Proof for 'The Piano' arrived and approved, Available on Amazon soon

'The Piano', the print version goes on sale in about a week's time. Volume 1 looks great and there has been a lot of excitement expressed by everyone who got to see the proof. Here's one of my favorite spreads from the book. I will post details when the book goes live on Amazon, but you should be able to order one from your local bookshop soon afterwards if you prefer. ciro correia

WIP of New Illustration for 2nd Edition of The Snickitysnatcher

Unfortunately I'm not allowed to post a final copy of this illustration just yet. It's going to be in the revised edition, out at the end of April in digital and print versions. Here's a work in progress shot showing the illustration's progress from sketch to about 70% completion. I've been told the final looks stunning. Hope you enjoy the teaser, and keep checking for release dates on this absolutely 'must have copy' of 'The Snickitysnatcher'. I'm thinking of giving away a signed poster print of the final, closer to release date. Would anyone be keen on trying to win a copy in a lottery style give away?

About the Illustration: The Illustration is of Dione, the leader of the fairies from the forest around Fangtop. She plays a pivotal role in Indigo's rescue and in getting her to understand the danger she is in. I based the character loosely on Minerva, my favorite Higher Power. She is the goddess of art, magic, wisdom and learning.

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New cover, 2nd Edition - Revised, coming soon!

I'm currently working on the 2nd Edition of 'The Snickitysnatcher'. I've revised the text to fit more with my original vision for the story. I'm adding a few more illustrations. Full color paintings for the digital version and grayscale copies in the print version. It will be out by the end of April. We'll be making a formal press release next month, so keep your eyes peeled. ciro correia

One of my favorite panels from THE PIANO

THE PIANO has personal significance to me from a few points of view. It is my debut work in this medium, and a long time coming. It represents a breakthrough on a personal level as I wrestled through my own issues, blocks, inadequacies and handicaps to a place where I have been able to create, regardless of the challenges presented to me by life. This is mirrored in the story, not intentionally as I never meant it to be autobiographical in anyway. I guess all of us struggle with our own demons, trying to overcome them as best we can. It's funny that when we see success we almost never see the struggle and sacrifice to get there, yet very few people don't have to deal with the realities of life when building a dream. The hardships one faces when building a dream is not the focus. For me it has been important to remember for who I am building. It is so easy to get lost within the desire to see a story complete or a novel written. It is easy to lose those you love within that overwhelming drive to create, but the ones I love are the ones who keep me sane and inspired. Balance has been the key to my moving forward, and my wonderful family has been my core. 

The creative process is so powerful and overwhelming, I can't switch it off. It is who I am. Truly, creativity is within and unstoppable.

Here is one of my favorite panels, the boy reaches out tentatively towards the mysterious piano. Not knowing what will happen next, whether it will come alive with the music he had just heard or whether it will stay cold and silent as he now sees it on stage. Art must be wooed like a jealous mistress. ciro correia

Page 6, Panel 3 - THE PIANO

Press Release: The Piano

THE PIANO: CREATIVITY IS WITHIN AND UNSTOPPABLE.

Left hand books presents volume one of the beautifully illustrated story of a young boy's journey to discovering his purpose.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE!

The story is narrated by the protagonist, now an old man looking back at a life event that happened in his childhood which transformed his life and the lives of everyone around him. As a boy he discovers a latent talent by mistake, a gift to play the piano. When he plays, the music ignites his imagination and powerfully affects those around him. It is a gift of beauty, not only for his own use but for all to enjoy; but, he is blocked from playing or thinking about music. The boy's gift, however, cannot be stopped. Part one follows the story of how the boy discovers his gift and finds the inner strength that will finally explode into the 'real' world in part two.

The Piano is the first graphic novel written and illustrated by Ciro Correia, author of the fantasy novel 'The Snickitysnatcher'. Correia takes his influence from the great Hayao Miyazaki from Studio Ghibli in the way in which he blends beautiful visuals with stories.

'I want to create beautiful things, beautiful stories,with my art and my words. It is about the story telling aspect, no matter what the theme or genre. Whether, the stories and art are modern, grotesque, real, fantastical or cute, I want my stories to speak and to have their own voices. To speak to us about our desires and the human condition, but also to inspire. To ultimately draw us towards a positive and connect us with a higher note.'

The Piano is available from Amazon for Kindle

The book trailer is viewable on Youtube

For more information visit the author's blog: www.thehiddenway.blogspot.com

Follow Ciro Correia on Twitter: https://twitter.com/CiroCorreia

Visit the author on Facebook

For other books by this author visit Amazon.

To schedule an interview and/or receive a review copy of The Piano please email: correia.ciro@gmail.com

The Piano - cover

Release date for 'The Piano' is  - 3 March 2013. Here is the cover illustration for the Graphic Novel.
Everything ready to roll. It will be released exclusively on kindle first, followed by dead tree copies soon. Please get yourself a copy on the 3rd, I'll be posting up links to the book on the third.

Studio Wall...

I have been madly at work in final production of 'The Piano', to be released March. Here's a shot of my Studio wall, I'm running through a final check of the storyboard and pace of the story. Checking for consistency and so on. I'm doing the cover illustrations and will probably post some on that. I'm still to post a video tut on Weep, haven't forgotten. Time has just run away from me, but will do it soonish. Promise.

I've illustrated 'The Piano' in a very different style to how I usually do things. I'm looking forward to going into a different mode with the cover illustration. My second novel is well on its way now and I have a steep deadline for it, but I'm excited about the illustrations and concepts for it.

Late for Halloween...

Pencil drawings and digital work collide. This is one of my charming (cough) children's story about a bug's revenge over Halloween. Beelzebug's speech to the other bugs about how they can take back the season. (Did I mention it's unpublished... any publishers interested? *wink*)

Weep

New Illustration, keep your eyes posted to this blog for a demonstration tutorial where I cover the whole process from expanding the initial thumbnail, rough sketch, color planning to final painting. My aim with the demonstration is to help others as much as I can. Its a love gift to anyone who wants to learn more from the universe through me... so I hope it does help. I'm editing and 'voice overing' so I'm hoping to get it up here within the next week. I'm doing it in between writing my next book (due early next year) and illustrating my first comic book (also due very early next year preview of page 23 ). If you like contemporary fantasy please consider buying my debut novel: The Snickitysnatcher HERE

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Page 23 of 'The Piano'

My first comic book is set for release early next year and I'm trying to nail some steep deadlines. Here is, with the kind permission of my editor, a preview of work in progress on page 23. On another note, I'm currently working on a painting demo video (on the side to keep me sane) that I'll post up as soon as I'm finished. Hopefully it will inspire and help.

Older Illustrations - The Juniper Tree

These are from 'The Juniper Tree' by Brothers Grimm (My illustrated version). It is one of my absolute favorite Grimm fairy tales, I remember finding an old dusty copy of Grimms at my local library when I was about eleven. Reading it late into the night. Probably post more of these sometime. My personal favorite out of these three is blood in the snow.

The Imperial Road - Concept Art

Created from the rough sketch, done in sectional perspective, in last post here is a Concept piece featuring 'the Imperial road'. I did this concept for my new book (title undisclosed as yet) due out at the end of the year. It is meant to give a feel of the terrain and area that the imperial road runs through as it winds through the northern most province of the great empire. The artwork and illustrations in this book will be substantially different to my debut novel which were pencil sketches and concepts (if you have not bought my book yet - or at least checked the free downloadable sample out - shame on you! Go download it right now here: The Snickitysnatcher or at Barnes and Noble here: The Snickitysnatcher at BN or if you have an ipad and feel compeled to only buy through Apple, at the ibook store here: The Snickitysnatcher through itunes .
The Barnes and Noble site has a really cool 'look inside instantly feature' - :)

Concept Sketch for new book and other projects

I'm currently working on two, exciting large scale projects amongst my smaller scale projects. Firstly, I'm working on my first 'comic book' slash graphic novel, written - illustrated etc on my own. It is going to be interesting, currently looking at my options on publishing. Storyboards are pretty much done and preliminary sketching is under way. The deadline has not been set in stone as yet but I'm hoping to get it all done before December. The second project is well on its way and getting me excited. Here is a concept sketch done for my new novel set for release and to be published near the end of this year. The sketch is of 'the imperial road' which runs through a huge empire. Some of the main characters travel along the road at one time in the novel, armies march off towards rebel provinces and ultimately some battles are fought on it. This is just the preliminary concept sketch of the road and terrain. Will post some from sketches and completed art from this project from time to time for those who want a sneak peek. Sketched out in Photoshop with brushes.

Screen capture of one of illustrations from 'The Snickitysnatcher'

You can purchase the book, or download a free 15% sample here: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/174900

"The Snick Waits" Illustration - part 1 from Ciro Correia on Vimeo.

Book cover Illustration - C'est La Vie

Something completely different. Book cover for 'C'est La Vie' by Margaret Heslop. 

The Snickitysnatcher - Digital Book available.

I launched the digital version of my book 'The Snickitysnatcher' yesterday. Written and Illustrated by myself, it is a contemporary fantasy story about an unlikely hero who is drawn into a game of trickery and deceit against an ancient evil - the Snickitysnatcher! The book has many pencil and concept illustrations in it; the 'Special Edition' will contain much more as well as have several full color paintings.

You can download a free sample (about 10% of the book) at the link provided. If you like it please purchase it, your support will be appreciated. Please support an Independent writer and Freelance Illustrator. BUY IT HERE: The Snickitysnatcher

Here is the cover illustration, (copyright 2012 Ciro Correia):

Darkness Falls

A few tweaks might follow, but till then I'm done.

Painting Process - WIP : Sojourner and the dragons.

Aside from some minor details I want to add at a later date I'm calling this finished.

Files crashed and corrupted, lost all my work from the image below on. By some sheer luck I managed to patch back some of the work done from fragments of files and losing other portions. Think I know what happened but it could very well be weird electromagnetic debris from our recent solar max for all I know. The patched file with some additions Posted above:

Working back to front, pass by pass ;)

It begins... developing a visual language for...

Some early rough sketches for conceptual work on 'The Piano'. Will be posting more into this post as time goes past. This is for 'The Piano Hall'. Coming up, details, props, and characters.

Below: describing the objects in the hall

 Please be reminded that ALL ARTWORK AND TEXT COPYRIGHT © CIRO CORREIA, UNLESS OTHERWISE ATTRIBUTED TO THE RESPECTIVE COPYRIGHT OWNER - IT IS ILLEGAL TO PUBLISH OR PRINT ANY SUCH ARTWORK OR TEXT WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION BY THE ARTIST. I guess I'm saying just ask me.

Mr. Casau - Character sketch

So I'm trying out different styles and trying to show versatility. I know I can do anything, but my portfolio has to show it or no one else will know. Just wish I had the time do all the things I want in one fell sweep! I'm planning to post some 'machines' soon. More characters - not so stylized - serious villains and more technical stuff. I love painting fantasy and sci-fi subject matter but that's not all I can do.

 The original rough sketch - doodle mode :) 

Line drawing complete:

Alternate 1:

Alternate 2 (shadow added):