Nicasia (Steampunk illustration for the fantasy book "The Court of Mirrors")
![Nicasia - by Priscilla Hernandez (yidneth.com)-5.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/640x0/https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmSBpDSmpGoMi6gvZrJqxRRQjJRCvBpcMTMqQbRTLXbbCW/Nicasia%20-%20by%20Priscilla%20Hernandez%20(yidneth.com)-5.jpg)
Here is an example of one Steampunk fantasy illustration I did as commissioned work for the Fantasy/Steampunk novel "La Corte de los Espejos" premier some years ago. It's Summer and as I picked a book to read again, I chose to give a second read to this one and that's why I'm sharing this :)
This post though includes some works in progress and sketches not shared before as an example and has the purpose to showcase an example of my work as illustrator. Even if Steampunk is not my usual genre It was fun to draw and this small blog includes the previous stages and works in progress as well as some background information.
The book "The Court of Mirrors" released in 2013 in Spain and was the first installment in a duology. The book had a sequel "The Last Spring" (La última primavera) that I'm looking forward to buy and read.
Here is a picture of my edition of "La Corte de los Espejos" (I did not make the cover). Still it was a surprise to receive a surprise parcel with the novel andIt came with a custom dedicatory for me :)
Keep this volume within rats reach
And a sweet note from the author mentioning my music had helped in the process of writing it which was very sweet and encouraging.
![cortedelosespejos.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/640x0/https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmSbaY93DQ7uyWjHMbkv7YBYDiuEAs5uxMMhvXwHgF8n22/cortedelosespejos.jpg)
So what is Steampunk?
Steampunk is an anachronic or retrofuturistic sci-fi/fantasy genre inspired in XIX industrial steam powered machines like those depicted in Jules Verne, or H.G. Wells (writers that I particularly love). Steampunk has become a fashion trend too among cosplayers (people who dress up in elaborate costumes) in fantasy conventions worldwide, featuring often victorian fashion, corsets, goggles and ornaments with gears mimicking pieces of machinery and gadgets. Though the book featured in this post has Steampunk Elements in aesthetics, it is more a cross over with fantasy though.
"The Mirrors Court" : A Novel by Concepción Perea
The drawing at the beginning of this article was made for the presentation of the Spanish Fantasy book "La Corte de los Espejos" (The Mirrors Court) written by talented novelist Concepción Perea. A thrilling combination of fantasy and Steampunk. The lead character is Nicasia who I portray in the illustration. She is a half knocker engineer and just one of the many complex and amazing magical characters in this novel including a charming Cat-like Pooka called Dujal which whom she has a great dynamic. The Court of Mirrors is the capital of Terra Linde, a place where the "fairy folk" don't believe in the existence of humans. It was a bestseller in my country and I may say happy because it was written by a talented friend. I sang myself in the presentation and my friends dressed like the characters of the book for it, it was super fun!
![Nicasia - by Priscilla Hernandez (yidneth.com)-8.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/640x0/https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmRfsXLhnjhAbrnVsVGKYx3QyWBgKXHSpCVpsPhm23jYNP/Nicasia%20-%20by%20Priscilla%20Hernandez%20(yidneth.com)-8.jpg)
Above: Additional super small illustration of the character for a cameo necklace that was gifted to the writer. I love to paint in miniatures as part of one of a kind hand painted jewellery and accessories. There are always usually some art on sale on my shop but I also do small commissions like this one. So this was my first attempt to sketch the character. Grumpy knocker Nicasia.
Some WIP (Work in progress)
Preliminary sketch
I did this drawing all the wrong way, barely sketching the composition or anything at all I just went for it doing a quick doodle of the character, and I paid for may lack of patience (starting to paint before I had already finished the doodle)
![Nicasia - by Priscilla Hernandez (yidneth.com).jpg](https://steemitimages.com/640x0/https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmRbLwrcZrpW128FLvvKowL7uEKityzXgYK4tsvXyvLFcX/Nicasia%20-%20by%20Priscilla%20Hernandez%20(yidneth.com).jpg)
First colour wash and detailing
So many mistakes in this first attempt to colour the illustration, many things had to be corrected, I didn't like the flat light and I decided to make it warmer by lamplight kind of illustration. Eyes were too big and cartoonish and she was just not "bitter" enough. In the initial sketch I knew right away she was "too pretty" for the character and I had to add her a frown. Concepción likes very much BJD (ball joint dolls) so that's why I chose to make her with big eyes. The puppet/robot is key in the representations of the character.
![nicasia_colortest.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/640x0/https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmdTeeyTiJJ6TSnEMPzN9Jew3gdnP2n6RVe5danrppQyrD/nicasia_colortest.jpg)
Some details and close ups
![Nicasia - by Priscilla Hernandez (yidneth.com)-4.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/640x0/https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmaTEmj7Zwv8dGJM8Lyv99RF46FaUFMqiAqLco1VLxXwwf/Nicasia%20-%20by%20Priscilla%20Hernandez%20(yidneth.com)-4.jpg)
![Nicasia - by Priscilla Hernandez (yidneth.com)-6.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/640x0/https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmXPZG9XDUcg7VG6AXa5PsZsp73AgVtAAG2DtnXMkpzhEH/Nicasia%20-%20by%20Priscilla%20Hernandez%20(yidneth.com)-6.jpg)
And yet again the final result with highlights and final colour
![Nicasia - by Priscilla Hernandez (yidneth.com)-5.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/640x0/https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmSBpDSmpGoMi6gvZrJqxRRQjJRCvBpcMTMqQbRTLXbbCW/Nicasia%20-%20by%20Priscilla%20Hernandez%20(yidneth.com)-5.jpg)
This illustration has a couple of years and I see so many mistakes now in it that I could polish easily but well this is how it was released and for the first time I'm including some of the preliminary work.
- Check another post featuring another Steampunk illustration of me
https://steemit.com/art/@yidneth/the-green-fairy-la-fee-verte-my-steampunk-illustration-wip-and-background-story
Priscilla Hernandez
singer-songwriter & illustrator
http://yidneth.com
Very much like you’re style.
I'm blown away ... and even if you say that you see so many mistakes you could easily improve / correct ... I sit here and think "What is she talking about? I can not see mistakes at all!". But maybe it's because I'm not an artist myself in this way, I'm not familiar enough with Steampunk in general ... I don't know. The only thing I know for sure, is that I love this very much!
Aww thanks so much... Well the mistakes it carries was because if hurrying it starting to paint without plotting details. If an engineer would try to make sense of the mechanisms in her wings woud giggle lol but hope they look as if they would work ;) wink
Absolutely so incredibly wonderful I nearly can't think of anything else to say - but I will anyway!
I really like Steampunk in general, it offers such a diverse experience of modern technology meets historical industrial equipment. And H.G.Wells is very high up on my author list too, The Island of Doctor Moreau probably being my favourite.
Incredible detail and precision in this piece, so very stunning it's amazing to see your first sketch - and the close up details - a few of which I missed despite looking at the main picture so many times - so much to take in.
I am really so very impressed with this, you have an amazing talent thank you so much for sharing this.
#thealliance #witness
Thank you, both my released CDs are illustrated. I am more into fantasy but I enjoy Steampunk because I love XIX literature, Wells of course but also more spectral like Hodgson, M.R.James, Maupassant. And why don't gentleman still wear cravats and waistcoats lol.
Thank you
I love this so much, Priscilla!
Before I even read any of your process explanation, I appreciated her expression. While bitterness isn't necessarily how I initially read it, she did seem clearly forlorn and 'guarded' – something wounded and untrusting in her eyes.
Absolutely gorgeous. <3 More, please!
Yes, Nicasia has trust issues for sure. It wasa fun exercise, and thanks for the encouragement. I have always felt less aknowledged as illustrator even if all my music projects are illustrated. Yidneth in factvis not me but a graphic novel. Thanks for the pic too. Your comments always come with art themselves
Your illustration deserves attention/recognition. I'm glad you've begun sharing it more! <3
Aww thanks Zippy, I wake up today to a minicurie in it and made me happy. I must spend a time painting now, doing a lot for the new album thinking about dliving while drawing.
is this ginkgo? magical photo as always Zippster <3
YES!! <3 You win a golden star! ;)
Thank you, dear.
I love Steem Punk and how it looks but this is another side of you that is awesome and surprised me!
Have you done any Steempunk inspired music??
I have performed in steampunk events but it is not industrial. What steampunk music by deffinition is loose, shifts anyway. I met fantasy bands that just shifted gowns. But I am more into eic fantasy music. Still I have done steampunk art and my friends organize a steampunk convention, so I even cosplay from time to time. Aww thanks gor the shill. All my cds are geeky illustrated books. Painting again these days.
This post was shared in the Curation Collective Discord community for curators, and upvoted and resteemed by the @c-squared community account after manual review.
This is simply so great!!! Love it so much! You have so many talents, I am really impressed!
Aww thanks so much for your constant support
beautiful work my dear friend. I have a question for you...
How big of a fan are you?
Oh I love the Iron Giant. I can totally see it, though my own Underliving have round eyes, and I also find the design in earlier works like Nausicaa. But yes it is there and I love the Iron Giant the glimpse of it is clear.
I cry every single time
You chose what you want to be
Superman
Wee for the Easter Egg
Beautiful soundtrack too. I love movies that make me laugh AND cry, very underrated, this one is a rollercoaster of emotions
duuuuude, did the little marionette doll made you think of the Iron giant... I was thinking about it too.... chibi
giant :D
Everything you do blows me away Pris. Your music, your art, you in general... you're like a super talented supernatural fairy angel.
She does look wounded to me as well, like zippy says.
Stunning!
Wow.. This very special painting, I like this one, so unique in my opinion
Thank you, not my most personal work as it was commissioned but really proud of my patience in it. The gears and things, it felt good to complete because I do not usually have the patience.