Been on a Monkey King kick again, as well as returning to my graphic novel, but I really want to use this winter as a time to make some big, portfolio-bulking artwork. Here's a sketch I started with, and a rough color mock-up of Monkey King defending his island, at the entrance to the South Gate of Heaven. In the story of the Monkey King, Heaven is depicted as the capital city of gods and immortals, not a paradise for the dead. There is a government there that controls all creatures on earth, and Monkey King is on their shit list for being blasphemous, and generally disobedient. So Heaven is kind of "The Man" in the story, and Monkey King just wants his independence. I've included this backstory to explain my visual interpretation of the clouds, how they need to look sinister, but still have a Holy/golden feel. Anyway... Here is a scene where the South Gates of Heaven are opening up over Monkey King's island to cast their judgment, but MK is resolute. I'll be posting progress on the final piece, once I get the clouds figured out. I'm not completely happy with them yet.
