A new series from Phil Hickes, author of the popular Aveline Jones series, which I also illustrated. Set in the 80s, at a creepy old boarding school, Shadowhall Academy follows the childhood school adventures of Aveline’s Aunt Lilian.
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As a bit of fun, I drew a school crest for Shadowhall Academy (below), incorporating some key elements from the book. There’s a strong theme of ‘doubles’ in the story so the symmetry of the heraldic creatures seemed appropriate. I also thought it would be fun to have a palindrome for the motto. (It means something like, ‘Secluded but pure’.)
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PROCESS
These initial scribbles explored Lilian and her friends against the backdrop of the spooky old Shadowhall mansion. I experimented with framing devices of a school badge and the school gates. (I thought it would be fun for Lilian to be holding a torch, as a nod to the first Aveline Jones cover.) The third option is a creepy scene from the story.
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In the roughs below I wanted to try interior scenes with a film-noir look, but decided these might look a bit too old fashioned or historical.
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These tonal and colour roughs also show the development of the final composition, with the girls eventually being moved to more prominence in the foreground.
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