Chimera

…is the name of today’s story at Fictive Dream.

Throughout the month of February 2022 I will be showing you illustrations I did for Flash Fiction February 2022 at Fictive Dream, an online magazine devoted to the short story.

Here’s the image editor Laura Black chose for this story, Chimera, by Kerry Hadley-Pryce.

And here is the artwork with the banner. Take a look at this image. And then…

Read the story at Fictive Dream.

10 thoughts on “Chimera”

  1. Laura (PA Pict)

    The combination of the colour palette and the energy of the mark-making I think really captures the atmosphere of the setting of this story. There is bright, gaudy, vivaciousness but also sweat and grot and grime.

    1. Claudia McGill Post author

      I like the contrast of the colors here and to me all the layers fit with all the layers and interactions that interweave in this story. Without too much definition.

    1. Claudia McGill Post author

      Thank you. I think the more layers I can put in a picture, the better, usually, and definitely here. There is a need to build up the image, to fit how the story progresses.

  3. Laura Black

    I think Laura (PA Pict) exactly sums up why this illustration is right for Chimera by Kerry Hadley-Pryce— it shows the ‘sweat and grot and grime’ but also hints at the flashiness of the bar the characters are in. The palette complements the story perfectly. Thnak you, Claudia for another success.

    1. Claudia McGill Post author

      Thank you. I like this illusttration for the color combinations and the flash of sharp color through the more toned-down ones. I think it fits the way this story reads to me, it’s in flashes of perception and clarity and then the story moves on and meanings are hidden or opaque.

    1. Claudia McGill Post author

      Thank you. I like these color combinations a lot. And once again doing lots of layering makes a big difference in the richness of the image ( or any image, really, I think).

      1. agnesashe

        Oh yes I agree with you about layering. It works well even with silk dyeing you just have to be patient and steam between layers. (Probably why I don’t do it that much!)

        1. Claudia McGill Post author

          Yes, for me, that is why acrylics work for me (fast drying time so I can just keep moving). That and having mulitple images at once to work on.

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