Author: richardakirk

I am a Canadian artist, illustrator and author. This blog is where I talk about projects that am working on. I show finished works, but I also show works in progress and things that inspire me along the way. Feel free to leave a comment or ask a question. Thanks for dropping by.

Mystery Sketches

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During the latter half of October, I offered incentive sketches on my webshop – a free sketch with every shop order. There was some demand from people to purchase the sketches outright, so I introduced the Mystery Sketch option, which is still active. As you can see, as time went on, the sketches became more elaborate! After the first few, I upgraded the paper to a heavier cardstock in off-white with rounded edges. I introduced darker shadows and half-tone marker shading. Overall, I’m quite pleased with the result and plan to have the October sketches as part of my annual calendar. I’ve collected the sketches done to date in this slide show above, though one or two may have slipped the net! I’ve already heard of a couple that are going to become tattoos! Sketches are still available, but since the sale is over, you now have to pay to get one. 😉

I hope you enjoy checking them out.

TheWedding of the Earth and Sky

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One of the pieces I’m working on this fall is The Wedding of the Earth and Sky. It will be entirely stippled with my trusty Rapidograph pens. I am pleased with the progress so far. Apart from the pencilling, these images represent about 4-5 hours work thus far. I’m already penciling two more pieces in this cycle of work. I’ll be posting updates as work progresses.

– Richard

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Magpies in October Country

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It’s October at last, my favorite month of the year. I have just added a small number of signed copies of Magpie’s Ladder to my webstore. The constant reader will remember that Magpie’s Ladder is my illustrated short story collection published by PS Publishing earlier this year. Get yours now!

Also in celebration of October, for this month only, every order from my webstore comes with a free sketch on a blank greeting card. Wait, what? Yes, go buy something and get yours.

That’s it for now. Now, go out, smash a pumpkin, walk in the woods, or burn some leaves before before fucking winter comes howling in and ruins everything!

Richard

Cover of Magpie's Ladder
Magpie’s Ladder, PS Publishing, 2019

Secret Society

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I started a silverpoint commission several years ago (2006) called the Secret Society. Each of the 10 drawings is a miniature (4″ x 3″). This past week I had the time to finish the series, 7-10. I hope you enjoy them!

Richard

 

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Secret Society #7 “Lock,” 2019, 4″ x 3,” silverpoint
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Secret Society #8 “Chrysalis,” 2019, 4″ x 3,” silverpoint
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Secret Society #9 “Candle,” 2019, 4″ x 3,” silverpoint
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Secret Society #10 “Lucifer,” 2019, 4″ x 3,” silverpoint

Magpie’s Ladder

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Magpie’s Ladder from Richard Kirk on Vimeo.

On a related note to my last post, I thought I had posted this trailer for my illustrated collection of short stories Magpie’s Ladder (PS Publishing, 2019). The publication of this volume of 5 stories was a high point of the summer for me. I hope you enjoy the trailer, and the book!

– Richard.

 

 

Lost Machine Audio Book Now Available

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I’m excited to announce that my novella The Lost Machine is now available as an audiobook on Audible

Jake Ruddle did an excellent job of narrating the story. Follow the link to hear a free sample. This is the first of two audiobooks planned for this year. The second is Necessary Monsters, the follow-up to The Lost Machine. Please check out the Encyclopocalypse website to see other projects in development.

– Richard.

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Garden of the Moon

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Garden of the Moon, 2019, ink on paper, 27″ x 19″

It’s been a busy summer so I haven’t had the chance to update my blog. With fall approaching I can get back to posting on a regular schedule.

So, first up is this piece, Garden of the Moon, which I just finished on Wednesday. It took two months to complete, in sessions of 2 – 5 hours. So lots of hours, but lots of fun too, working with small brushes and carbon black acrylic ink. The brush and ink allow a fluidity that is more difficult to achieve with stippling, my usual technique. The crazy level of detail is intended to invite exploration within the piece. I am much more interested in that aspect than how it looks from across the room – which is kind of cool too though, right? Really, I’d just like the viewer to read the piece as if they were immersing themselves in a tangled and mysterious fairy-tale.

Garden of the Moon will be on show at the La Lune II show in the Haven Gallery later this month.

  • Richard