Celtic connection tattoos

So, I've finally come up with a design that I'm pretty happy with.

It's taken several iterations. I had particular trouble with the band that will sit at the bottom. It was more trouble trying to decide how much detail and what elements would be incorporated. But, I fell back on the old troupe, 'Less is more'. 

The thing that I really wanted to get in there was the wave patter that you see bordering the triskelion. I've seen it as part of larger tattoo motifs in the circle around the shoulder or the arm. But with the complexity of the eagle and unicorn it just made the band at the bottom look messy (see earlier drafts)

 

On the left hand version I've turned the figures inward to more closely resemble the Scottish crests I've seen with unicorns gallantly framing a shield. I'm undecided on which triskelion to get (the outline version or the knockout black version). I think the black version is a bit too much given there's a lot in the rest of the tattoo already. However, as a standalone tattoo I think the black is much more eye-catching and fits in more with others that I have. 

I also want to get a stylus tattooed on my right forearm. A stylus is an ancient writing tool but is also the symbol for the muse Calliope who is my muse (and also the name of my good friend's wee bairn! She can borrow my design when she's older.) I'm dithering between slghtly more complext designs and something simple.

 

I'm a bit worried. I don't really want a tattoo that will be visible when I'm wearing short sleeves. Plus, I don't want it to be mistaken for a knife (I also realise it looks a bit like a wand from Harry Potter). The more complex designs look less weapony. And I added a fountain pen nib to highlight its use as a writing utensil. I think the one on the right is what I'm going to go for. It also uses one of the runes from the Emersus Project series. It's the glyph of Arbedusitus - a being with the ultimate power to bring peace to the world. I guess the pen really is mightier than the sword! I'm going to let the idea sit for a while. But, I have a very strong feeling it's going to happen anyway!


Hope you enjoy!
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Buy Book 1, 'Black Star' on Amazon in the UK and US
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Spirit Shear unCovered

With the launch of 'Spirit Shear' less than six weeks away I realised it was time to get a move on and get book two's cover ready.

I wanted it to be in the same style as the first book, Black Star. I think the stark silohuette of Gemmy against a bright background was quite appealing still.

Original concept art for Book 2

Book 1's cover

I think this is a nice evolution from the first book's cover. The figure of Gemmy is much stronger in stance and looks, ready for action. One book 1, 'Black Star's', cover I deliberately wanted him to look startled by the lightning, frightened by the power that was coming to him. However, now the power is literally in Gemmy's hands. He's accepting himself and is braced for what's coming next.

On the new cover he's also dressed in the garb of Rheza, a hint at some of what's to come in this story. 'Spirit Shear' is definitely more of an adventure story than the first and the cover reflects that, a spear in Gemmy's hand and a crazy Rhe'zan cloak on his shoulders. Also, we're not just glimpsing the figure through the knock out of the rune for Spirit Shear (aka magic). Gemmy is bursting out of the frame, his spear sitting above the edges coming out at us. He's not prey any more.

However, I've never been totally happy with the how the title 'Emersus Project' looked. So, I've spent more time trying to get the affect of the titles and the contrast of the design right. The background is not a solid black making the title stand out more and ditching the need for a glow behind the lettering. I've also stylised the 'Emersus Project' lettering a bit more to help match the inksplatter look of the knockout shapes. I've been planning to do a 'Black Star 2.0' at some point and definitely think a revamping of the cover as well as the illustrations and text is in order.

I also worked on the frontispiece this week. I won't give it all away but I ended up using some imagery from my drafts of the first cover. Never throw out anything!! I love this original image because it's a drawn version of a picture that I absolutely love of me standing on top of Arthur Seat in Edinburgh. That moment standing above the city was a pivotal moment in my life and this version of the cover still makes me smile. So glad I'm able to use it in a new way.

Check out the 'Black Star' cover sketches and final concept art.

Hope you enjoy!
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Buy Book 1, 'Black Star' on Amazon in the UK and US
Check out Themo on Twitter and Facebook