Redshift

Archetype: Book I, seen pinned to the wall of my studio. (Technically my kitchen/laundry/dining room as well, but I forgot that distinction a long time ago.) Current build stands at about 140 pages, but I'm aiming for the final product to be closer to 100. While the whole of Archetype is pretty massive, I want to keep the individual segments relatively breezy and compact, lest it collapse from self seriousness.

The book finally earned itself a subtitle. It's called 'Redshift', although you'll have to solve a cipher to actually find the name inside. That's right, folks, Relativistic Doppler Effects and cryptography! In case I've been too coy about this, let me state it plainly: Archetype is a war on your mind.

Secrets, Mirrors, Signs, and Spin

Sketchbook

I find it helps me remember something if a fictional person says it.

Smoking is a terrible habit. I haven't drawn his lungs, but, believe me, they're just awful.

Which Lich is which?

This took about a half an hour, which it turns out is way too long to hold a mirror stationary in one arm.

I've been drawing these string things lately. The round, concentric ones I've taken to calling 'barnacles.' The system is heavily involved in representing Archetype's 'mana.'

Weird coincidences make for some cool effects when you overlap drawings.

I draw this hand a lot.

Random girl, tenuously attributed to an airport queuing line.

A full page. They're mostly like this.

A family pet reclines.

A family pet thinks of Socrates in grids.

I mean, seriously. Also from an airport.

I don't know either.

Tarentino does the American Revolution.

I think I may have stabbed this guy with an 8-bit sword a couple thousand times.

From Archetype. Stating and restating the scenes now as refine the for the final build. As in all design, grids seem to accelerate the process. Also, trying to get by with as little text as possible.

Alien feller.

Re: 2010

i. Thanks to everyone who ordered a Christmas Card. I hope you like them; I'm out of them.

ii. In 2009, I set out to produce a piece a week. I produced 32 pieces, reaching 61.5% of that goal. D-. Oddly enough, in 2008, I produced 50 pieces. A. It sort of counter-indicates the whole idea. Obviously, there are a number of variables to consider, but, surprisingly, they more or less neatly cancel out. I'll be dropping the strict production schedule in 2010 and continue to point out updates on Facebook, Twitter, and wherever else the cool kids 'hang.'

iii. I will be offering prints. Soon.

2010.

The year sounds massive and I aim to make it so.

Christmas Card Offer

I've got left over Christmas Cards for anyone who'd like to have one. Just email me your mailing address at brianiswells@gmail.com and I'll send one your way. Each is high quality matte print. Quantities are limited, so first come, first serve.

Episode 01: Process 02

You won't see this cover again until the book is finished.