Book Cover Illustrations

I recently had a shot at a new mythology series and needed to put together a portfolio keyed to Greek myths. Unfortunately I came up one picture short, and so hurriedly considered what might be a good subject for a new painting to include in the mix.

I’ve always loved the story of Perseus and decided he’d be just the ticket. Many artists have shown him holding the severed head of the Gorgon Medusa. But I felt a more tense (and newer) illustration might be created to show him using his polished shield as a mirror to avoid the Medusa’s gaze — a gaze that could turn men to stone if they chanced to meet her eyes.

Greek literature and mythology are fun for artists because the myths were constantly changing, embellished as the writers of the myths went along, so it’s possible for artists to play fast and loose with how Medusa might have looked in any given story (and remain in the Greek story-telling tradition of changing the “facts” to suit the story teller).

I decided to simply make her a supernatural being with poisonous serpents instead of hair on her head (as per the story). I placed her in Greek-style drapery with a slight green tint to her skin and dress to make her (I hope) sufficiently terrifying (as if the snakes aren’t enough). Red snake eyes completed her look.

The Greek story is a little sketchy as to how Perseus could view Medusa in his polished shield while avoiding looking directly at her and remaining in a fighting stance. I realized this might be possible if the inside of the shield were polished – as it might become with heavy use. He thus might back toward the creature and behead her with a quick turnabout and slash — with his eyes closed.

At least that’s my take on something that didn’t happen.

Such is art.

As to winning over the publisher to let me do the book illustrations, well… that’s another story.

=====================
When not plotting the fighting stance for Perseus, Duncan Long works as a magazine and book illustrator for HarperCollins, PS Publishing, Pocket Books, Solomon Press, Fort Ross, ISFiC Press, and many other publishers and self-publishing authors. See his book illustrations at: http://DuncanLong.com/art.html
=====================