William O'Connor Studios: September 2010

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Practical Guides

I realized recently that I have worked on three of the "Practical Guide" books from Mirrorstone and have yet to share any of the images. Practical Guide to Fairies, Practical Guide to Vampires, and most recently Practical Guide to Dragon Magic. I'm including one image from each book. I'm interested in showing these because one of the common printing effects of the three books was that they were all printed on a natural colored, course paper stock, and the color and contrast of these images was drastically effected in the process, and one even got flipped horizontally. (C'est la Vie). This will be the first time the public has seen them as I painted them. I hope you enjoy!

"Dragon Gazing"
8"x10" digital
Practical Guide to Dragon Magic
©2010Wizards of the Coast

"Olly Olly Oxen Free"
9"x12" digital
Practical Guide to Vampires
©2009 Wizards of the Coast

"Fairy Waltz"
10"x7" digital
Practical Guide to Fairies
©2009 Wizards of the Coast

I really have fun working on books with a younger audience in mind, there is a playfulness that is encouraged, and the work is not so earnest! I've always wished to illustrate a children's book and this has been a wonderful opportunity to explore my children's/YA style. I actually have two children's picture books in development in my free time (which means I haven't worked on them in months), but I hope to be able to put more images together here and on my website.

Thanks.

WOC

Monday, September 13, 2010

Oil Painting Set

These are two paintings I did last year as a set, but never showed them before.

Enjoy-

WOC

"Star Oath"
oil on paper 11"x14"

"Star Slayer"
12"x17" oil on paper

Saturday, September 11, 2010

Dracopedia Blog

Don't forget to check-out and follow along on
Dracopedia Project.
I will keep current dragon sketches and news on Dracopedia up to date.

Thanks.

WOC

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Bard of Laketown

I don't get to oil paint as much as I would like, so when I do I try compositions and designs that wouldn't normally make it past the editorial process. The heavy impasto is why I oil paint in the first place! This is actually what I would call an oil sketch, perhaps a study for a larger composition, and a companion image to my 2005 painting "Fire and Water".

Enjoy.

WOC

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