Drawing for Dwelling - Votives

Candlelight

In Chapter Twenty Nine of @dougkarr's novel Dwelling the power is still out in Ludlow Street, and as darkness descends the candles and fires are lit. In this post you can see the process of how I created the illustration 'Votives' for Chapter Twenty Nine of Dwelling.

Walking into the building foyer Morris found Stella, the young African who lived in the super’s apartment, crouched down lighting votive candles in the hallway. She looked up, but Morris moved past without acknowledging her. The last thing he needed was another blind idealist trying to brighten his mood.

Chapter Twenty Nine of Dwelling by Doug Karr.

Creating an illustration for Dwelling

I don't normally share poorly lit photographs, but for this chapter of Dwelling it seemed very fitting, I started to draw this image at the end of the day but as the sun faded the light became to poor to draw by.

She'd given up trying to find anything in the dark, and she'd had enough with fires for a lifetime, feeling more comfortable in the pitch-blackness than surrounded by candles.

Chapter Twenty Nine of Dwelling by Doug Karr.

I resumed work on the picture the next day when daylight had returned. I applied layers of ink and water to the image to create a range of tones. Once the drawing was dry I applied finer detail to the image using a dip pen and drawing ink.

'Votives'

Ink on paper

In the living room candles burned all around, Kondwani lay under a blanket, her eyes focused on her children sleeping nearby. Abruptly she sprang to her feet and marched towards the bedroom.

Chapter Twenty Nine of Dwelling by Doug Karr.

You can read the 29th chapter of Doug Karr's novel Dwelling now!

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Have a great day and Steem on!