Illustration Crush

An article I started illustrating for someone 5 years ago has finally been released. You can download Anyana’s Vale for free on Lythia.com.The article is a fan article set in the Harn world.
It was a fun project to work on as I got to be involved in the design process. Sometime when reading the articles, I suggest changes to the writing- usually so I can draw something cool. I was given maps of a mystical tree house. Often when  trying to realize the plans, a problem appears that either does not not quite work in 3D or could be improved upon. Below is my rough sketch to work out some of the ideas. I did  a draw-over  in photoshop.


















Next I did a rough side-view of the tree to figure out the shape, layout and various heights of the floors. As some sinks had been indicated in the maps, I thought it would be fun to have them work via a cistern inside the trunk that filled throuch a collection system when it rained. The piping is magically grown into the trunk of the tree, as are the chimneys for the small stoves.

After some back and forth between me, the mapper and the writer, we got a design everyone was happy with, I drew the fancy tree house.

Anyana’s Living Tree home, © copyright John Daniel and Richard Luschek 2012

I totally want one of these in my yard.
Of course a tree like this needs a beautiful resident. The elven lady was the first illustration I did. It was drawn 5 years ago. When John ordered the illustration, neither he nor I thought it would evolve into this article. Here she is, and I will admit, it is one of the first drawing I think I have a bit of a crush on. Don't tell my wife.

Anyana, © copyright John Daniel and Richard Luschek 2012