Secret Project Revealed: Day 2

Background: You’ve read about the secret project in my Art Diary…now, here’s what it’s all about.

I have provided illustrations for a short story competition, September Slam 2018, at Fictive Dream, an online literary magazine specializing in short stories. The Slam is featuring seven stories this week, September 24-30, one a day, and I did the illustration for each one. I’ll be writing some posts on my experiences in depicting these stories in a couple of weeks. Keep an eye out for them.

But for now, let’s read…

Today’s story is The Albatross, by Steve Carr.

Here is the illustration. Look it over and then go and read the story! Did I capture something of the author’s words in this image?

Fictive Dream The Albatross 8-18 #2 text and flattened small

13 thoughts on “Secret Project Revealed: Day 2”

Laura Black September 25, 2018 at 8:53 am

What I really like about this image is the emphasis on the story’s protagonist. Standing in the foreground, and presented in white, he has a strong presence. There’s a sense that here we have a man with a burden.

Claudia McGill Post authorSeptember 25, 2018 at 9:31 am

I had made a couple of versions of this portrait and this one includes a cut-out drawing of the man to contrast with the background rather than fade in – there is a lot of other detail in the picture and he needed to be the focus.

petrujviljoen September 25, 2018 at 10:21 am

Thanks for the intro to the site. Your drawings – the two I’ve seen over there – are wonderful.

Claudia McGill Post authorSeptember 25, 2018 at 1:23 pm

Thank you. This project was really rewarding for me and I learned a lot. I’ve never done anything like this before. I’m going to write some posts on the process and how I did things in a couple of weeks and I will be showing some more drawings (I did extras) as well.
1. petrujviljoen September 25, 2018 at 3:45 pm
  
  I spent some time reading the stories and they’re really very good! Inspiring. Looking forward to reading more about the process of the illustrations.
  1. Claudia McGill Post authorSeptember 25, 2018 at 5:54 pm
    
    I’ve followed this blog for a while and I really enjoy the selections that appear – all kinds of short story writing, and always make me think. Glad you enjoyed it. I found illustrating someone else’s thoughts both liberating and frightening, but seeing the finished products now I feel happy with the results.

Laura (PA Pict) September 25, 2018 at 6:30 pm

I too like the way the protagonist jumps out in the composition but is also small and isolated within it. That definitely chimes well with the story.

Claudia McGill Post authorSeptember 26, 2018 at 6:40 am

Thank you. I did a couple of versions of this picture (I do details when I write the follow-up posts) and I like this one the best myself.

As much cake as you want September 25, 2018 at 8:07 pm

Funny story and well-matched illustration!

Claudia McGill Post authorSeptember 26, 2018 at 6:42 am

I liked how this one turned out. It had a couple of versions (I’ll explain when I do the follow up posts) but I like this one the best, I think.