Scepter Gem: Magic Universe - pg 11

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Chill Alien

Here's a quick little story about a Chill Alien. I kind of like this little guy. I might just make him his own little series of one-page comics. I find that coming up with short stories is a really good exercise for me because I tend to want to elaborate on everything, and story ideas turn into huge hypothetical projects that I don't really have time for.

Scepter Gem: Magic Universe - pg 10

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Scepter Gem: Magic Universe - pg 9

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Scepter Gem: Magic Universe - pg 8

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Here's a detail of the last panel to show off the glitter. The God of the Cosmos' throne is actually metallic and adorned with sparkling jewels.

artist of interest: Gustave Moreau

Hesiod and the Muse, 1891

During my recent trip to Paris, I visited the Musée d'Orsay for the first time. The museum itself is beautiful and used to be the Beaux-Arts railway station Gare d'Orsay. The building really lends itself to art viewing. It was probably the most enjoyable museum experience I've ever had.

Since I've been drawing quite a bit more than I used to, I've really come to appreciate painting again. I did see a lot of the big names (Monet, Manet, Degas, Renoir, Van Gogh, Cezanne, Gaughin). But one artist that I had never noticed before is Symbolist painter Gustave Moreau. 

Galatea, 1898

His paintings are delightfully colorful and shiny. I was immediately drawn closer by the crystallized effect his layers of paint and oils have on the canvas. The works were literally sparkling (an effect you can only see when face to face with the painting). And the mystical scenes are wonderfully bizarre.

Prometheus, 1868

Orpheus, 1865

I love the way the distant backgrounds are addressed, the amount of fine detail in some areas, and the scratchiness and heaviness of paint in others.

Jupiter and Semele, 1894-95

(all images via Wikipedia, except Galatea via Musee d'Orsay)

bonjour mes amis

I'm vacationing in Paris, so no new pages of Scepter Gem this week. Wishing everyone a great Independence Day. I'll just be by the Seine sipping vin blanc and nibbling baguettes avec fromage and speaking franglais. À bientôt!