The Grande Temple of Jing I

Original back cover (now relocated)

The Grande Temple of Jing is one of the biggest projects on which I have worked. In total there were more than seventy illustrations that give image to a book with more than three hundred pages. Some of them illustrate texts written by acclaimed authors of Role world and the fantasy world, such as Monte Cook, Ed Greenwood, Jim Ward, Larry Wilhelm, Skip Williams or Jonathan Tweet, among many others.

Working with Danny O’neill (owner of Hammerdog Games) is always a pleasure. He has a very good understanding of how to do an interesting adventure or scenery for players. I started working for Danny on 2011 with this picture so it has been a long time working in this project. At the beginning of 2013 Hammerdog Games did a succesful kickstarter campaign that boost the project and enlarged the book. Since it is in final layout phase I start a series of posts to show my artwork for the book with Danny's permission.

You can know more about The Grande Temple of Jing and other products by Hammerdog Games in their website www.hammerdog.com

 

Original back cover pencils

Entry Chamber

Entry Chamber - Process

Underground Sea

Underground Sea - Process

Welcoming Chamber

Welcoming Chamber - Process

The Caretaker

The Caretaker - Process

Front Doors

Front Doors - Process

Golden Entry

Golden Entry Process

Chamber of Rays

Chamber of Rays - Process

Armor Shrine of Korchak

Armor Shrine of Korchak - Process

Eggs Chamber

Eggs Chamber - Process

Cover Art for RPG Cazadores de Leyendas

Cover sketches

In the last blog post I showed you the character art done for "Cazadores de Leyendas". During these days I receibed the commission of doing a new cover for the book. We had not so much time and it would be nice to show all the characters. Inspired by Indy covers done by Drew Struzan but in a more simple way (of course ;P), I tried a classical team composition, playing a little bit with the new female character.

The final decission was to show all of them together as some kind of badass group. Golden-ocre color was a must, so I added a blue-violet for the background... and paint ;)

Thanks again to Nosolorol crazy people

and Thanks for visiting my Cave ^_^

Painting Process

Final cover illustration

Links:
Here you have more info about Cazadores de Leyendas
Nosolorol website

Cover Illustration for "Lady Montague"

This is one of my latests artworks, done during summer 2013 for the novel "Lady Montague" written by Sofía Navarro.
*Spanish edition is titled "La Señora de Montesco"

Final Cover Illustration

Sofía had a clear idea of what she wanted for the cover, the main character looking to Verona city and holding a carnival mask. From that idea I did  some perspective/poses sketches including a lot of variants worried about how she hold the mask and how if the viewer can see see her face.

From a couple of selected sketches I did two color rough schemes. After Sofía selected one of them, I started to work with that one. Finally we used a more simple mask, according to the text's age, and the viewer cannot see her face.

I spent a lot of time working in the city to get a dramatic view, as well as some details like her hair and dress. At the end, I am very happy with the result.

I hope you like it ;)

Color Process

Working with Sofía Navarro has been a great pleasure, since the time we get in touch, I realized that she is a hardworker storyteller, one of this people that knows where she is going, my best wishes for her. Lady Montague will be available soon at Amazon, here you have some links to the author:
Sofía's blog "The Grown Mermaid"
Sofía's books at Amazon 
Sofia at Twitter

English Edition

Spanish Edition

New Cover for the Novel "Irene: Encuentros"

Novel Cover

The second book of Irene´s series has been released on Amazon´s kindle and soon will be also available the paperback edition.

Kindle ebook is available here:
AMAZON.COM
AMAZON.ES (Spain)

For this cover we wanted to show Tristán and Irene, in a kind of broken encounter, so close but so far. I started from a rough grayscale sketch and later I add colours. I had some doubts about the final colours. During most of the process I was thinking in an orange sunset background but finally we decided that a blue background will emphasize Irene and makes the book cover more recognizable. In the same way to let Irene some leading role although she is behind him, I enlightened Irene in contrast with an overshadowed Tristán.

Below you have the illustration, process, details and references. Enjoy ;)
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El segundo libro de la serie Irene ya ha sido publicado para kindle de Amazon y pronto estará disponible también en papel mediante impresión a demanda.

Ebook kindle disponible aquí:
AMAZON.COM
AMAZON.ES (Spain)

Para esta portada queríamos mostrar a Tristán e Irene, en una especie de encuentro roto, muy cerca pero muy distantes. Comencé desde un boceto en escala de grises y luego añadí los colores. Tenía bastantes dudas sobre los tonos finales, durante la mayor parte del proceso pensaba en un fondo que evocara un atardecer anaranjado pero finalmente decidimos que un fondo azulado enfatizaría a Irene y haría la portada del libro más reconocible. En la misma línea para dar a Irene mayor protagonismo pese a que está en segundo plano, trabajé con la luz para iluminar al personaje en contraposición con un Tristán a contraluz.

Debajo teneis la ilustración, proceso, detalles y referencias. Pasadlo bien ;)

Complete final illustration

Process

References

Details

Cover + Backcover layout for paperback

Some day I posted this capture on my facebook page, I love this step so, I wanted to share it with you. Remember that you can follow my work on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/CHARROART
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Un día postee esta captura en mi página de facebook, me encanta este paso así que he querido compartirlo también aquí. Recordad que podeis seguir mi trabajo en facebook en https://www.facebook.com/CHARROART

Screen Capture - posted on my facebook page while working

Allwënn: Soul & Sword (English version) NOW AVAILABLE AT AMAZON

     This journey has reached its end, the Kindle version of the illustrated story, that we started two years ago, is the first to be released and is now available on Amazon. I could tell you about all the problems that we have arisen in this way (that have been many and so diverse) but I prefer to focus on the product that we have worked so fondly.

     Allwënn: Soul & Sword is not an usual picture book, It is not even a book, at least for now. It is mostly a story, told through text and image. Always looking for a balance between the two mediums to convey all the strength and feeling to the reader .

    Also, it is an ambitious product for us, in which we wanted to share with you the background story: the digital and traditional processes of the images, as well as a small part of what composes the creative development of this project that takes shape today.

Our e-book Trailer (english)

http://youtu.be/9MBXEXVKV30

     Finally, It is a complete and self conclusive book, reaching where Kindle technology allows us. Designed to be read on smartphone, tablet and kindle devices, with more than 600 screens of text and image.

LINKS to the english language ebook:

Allwënn: Soul & Sword (Illustrated Book) at Amazon.com
Allwënn: Soul & Sword (Illustrated Book) at Amazon.co.uk (United Kingdom)

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CONTAINS:
The Illustrated Story with more than 80 illustrations
Sketches Gallery with more than 150 preliminary sketches
Processes Gallery with the digital painting process of 15 illustrations
Complete Illustrations Gallery
Advertising and Curios
Online Shop
Links

Interactive menu, that improves navigation beyond lineal reading

Full Colour Illustrations, adapted to Kindle Fire and reading on Mobile devices and Tablets (Android, Apple, etc) through the free Kindle App.

More info at CHARROART blog
For any doubt or problem contact support@charroart.com. using the subject "Soul"

"Allwënn: Soul & Sword is the self-conclusive illustrated book, which joined Vilches & Charro. Two years of work culminating in an intense tale of strong, evocative prose with over 80 illustrations in a vast reportoire of techniques, which shows one of the most decisive moments for probably the most indomitable character in the saga "La Flor de Jade". The epic saga that has sold in a year over ten thousand copies worldwide through Amazon."

"Allwënn will enter our lives and the blade of his sword will scratch our entrails."
Luis Royo & Rómulo Royo (Illustrators)

NOTE: This is a self-conclusive and independent story. You do NOT need to read the Saga to enjoy it.

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Cover design for the Original Theme  "The Soul & The Sword" by Whiteveil

Our App will be released so soon at Applestore. It will include the Original Music Theme that the harpist Whiteveil has created for us.
For now, you can listen a  sample and buy it HERE

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Below, some photos sent by our first readers, Thanks!!!

 

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