Combining watercolor and digital painting for my fantasy book cover Guest Blog and GIveaway with Marsha A. Moore

I’m glad to be here today at The Creatively Green Write at Home Mom! Since you focus on crafts, I wanted to talk about how exciting it’s been to discover a new creative hobby—digital painting. I’d like to share some of my work. After lots of practice attempts with small projects and a mountain of research about technique, I began my first large project—the book cover for the first in my epic fantasy romance series—Seeking a Scribe: Enchanted Bookstore Legend One.

I’ve painted with watercolors regularly for decades and wanted to combine the techniques. I began with a line drawing and a simple watercolor of the dragon figure I wanted to use. The painting was, by my standards, one-third finished. As my research guided me, I focused to develop texture with painting, which is a strength of that medium compared to Photoshop. I scanned my painting and this is the raw image.

I used a stock image for the background and added my dragon.

Then the work began, using the amazing color and shadow abilities of Photoshop.

It took several long days to get from this stage to the final look I was pleased with.

For my next cover, I’m learning new skills. The project is a big step up in difficulty with a background I must modify a lot. Also, the character will be human, a more difficult drawing/painting step that I’ll spend much more time with than the dragon. And, I have a new 4-inch stack of new technique books for guidance. Lots of time, but also lots of fun!

Seeking a Scribe: Enchanted Bookstore Legend One

Genre: Fantasy romance

Description:

Lyra McCauley is a writer and loves fantasy novels, but until she opens a selection from bookstore owner Cullen Drake, she has no idea he’s a wizard character who lives a double life inside that volume…or the story’s magic will compel her from the edge of depression to adventure, danger, and love.

His gift to Lyra, the Book of Dragonspeir, was actually her copy, misplaced years ago. Lost in her pain following divorce and death, she fails to recognize him as her childhood playmate from the fantasyland. Friendship builds anew. Attraction sparks. But Lyra doubts whether a wizard is capable of love. She’s torn—should she protect her fragile heart or risk new love?

Opening the book’s cover, she confronts a quest: save Dragonspeir from destruction by the Black Dragon before he utilizes power of August’s red moon to expand his strength and overthrow the opposing Imperial Dragon. Lyra accepts the challenge, fearing Cullen will perish if evil wins. Along with magical animal guides, Cullen helps her through many perils, but ultimately Lyra must use her own power…and time is running out.


Purchase at Amazon for only 99 cents 

Author Bio:

Marsha A. Moore is a writer of fantasy romance. The magic of art and nature spark life into her writing. Her creativity also spills into watercolor painting and drawing. After a move from Toledo to Tampa in 2008, she’s happily transforming into a Floridian, in love with the outdoors. Crazy about cycling, she usually passes the 1,000 mile mark yearly. She is learning kayaking and already addicted. She’s been a yoga enthusiast for over a decade and that spiritual quest helps her explore the mystical side of fantasy. She never has enough days spent at the beach, usually scribbling away at new stories with toes wiggling in the sand. Every day at the beach is magical!

Website: http://marshaamoore.com/

Twitter: http://twitter.com/MarshaAMoore

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/marshaamooreauthorpage

Fantasy Faction staff page: http://fantasy-faction.com/staff-members?uid=38

Goodreads author page http://www.goodreads.com/marshaamoore

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