new work: rainbows and ramones

Death of Sasha
If you have been following this blog for awhile, you might remember Sasha as the swishy one in fancy clothes (the entry is "Looking for Sasha").  This is his death... Sasha's gift is his all-seeing vision.  He has rainbow colored eyes that can see anything he wishes no matter how far away, and also some clairvoyance.  He was blind for a while which broke his heart.  In death, he can see again.

(detail of Sasha)

Dee Dee
This is a picture from the childhood (or teenager-hood, which to me is still childhood) of the seven children.  Misha, whose gift is turning into fire, used to sneak out to clubs and go dancing. He tried to keep his identity secret by calling himself Dee Dee (I got that from Dee Dee Ramone because I think Misha would have liked the Ramones, if they existed in Fehran...) but his disguise is rather pointless because the habit of turning into fire sort of gives him away.

The blonde girl in the foreground is Noel, Misha's first love.

In the Schoolroom
Another one from the kids' childhood.  Misha, Leila, Ariel, and Salix question their teacher about the faraway city of Iirvska.

detail from In the Schoolroom.
I got Misha's outfit and hair off Ben Wishaw in the movie "I'm not There" because Melissa and I thought he was cool.  Hopefully I will not get sued or anything.

*note of self-praise from Brooke: check out the (relative) lucidity of these pix!  I am learning to photograph art!  yay.

More new work- Seven Brothers

Care for Life
Nadia is a shaman.  Here she holds Leila's spirit (in the form of a little bird) in her hand, watching over it until it is safe to release it back into Leila's body.

Her Father Walks Away
Nadia has a recurring dream about her father, the King of Iirvska.  Over and over, her father walks away from her into Fehran, pausing only to look at her coldly over his shoulder.

(detail) Sometimes I am adding a detail because the faces are hard to see.

Your Words are Killing Me
(the death of Oran)
This is watercolor and tracing paper.  Sorry for the blurriness! better pictures done by a professional coming soon!

(detail)  Some thoughts about this painting... each of the brothers has a magic talent, and Oran is the great listener- he can hear anything he wishes, even sounds miles away.  He is literally killed by words.  His brother Salix speaks the spell that kills him, but the worst words are the ones Salix uses to explain himself and manipulate his brother.  He tries to get power over him, which one of my favorite writers Brene Brown defines in this way:
"I will define who you are and then I'll make you believe that's your own definition."
But Oran will not agree.  He knows who he is.
This painting is about how words spoken by someone who absolutely refuses to see you can harm the spirit and make you disappear.

New Work

Well, we finally decided on a title- the name of the novel is now "Golden Walker."  Melissa has finished six new chapters and working on just a few more, finishing up the ghostly deaths of the seven brothers and Nadia's escape from Paythe.  Here are some illustrations I have finished for that part of the story.

"Salix the Convalesce"
This is Salix, the middle child and the one who was always sick, convalescing in his sickroom.  The monotony of pain.

(This is a close-up of his face in that painting. Sorry for the blurriness.)

 "Mar"
Misha and Sasha watch Mar above them change into water.

 "Death of Ashen"
Ashen, the brother who can turn into plants and growing things.  He is pushed forever into the other world, where he can be only plants, and he can no longer return as a human.