Queen Hera

While working on my Demeter painting I drew this in my sketchbook.  It may be the start of a collection.

  

   

Medium: Graphite on paper    
Dated: 2020
Original size: 14"x 11"

All images are ™ & © dba Albrecht Illustrations. All rights reserved.

The Goddess Demeter Waits in Eleusis for Spring's Return

This illustration depicts Demeter, the goddess of the harvest who presides over the bounty and fertility of the earth, waiting in her temple at the ancient city of Eleusis for her daughter, Persephone.  

The tale goes that Hades fell in love with Persephone and abducted her, taking her to the Underworld to be his wife.  Demeter searched relentlessly for her daughter and the seasons came to a halt.  With the earth at the brink of starvation, Zeus sent Hermes to fetch Persephone.  Hades would only release her if she had not eaten anything while in his domain.  Alas, poor Persephone had eaten a few seeds of a pomegranate and so was partially bound to the Underworld and Hades for certain months of the year, hence Fall and Winter.  The arrival of Spring means that Demeter will be reunited with her daughter and so she waits anxiously in anticipation of that meeting.

Here is the painting in progress:   

  

   

Medium: Oil on Crescent™ Cold Press board    
Dated: 2020
Original size: 20"x 30"

All images are ™ & © dba Albrecht Illustrations. All rights reserved.

Nyx the Primordial Goddess of the Night

This illustration of the Greek primordial goddess of the night, Nyx.  She was born out the chaos of creation and mated with Erebus, the primordial deity of darkness. Together they created: Aether (Brightness), Hemera (Day), Moros (Destiny), Keres (Destruction), Thanatos (Death), Hypnos (Sleep), Oneiroi (Dreams), and several more children.

She resides in Tartarus and is considered to be a deity of such exceptional power and beauty that she is feared by Zeus himself.

This illustration will be painted in oil on masonite panel.  Work in progress.  

Medium: Graphite
Dated: 2020
Original size: 14"x 11"

All images are ™ & © dba Albrecht Illustrations. All rights reserved.

Divine Irony

This illustration of Lucifer Morningstar was inspired by DC Vertigo's comic book series Lucifer, a spinoff of Neil Gaimon's The Sandman series and by Dante Alighieri's The Divine Comedy.  Lucifer is a handsome devil dressed in a tuxedo shown reading and being amused by Dante's first volume, Inferno.   

Medium: Oil on paper on masonite panel
Dated: 2020
Original size: 10"x 8"

All images are ™ & © dba Albrecht Illustrations. All rights reserved.

The Witcher Geralt of Rivia

In November of 2019 I purchased the Xbox One video game called The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.  I never played the prior two games, however, I fell in love with the setting, story, and especially the characters.  I discovered that the game was based on a bestselling book series by author Andrzej Sapkowski and that Netflix had just adapted the series into a tv show.

I binge watched the first season and started reading the first novel, The Last Wish.  I really love the main character, the witcher known as Geralt of Rivia, the White Wolf and Butcher of Blaviken.  I was pleasantly surprised to find out that Henry Cavill, the actor who plays Geralt on the Netflix show, is also in love with the witcher.  He played the games, read the books, and advocated for the role.  His dedication to the role and brilliant performance inspired me to create this painting.  

Medium: Oil on Crescent cold press illustration board
Dated: 2020
Original size: 12"x 9"

All images are ™ & © dba Albrecht Illustrations. All rights reserved.

Young Flying Fox

I have always loved and been fascinated with bats.  I have drawn them several times over the years, yet they have always been in flight with wings extended.  This time I decided to challenge myself and draw a young flying fox hanging from a tree with its wings contracted.  

Here it is in progress:        

Medium: Graphite on sketch paper
Dated: 2020
Original size: 9"x 12"

All images are ™ & © dba Albrecht Illustrations. All rights reserved.

Snowy Owl in Flight

At the beginning of the year I joined an art group called 42 Sketches.  The idea is to create sketchbook art everyday in order to both exercise the hand and form a habit.  While writing my book, I had stopped working on art and so I joined the group to motivate myself.

This is a snowy owl in flight.  It is the very first owl I have ever drawn.  I have always admired owls but I let my fear of failure prevent me from attempting it.  I loved working on this and I am happy with how it turned out!
        

Detail of the face

  

Medium: Graphite on sketch paper
Dated: 2020
Original size: 9"x 12"

All images are ™ & © dba Albrecht Illustrations. All rights reserved.