Newgrove

January 03, 2020

Newgrove

Black ink and colour pencil on illustration board.

Myrdemmon was born and grew up in Newgrove in Miras. Newgrove was the name of the mansion on the hill, and was the name of the town that once surrounded the hill. In the foreground, Amadese, Myrdemmon's father, drives back to Newgrove with Provetan. The design of the yellow house on the hill is based on that of a Tasmanian brewery.

The View from Newgrove

Pencil and probably acrylic or gouache on illustration board.

Many regions within Miras had no concept of day and night because there was no cyclical variation between light and dark. Lighting conditions may be constant indefinitely. The inhabitants of Newgrove had a concept of time nevertheless, at one time measured using water clocks, and later with mechanical ones. There was a time, the equivalent of some centuries before, when the region of Newgrove was shrouded in darkness for some decades. They did not know the cause of the shadow, or of its later disappearance.

Newgrove 1

Pencil on photocopy paper.

The design of Newgrove derives from one of the thumbnail sketches (top-right) in Miras Interior 5 (Miras).

Newgrove 2

Pencil on photocopy paper.

Newgrove 3

Pencil on photocopy paper.

The Newgrove mansion is built at the front or bow of a large ship-like structure. At the rear or stern of this, in the distance is an opening into a more brightly lit region. In fact there is a rectangular opening on either side of the stern of the ship-like structure.

Newgrove 4
Pencil on photocopy paper.

Here we see the two rectangular openings from the outside. We can see the rear of the large ship-like structure inside.

Newgrove 5
Pencil on photocopy paper.

If we pull back, we see the two rectangular apertures are at the top of a large pillar, rising out of a body of water.

Newgrove 6
Pencil on photocopy paper.

The view from either of the apertures.

Newgrove 7
Pencil on photocopy paper.

Another version of the view.

An early Newgrove design

Photocopy of probably a pencil drawing on paper.

Perhaps an early Newgrove design
Pencil on photocopy paper.

Newgrove 8
Pencil on photocopy paper.

I couldn't stick with the Tasmanian brewery as the design of the Newgrove mansion, so I tried to develop a design.

Newgrove 9
Pencil on photocopy paper.

Newgrove 10
Pencil on photocopy paper.

Front yard of Newgrove
Pencil on photocopy paper.

The wall in the foreground was not built until after the flood. Other large creatures similar to Traselew were wandering around. Although they didn't seem hostile, one brushed up against the mansion, causing damage. So they built the wall to keep them out.

Newgrove 11
Pencil on photocopy paper.

Glasshouse

Pencil on paper.

Behind the Newgrove mansion is a glasshouse containing a special tree. Aside from the trunk, the tree is completely covered in large red, fleshy flowers that perpetually bloom. Small petals constantly emerge from the centre of each flower, and grow as they move to the perimeter, and finally disappear behind the flower. So that each flower appears to be turning itself inside out. Each cycle takes only a few seconds. The tree predates the habitation at Newgrove. The glasshouse and mansion were built around it.

New Stuff Prep.

Newgrove 12
Pencil on photocopy paper.

In the new stuff period or shortly before I decided to take the design of the Newgrove mansion in a different direction. I wanted it to be more of a lordly manor and less of a suburban terrace house. At the time Myrdemmon was there, there were few people in the house, but before the flood it was the centre of a town.

Newgrove 13
Pencil on photocopy paper.

Newgrove 14
Pencil on photocopy paper.

Newgrove 15
Pencil on photocopy paper.

Newgrove 16
Pencil on photocopy paper.

Newgrove 17
Pencil on photocopy paper.

Newgrove 18
Pencil on photocopy paper.

Newgrove 19
Pencil on photocopy paper.

Newgrove Mansion

Pencil on A2 cartridge paper.

Old Newgrove 0

Pencil on A2 cartridge paper.

Old Newgrove 0 Addendum a
Pencil on A2 cartridge paper (detail).

I didn't like the foreground buildings in Old Newgrove 0, so I had another go at it in Old Newgrove 0 Addendum a (mainly making the buildings taller). I still don't like them so I'll need to revisit it again.

Old Newgrove 1a (final pencil)

Pencil on A3 photocopy paper.

Old Newgrove 1b (final pencil)
Pencil on A4 photocopy paper.

Old Newgrove 1c (final pencil)
Pencil on A4 photocopy paper.

See Old Newgrove 1 on New Stuff for the finished images.

Old Newgrove 1 (detail)

Photoshop.

In the Old Newgrove period the Newgrove mansion had been without a lord for some years. Myrdemmon's ancestors being reluctant to move to this backwater. The mansion was largely empty except for a handful of minor relatives and enough staff to attend them and maintain those parts of the mansion that had not been closed off. Eventually one of Myrdemmon's ancestors, a bookish introvert seeking peace and quiet, agreed to maintain the place and fulfill his familial obligations. Arriving there one day by carriage with his two personal body servants.