celebration, grief and loss and joy.

I was very on the fence about Great White Shark. Is that truly an icon? Is it found in flags or crests around the world? But researching deeper into Oceania and Pacific Island mythologies revealed that yes, actually, it IS an icon in many cultures. I knew it was significant in mythologies, but that hasn't quite been enough for the Icons deck, where I've had quite strict rules around its global significance. I've wanted to represent a wide range of countries as well. In only 40 cards. That's quite a limit.

The Flame Bowerbird is for the Unusuals deck. That colouring, goodness, can't wait!


Domestic Silk Moth // Bombyx mori





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Great White Shark // Carcharodon carcharias





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Flame Bowerbird // Sericulus ardens





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Still filling the gaps. The Mute Swan and Mountain Gorilla are for the 'Iconic' totems deck, and the Sea Swallow is for the 'Unusuals.' Honestly I've gotten an unusual amount of requests to do a totem for the Glaucus atlanticus over the years, maybe 6 or 7? That stands out for a nudibranch!

These still need to be coloured, and all will be available for sale - post isolation when the Etsy store opens again. Meanings have been written, but will be added with the coloured versions.


Mountain Gorilla // Gorilla beringei beringei





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Mute Swan // Cygnus olo





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Sea Swallow // Glaucus atlanticus





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Starting to consolidate my worldbuilding for the next Perth Shifters book, which needs a different title, and ugh I hate...I hate coming up with titles so much. At least with fanfiction it's generally easier. I can do whatever I like in a very cavalier fashion.

This Magpie has been a lovely, bright energy! It's hard to explain, but wonderful to work with.


Yellow-Billed Magpie as Totem
Ink on illustration board, unfinished.



( Large version under the cut! )

This is part of a small series I'd like to do inspired by the recent trip to the UK. The birds pinged a lot harder than anything else did (except for the Gorse). Especially when we were in Orkney. And while we saw a great deal of amazing wildlife, I'm feeling pinged towards the birds, especially the seabirds, whose calls kept me company while I was frequently too sick to walk. Whether it was the gulls in Chichester, the curlews in Orkney, the guillemots at John O'Groats...

Anyway, these will be coloured, and are currently works in progress.


Northern Gannet as Totem // Morus bassanus



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Razorbill as Totem // Alca torda



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Great Skua (Bonxie) as Totem // Stercorarius skua



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I don't actually think I've ever illustrated Cranes like this before,
which is a CRIME
because I actually love these dinobirb sabre-beaked beauties.
Did you know the Siberian Crane sometimes kills their mates?
Savage. :D


Demoiselle Crane // Grus virgo



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Sandhill Crane // Antigone canadensis



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Siberian Crane // Leucogeranus leucogeranus



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I've been working on this partly through Inktober,
and then ever since too.
It's been fun actually.
I've spent a lot of time in livestreams with people.
And the company has been great. :D

( The process. )

Ink before Colouring Larger version here.





There are 14 animals in the image, including:

x 2 ravens
x 1 owl
x 2 pheasants
x 1 possum thingo with spines
x 1 fox
x 2 bears (mother and baby)
x 1 lizard
x 1 beetle with a castle on its back
x 2 wrens
x 1 dragon

Getting from here to there.

(I'm posting these up as I fend off some health stuff).

So for this year's Inktober, I decided on one big project,
and decided to revisit the Bronze Forest concept,
from some years ago.

So here we go. Something that's going to take me ages, lol. The Copper Forest.


1.




( Developments )

I started this on Monday, with a Kilometrico ballpoint pen.
I was waiting to see the Radiation Oncologist.
I kept working on it on Tuesday,
in a waiting room,
while waiting to see the ENT Surgeon.
And then I finished it on Wednesday,
in another hospital waiting room,
while waiting to see the base of skull Neurosurgeon.

All ballpoint pen.

Working with Kilometrico black.
(A super stubborn one actually omg. So unpredictable.)
Inside an unlined Paperblanks Ultra.
And mostly, in honour of the scientific expedition
to the Cape York Peninsula
due to credible sightings.

It turns out I love that term.
'Credible sightings.'