Alchemist rough layout 2

The Magic Sycamore 

This is the second layout drawing for a series of paintings I am working on based on the Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. This is image depicts the opening scene where the young shepherd and his flock spend the night in the ruins of an old church that has sprouted a gigantic sycamore tree from within its walls.

 As always there are a few things I will go back and refine in this drawing. As time goes by, and the more and more I work on creating illustrations, I realize how important it is to push the design phase as far as you can. In most cases a composition can always be better, a character better designed, a hand better drawn, etc.  This composition was very much influenced by the Sagrada Familia in Spain, as well as the amazing Sycamore trees found growing in the temples of Angkor Wat.