Page of illustration from the picture book, “David’s Journey.” 14×11.5″ on Pastel Paper.
After finishing other pages, I needed to make David younger in this illustration.

Oil Pastel on Pastel Paper 14×11.5″ for the picture book “David’s Journey, A Lost Boy of Sudan.”
To get David out of the Army, his Father gave the General 20 cows. I am learning how to get more detail out of oil pastel. This one was a challenge in that respect.

Oil Pastel on Pastel Paper 11.5×14″ Illustration for “David’s Journey”

“David the Young Soldier” Oil Pastel on Pastel Paper 11.5×14″ for the picture book, “David’s Journey, A Lost Boy of Sudan.” When David was 10 he drafted into the Army. No picture of him exists at this age.

Since there is no school facilities in David’s village, they have school under the trees to get out of the sun. There are lots of people in this one, and the sun against the trees is always a challenge

I needed to order Pastel Paper for the oil pastel illustrations. The paper I was using seemed a little dark for the for landscapes. Any paper showing in the sky was too dark and light colors shown the dark paper color through. The new lighter color paper on top is exposed on the corners. I was concerned that changing paper color might not match what I have already done. That’s why I did this test, in soft pastel I couldn’t change paper color. This test proves I can change the color of the paper and still have consistency. I like the lighter paper better. I always work in the first layer into the paper or the color paper would show more.

I blew up my sketch for this page to the size I’m going to render it 28″x11.5″. I refined it and populated the village. The huts were arranged in composition that was pleasing.

I liked this pose, there interesting form and line. Lots of foreshortening, but that keeps it interesting. Polychromos Pastels on Brown Strathmore Pastel Paper. 12×18″ approx.