Illustration Fortnight Fun - 5th to 17th November - Dream

[Nicole Umina]

*~Welcome to the new Illustration Thread~*
This thread will be fortnightly like the photography and will present prompts for those out there with a tendency towards the more figurative or graphic style of art. It will be run by the lovely Bonnie and Myself with 2 challenges/prompts/demonstrations a month.

This month we are exploring Gary’s Dream theme by looking at Neil Gaiman’s Sandman characters Dream and his sibling, the androgynous Desire. The first fortnight will be dealing with the character Dream. Remember, just because the characters original form is in graphic style doesn’t mean you have to reproduce it. This is all about playing with a description - interpreting it and having fun. Works can be of any size and any medium and any level. Be it doodle, sketch, charcoal or painting, whatever you are comfortable with. It doesn’t have to be perfect just try out something new or enjoying an old thing you haven’t done in a while.

Dream's Character Description
Even if you are unfamiliar with Neil Gaiman’s Sandman series, as a character Dream is an irresistible challenge. In the context of the Sandman series, Dream is both lord and personification of all dreams and stories – all that is not in reality he rules: he is one of the seven Endless, a group of inconceivably powerful beings older and greater than the known Gods.


His appearance has been known to change depending on who sees him and how he wishes to be perceived. Generally he appears as a tall thin man of bone white skin, black hair and silver or white stars looking out from where his eyes should be; and if angered they blaze red. It truly depends on who is perceiving him – when addressing the Egyptian Goddess Bast he appeared as a cat headed God. Like a dream he clouds himself in the shades of others perceptions. He customarily wears black sometimes with a flame motif. When in battle he wears a helmet made from the skull and backbone of a defeated enemy god, which face on resembles a World War II era gas mask.


Truly for an illustrator or any artist the mind boggles at the possibilities a Character like Dream can bring to paper. Don’t be scared – jump in and have a go. Remember doodle it – sketch it – paint it – inkblot it. Just enjoy the change. It's about experiencing something new and learning along the way.

The images of Dream in this Discussion are a mix of Fan Art and the Original Sandman series

Happy Doodle - Sketching - Painting - Playing!

[Beverley]

Because I spend long periods living under rocks I had never heard of this before, so did what any nornal person might do and googled it!

Wiki writeup

Neil Gaimans personal website

I have discovered there is a huge amount of there if you use Google and are like me unfamiliar with Neil Gaiman's work or you live under a rock!

[Nicole Umina]

it's been years since I have read the sandman and wiki helped me refine the characters description. wiki is the little mini god of information lol

[Beverley]

I also found this video made by a fan of the Sandman Series, that was uploaded to Youtube a few years ago, its interesting to hear what he has to say about the comic book series and he even has a short piece of video footage of him and Neil Gaiman.

[Nicole Umina]

oooo Beverley thank you for this. it's great a Fantastic run down of what Sandman is - He makes me proud to be a geek lol

Thank you!

[Beverley]

Yes I know exactly what you mean, when I saw the very beginning part I thought "oh no" but he quickly gets to the point of his conversation so I figured I would let him off this time! LOL

[Jenni]

Oh this is a wonderful video! He does a wonderful job of explaining this!

[Diana Quinn]

uhh... he was right. it was rambling. and way long. And I still don't know that much about Sandman. And the video-- his question got no answer! so....
But this is a fascinating subject, and I've fallen into the internet looking Gaiman up - sort of like Alice in the rabbit hole....

[Nicole Umina]

Gaiman is one of those lucky writers that can cross genres - from Sandman to Coraline to American Gods - he's brilliant and I love him.

Dream (who has lots of names and that is just one of them) is a fascinating character to play with because there are few rules and you can use your imagination to conjure up your image of him. :)

[Bonnie Rose]

My interpretation of "Dream" ...

These clips were taken from my live drawing session on BlogTV, on 4 Nov. 2009. They are shown in actual speed.

This was a good exercise for me, as I don't often draw male figures. I'm considering doing a small painting of him... we shall see!


First, I quickly sketched him with a mechanical pencil. I traced the lines and added shading with a black ink pen. (it's a Pilot Super Gel 0.7, if anyone's interested, hehe.)

[Nicole Umina]

This is a wonderful interpretation Bonnie - I watched in in the wee hours this morning when I couldn't sleep and it calmed me right now. Sometimes there is nothing nicer then just sketching.

[Jay]

thanks adding this challenge. I have been reading comics for so long. I am looking forward to get started on this.

[Nicole Umina]

Your welcome Jay! It makes a nice change. can't wait to see what you come up with.