kittrose || art&sketch book

Of rose, and gold, and crimson

2013-11-05T11:00:00.001-08:00

_{She threw back the shutters and shivered as gooseprickles rose along her arms. There were clouds massing in the eastern sky, pierced by shafts of sunlight. They look like two huge castles afloat in the morning sky. Sansa could see their walls of tumbled stone, their mighty keeps and barbicans. Wispy banners swirled from atop their towers and reached for the fast-fading stars. The sun was coming up behind them, and she watched them go from black to grey to a thousand shades of rose and gold and crimson. Soon the wind mushed them together, and there was only one castle where there had been two.}_{She heard the door open as her maids brought the hot water for her bath. […] “Come see, ” she told them. “There’s a castle in the sky.”}

_{[A Storm of Swords]}

Sansa Stark, Game of Thrones.

Photoshop CS3 + Wacom

I didn't realize I had this paragraph in my mind until I was already halfway through the painting - I thought I was just going to make a basic Sansa portait - but later it became obvious. It's one of my favourite foreshadowing/symbolical scenes in the books, not to mention highly poetic and visually enchanting. Mind you, I didn't go for a literal representation here: no castle in the clouds except for the Red Keep in the distance, Sansa is not at her window, the lighting is more like sunset than sunrise, etc. Rather, I tried to capture the mood of the moment, Sansa's loneliness, her longing for Winterfell, and her vivid imagination that transforms the world around her into something different and better.

The image of the two castles merging their shapes and colors until they become one is stuck in my head, and I've been struggling to put my fingers on what G.R.R. Martin is actually telling us in this passage. It reminds me of Oathkeeper, Jaime's valyrian steel longsword forged with Ned Stark's Ice, in which the Starks' grey and the Lannisters' red merged into a beautiful, unique combination of colors - oddly close to the Targaryens' colors, black and red.

All of this makes me think that the future of Westeros has to be connected with the reconcilation of House Stark and House Lannister. With the realm divided, the Others will prevail. But if these two houses can find a way to stop trying to destroy each other and join forces against the true enemy... anything could happen.

Anyway, I love Sansa.

Character ©HBO & George R. R. Martin

Artwork ©kittrose

Close up:

RVH II - Sette giorni per i lupi || Cover art

2013-10-06T04:39:00.000-07:00

Cover art for "RVH II - Sette giorni per i lupi" by Lucia Guglielminetti, published in Italy by Marlin Editore.

You can find more info about the novel HERE and on the official Facebook page.

Some Game of Thrones sketches

2013-10-06T04:30:00.000-07:00

Daenerys Targaryen and Tyrion Lannister, two of my favourite characters from Game of Thrones and A Song of Ice and Fire (which I'm currently reading)

Pencil + Photoshop

An update about my commissions

2013-10-06T04:25:00.000-07:00

I revised the rates, again.
I had to.
See more in my commissions page.

Steampunk wedding

2013-08-26T02:20:00.003-07:00

Personal illustration commissioned by Amanda, who requested a portrait of her husband and her in a steampunk-themed scene.

More after the cut:

Liam - Commissioned

2013-06-22T02:15:00.002-07:00

Liam.

Finally some new art!

I’ve been quite busy for the last 2-3 months with work and commissions. This is one of them; another portrait of Elisabetta’s original character Liam, a vampire. Referenced to David Boals. The close-up above is tweaked in Photoshop; the real colors are the ones in the following pics, just after the cut.

Pencils and Carbothello pastels on A3 paper.

An update about my commissions

2013-03-27T09:17:00.002-07:00

I've decided that my pricing list needed to be updated, and I've slightly increased the rates, for the very simple reason that I've been spending a lot of time on my most recent commissions and my income isn't proportionate to the amount of work. It's sad, but true. I really want to keep my rates low, but I've come to a point when I realized that I've been seriously underrating my own work, especially comparing my pricings to the average for digital art.

You can find my Commission Page here.

Fireflies

2013-03-08T15:39:00.000-08:00

Fireflies.

Photoshop + Wacom + a couple of references for face & bust.

The face is referenced to a girl whose pic I found on Google, but unfortunately can't remember exactly where.

It started as a sketch, went far, and I think it isn't finished yet. As a simple portrait, it's good the way it is but... when I have time, I'll probably add a wider background, some sort of a scenery. Oh, I also guess she kinda resembles Daenerys from Game of Thrones, but that wasn't my intention.

Detail:

Zoe September

2013-03-02T08:17:00.002-08:00

Zoe September.

Commissioned illustration for heyweirdgirl1988.

Zoe September is an original character created by Danielle (~heyweirdgirl1988). She's a Dyani, a member of an ancient lineage of hunters who were given magical powers in order to fight evil and all kinds of demonic creatures.

Tumblr post: [link]

-

Commissioned portraits: Raistan; Dana & Sythan

2012-12-28T07:14:00.002-08:00

Raistan

Dana & Sythan

Two commissioned drawings, requested by my friend Mabel.

The former is Raistan Van Hoeck, (character by Lucia Guglielminetti, from the italian novel series "RVH"). The latter features two original characters, named Dana and Sythan, inspired to Kate Winslet and Alan Rickman.

All the characters don't belong to me, but to their respective creators.

Media used:

- for Raistan, 2B, 3B, 4B, 8B pencils and mechanical pencils on paper.

- for Dana & Sythan, pencils, colored pencils, colored chalk pastels, Carbothello pastels on paper.

33x48 cm.

Peter Bishop

2012-12-28T06:58:00.000-08:00

Peter Bishop, Fringe.

I'm finally catching up on Fringe, I'm currently on season 4. I know season 5 is the last one, so it's time to celebrate, I guess. I will miss Fringe. This show has some of the most compelling characters I've ever seen, especially Walter and Peter.

Photoshop CS3 + Wacom Bamboo

Character ©FOX

Artwork ©kittrose

... and, playing around with PS:

Veronica Mars

2012-11-11T15:07:00.000-08:00

Eric - Nora || Two sketches

2012-10-27T14:29:00.000-07:00

Eric and Nora, True Blood.

Pencil on paper with a bit of manipulation in Photoshop (changing HUE and levels, adding some gradient and texture, etc.)

Un-edited b/w sketches:

Last stand || Dean and Sam

2012-10-15T05:26:00.002-07:00

Dean and Sam Winchester, Supernatural.

-

Commissioned artwork for ~Wayward-Renegade, for her fanfiction "At any cost" ---> [link]

Sam & Dean vow to stop the Apocalypse at any cost, but when push comes to shove and Zachariah reveals a devastating secret, Sam starts to worry about just how far his brother is willing to go, when Dean joins the ranks of Hell to make sure Heaven doesn't win.

Photoshop CS3 + Wacom tablet

--------

Characters ©CW
Artwork ©kittrose
Concept & story by Wayward-Renegade

Close up & wallpaper version:

Abissi (The Green One)

2012-10-08T03:27:00.000-07:00

Oil on canvas, cm 50x100.

Done for an exhibition.

It's supposed to be the first piece of a triptych, but works fine on its own.

Inspired by [martasyrko]

W.I.P.

(that I probably will use for some digital painting, because I like the white background maybe more than the finished one):

HIM (Hawkeye)

2012-10-05T10:03:00.002-07:00

Clint Barton AKA Hawkeye, played by Jeremy Renner in The Avengers.

Commissioned artwork for Katya (uuuhshiny on Tumblr)

Photoshop CS3 + Tablet.

Close up & wallpaper under the cut:

Emergency line

2012-09-04T16:32:00.000-07:00

(cropped version)

Dean Winchester and Castiel, Supernatural.

Photoshop CS3 + Wacom Bamboo tablet

I was already halfway through painting this piece, when I realized one thing. Every time I think of picturing Dean and Cas together, Dean is kinda looking away and unaware of Cas' presence in the background, fully absorbed in whatever he is doing at the moment, and Castiel is silently watching - and listening to - him.
This is the second picture in which I've unconsciously replicated this pattern. I don't know why, but there is always this incomprehension thing, this communication breakdown, between Dean and Cas in my mind.
Dean is the one who is constantly unaware, who keeps his eyes and mind constantly focused on material matters so that he can go on ignoring what is really going on in his life and in his soul. And Castiel, despite his clueless demeanor, is the one who's really in charge, who truly knows what's better for Dean. And he is simply content to silently guard Dean, whether or not he acknowledges his presence.

It's like, Dean has spent his entire life secretly screaming for a guiding force from above, and Cas has always been there trying to tell him "I'm here, I'm right behind you, smartass!", but Dean has never been able to actually hear him. Not really. And this is the beauty and the tragedy of their relationship.

Full view and close up after the cut:

RVH - Ascesa alle tenebre || Cover art

2012-07-31T06:54:00.000-07:00

Cover art for Ascesa alle tenebre, the first volume of the "RVH" series by Lucia Guglielminetti (©)

Info here: [link]

For my Italian followers who are interested in reading the book, see here: [link]

Story © Lucia Guglielminetti & Marlin Editore
Artwork ©kittrose

We'll meet again

2012-07-22T07:02:00.002-07:00

Pam.

True Blood 5x04 - We'll meet again

If you have seen the episode, you should know why Pam has been crying.

Photoshop CS3 + Wacom Bamboo

*

Character ©HBO
Artwork ©kittrose

Two different versions:

(I made some new brushes, so I tested them on Pam...
Not bad, even though I planned to keep this one very basic and classy)

Eric || 5x02

2012-07-12T04:14:00.000-07:00

I'm trying to stay away from politics as much as possible.

And religion.

Eric Northman || True Blood 5x02 "Authority always wins".

Mechanical pencils, mostly 2B, on sketch paper.

I did a little bit of editing in PS because the scanned image looked dull as fuck, as per usual. Also my scanner doesn't like my sketchbook and there are always darker areas near the ring binder. So I had to remove that digitally.

*

Character ©HBO
Artwork ©kittrose

Jaqen H'ghar

2012-07-06T14:29:00.003-07:00

The Red God takes what is his, lovely girl. And only death may pay for life.
You saved me and the two I was with. You stole three deaths from the Red God. We have to give them back. Speak three names and the man will do the rest. Three lives I will give you - no more, no less, and we're done.

Jaqen H'ghar - Game of Thrones, as played by Tom Wlaschiha.

Jaqen was definitely one of my favourite characters in Season 2. When his face changed I booed.

Even though I knew it was coming because I read some spoilers from the books - yes, I haven't read the books... yet - it still made me sad. So this is my tribute to this "version" of Jaqen, hoping that, sooner or later, he will meet Arya again.

Photoshop CS3 + Wacom Bamboo

Character ©HBO & G.R.R. Martin
Artwork ©kittrose

Sam's grave

2012-07-02T13:06:00.000-07:00

Dean Winchester and Castiel, Supernatural.

Commissioned artwork for "The road so far" by aka Shugs.

Twenty years down the road, Dean is part of a dying breed; a keen hunter who's lived through it all. But that's now, and it's miles away from that fateful night when a simple hunt with his brother goes horribly wrong. Attacked by a group of hunters out to kill the ones responsible for the looming Apocalypse, surviving the encounter was just the beginning for Dean.

This scene is set at the beginning of chapter 14; Dean, with Castiel, goes to visit the grave marker Castiel made for Sam, who died. This is the place where Dean goes when he needs to think.
Instead of his trenchcoat, Cas wears different clothes.

Tech stuff:

Photoshop CS3-CS5 and Wacom bamboo. Many references pics were used, screencaps and personal resources.

This was the first time I drew the Impala, and it wasn't easy. I wanted to create an evocative effect with the headlights of the car rather than focus on the details.

Boals Eli

2012-05-30T09:48:00.003-07:00

Portrait of David Boals,

one of the most famous male models of the 90's.

A birthday gift requested by my friend Lucia for my other friend Elisabetta, who likes the man; hence the title.

It's also supposed to be a portrait of an original character created by her, a vampire character who should look like David.

Photoshop CS3 + Wacom tablet.

Who did the deed - SPN 4x01

2012-05-27T15:07:00.000-07:00

- See if we can see who did the deed.

- You're not gonna summon the damn thing here?

- No. I just want to get a sneak peek at it, like a crystal ball without the crystal. [...] Take each other's hands. And I need to touch something our mystery monster touched.

Supernatural 4x01 || Lazarus Rising

Elijah Atticus || New version

2012-05-14T15:30:00.002-07:00

Commission for *twistedclocks --->

Elijah Atticus - portrait of the main character from "The Universal Eye" book series written by Jacky Barkla.

I had already made a portrait of Elijah about a year ago, but then Jacky and me decided he, being the main character, needed a little revamping, and he had to look a bit older than we planned at the beginning. So, I did another portrait for her, this one.
It certainly satisfies me more, also because it's closer to my current style.

*

TECH STUFF:

Photoshop CS + Wacom Bamboo tablet; inspired by Dan Layus from Augustana.

Artwork ©kittrose

ETA

Steps under the cut: