Jen and I took a walking tour of the beautiful College Hill in Providence on Sunday, taking note of many of the important locations of H.P. Lovecraft’s works and life. We followed the wonderfully helpful map created by the kind folks at http://www.hplovecraft.com.
"I am Providence" - Lovecraft's Grave Marker
Poe and Lovecraft used to wander amongst these graves at the Cathedral of St John Episcopal
The inspiration for the house in Lovecraft's "The Shunned House."
The Fleur De Lys Studio, where great Cthulhu was first envisioned in stone.
The building given as the home of the artist in "Call of Cthulhu"
Founded in 1638 by Roger Williams, this is the oldest Baptist church and the mother church of the Baptists.
A library near Brown University frequented by Lovecraft, also Poe.
Having a sit down next to the Van Wickle Gates outside Brown University.
John Hay Library, across from Brown University, holds the largest collection of Lovecraft manuscripts.
H.P. Lovecraft Memorial
H.P. Lovecraft Memorial
The Samuel B. Mumford House, Lovecraft's final home. Moved to this location from a spot next to the John Hay Library.
The Prospect Terrace park, with Roger Williams watching over Providence. One of Lovecraft's spots.
Lovecraft's home from April 1926 to May 1933
Lovecraft's grave marker behind the Phillips family monument
“I never can be tied to raw new things,
For I first saw the light in an old town,
Where from my window huddled roofs sloped down,
To a quaint harbour rich with visionings.
Streets with carved doorways where the sunset beams,
Flooded old fanlights and small window-panes,
And Georgian steeples topped with gilded vanes ~
These are the sights that shaped my childhood dreams.”
A few weeks ago, I received the greatest MP3, flown all the way across the pond by carrier Byakhee! This is from Jim, a player in the “Horror on the Orient Express” roleplaying, audio game I mentioned a little while ago when I posted the “Fire to the Scroll” drawing.
Here’s the clip:
This made my day and I can’t thank Jim and Paul enough for making this little audio compliment go. I’m looking forward to putting pen to paper on some more drawings of their adventures in the very near future.
Fire to the Scroll (posted yet again, for clarity, not for vanity. Okay, for vanity, too.)
posted by Eric at 7:44 am • Filed under: Illustration
Please tell me you’re into “Beauty and the Geek” too. This show is TV gold! Oh, my favorite couple? I would say Matt and Leticia. Happy to see what’s her name go home, but sad for Greg. Please tell me it’s okay to not be able to wait for Tuesday nights for this show.
posted by Eric at 7:49 am • Filed under: Sketchbook
Here’s a side by side comparison of the two different techniques I used on this illustration. The one on the right reads better at a smaller size.
Placing the ink drawing on the left on top of the wash drawing on the right gives it an interesting look, kind of like a dollar bill engraving. It goes to crap when it’s reduced down, though.
Two renderings of that Evil Magician pen/brush and ink, 4/11/08
Curses to the sinister Tax Man, that diabolical prestidigitator who makes money vanish into thin air, particularly when you’re self-employed.
This one was supposed to be dramatic and over the top, so I thought an ink wash might serve it better. A true master of the pen could probably achieve the required moodiness with just line, but I’m still working on it. Then again, the brush is a LOT faster.
May April 15, (tax day in the States,) pass you by without financial harm or frustration.
I Saw Fulham Win Away ink wash & Photoshop, 4/12/08
Fulham defeated Reading today. What great joy to see Brian McBride put the ball in the back of the net for Fulham, and then to watch them hold the lead, later increase the lead, to go on to earn their first away win in thirty-some games.
This poster was inspired by a comment from one of the commentators during the game who said he’d like to have this statement printed on a t-shirt.
Strength of Twenty Men ink wash on watercolor paper, 4/11/08
When I reduced the pen and ink version of this drawing in size, the linework became difficult to read. I admit, I’m still trying to figure out the optimal rendering technique with pen and ink when working at smaller sizes, say 3″ x 5″. Obviously the 19th and early 20th century illustrators mastered this, so I probably just need to study up on them some more.
Here’s an ink wash instead. I really like the way the inks look as a color scan, so, even though they’ll be printed in grayscale, I’m going to post them here in color.
I haven’t done this in awhile, so let me know what you think. Thanks!
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