THE GRANITE SHIELD
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| © JODY A. LEE |
Oils, inks, 12/98, 19"x27", signed lower left.
A wonderful swashbuckling tale of two brothers, fighting for the elder to become ruler of Branion and Avatar of the Fire God. Branion is an alternate fantasy Britain and the period in this book I determined to be around the crusades, so I have dressed Rhys & Llewen as knights of that era with the gryphon of Gwyneth on their capes. Behind them is their ancestor Bran's legendary granite shield afire with the power of the Living Flame, while the inset panel shows their followers setting fire the ships of the Aristok. While this picture shows them bearded, that turned out to be a mistake and the actual artwork has them clean shaven as they are on the book cover. I still prefer them bearded, and the buyer can have the option of having me return them to their original bristly (but literally incorrect) condition.
I so enjoy Fiona's books. Her characters have such verve, life and passion, and the struggles between her nobles and kings move with swift, bloody, ambition. Such writing inspired me to choose a fresher and more painterly style to match.