Pages 10 and 11 from MLP:FIM issue 19 from IDW publishing.

This took a while. Katie Cook, the comic’s writer, loves to torture me with big splash pages and 2-page spreads. I picture her in her shadowy castle, swirled in her cloak with a raven peering over her shoulder as she types out intricate scenes for me… laughing… always laughing…

But I digress :)

Anyway, when this one came down I thought it would be simpler… two characters and a buncha trees. Pfft… no problem.

I think I put more time into this spread than possibly any other I’ve done for the books. I was fairly happy with the end result.

I wanted a pretty and atmospheric scene, the impact of which would dwarf these characters, and carry the romantic theme of the book. I looked up a lot of different trees for inspiration, especially big old maples and oaks. The ribbons are all intended to be wishes and hopes that individuals have tied to the trees, a very old idea from varied cultures. The ribbons and twinkling lights help push the romantic air as well. And of course a full moon never hurts! The theme of mirrors and reflections is a constant in this story, and the Velvet Underground’s classic “I’ll Be Your Mirror” paraphrased lyrics seemed to tie all of it together.

And way out in the distance… a single observer pondering the importance of all of this and what it will bring…

India Ink with brush, dip pens on 11×17 bristol board.