Switched over to Tumblr like all the cool kids!

sebastianciaffaglione.tumblr.com

Studies

Just a couple of movie still studies/sketches for fun.

Path of Beasts cover

Well the final chapter of the Keepers trilogy is nearly here, and I was honored to once again paint the cover for the Aussie version. I think everyone is going to love this book when it hits shelves in October.

The only problem is now I don't have any more Keepers paintings to look forward to =/

I actually did a few more roughs for this cover, a couple of them I really grew fond of. I think I might paint one of them just for the fun of it.

And lastly here is the final version with all the design elements! (and a few alterations to the painting)

more sketches

Just a couple more Sketches done for fun.

Sketches

Bunch of sketches done for fun. Usually for Houdini's blog or OzComics on facebook, enjoy!

The Billionaire Series

                                                                     

I was lucky enough to once again work with Text Publishing, and  W H Chong, on a series of book covers for the Billionaire series.

These books are aimed at a young audience, but I tell you this is another case of me enjoying a book designed for children way too much! It is seriously a great series and I recommend you all check it out. They are in shops now.

And if you liked this series, I hear they are working on another trilogy which may or may not be starting next year =)

Lone Pine

Lone Pine is a new picture book published by the fantastic folks at Little Hare Books and written by the first time writing team of Margaret Warner and Susie Brown. Its a touching and poignant tale of the last surviving Pine Tree on the battlefield of Gallipoli and its successor which stands in the Gardens in the war memorial in Canberra.

It was my honour to illustrate the book, I hope you will all have a chance to look it up. Its out in stores now!

here are a few of the spreads-

Sandman

This one started out as a sketch for the OzComics group on facebook but I decided to work it up =)

HULK SMASH!

Puny humans!

City of Lies - Internal art

I got my copies of City of Lies in the mail last week, it looks super sweet! Here are some of the internal character portraits I did, please enjoy! They can be seen in the U.S and Aussie version.

City of lies comes out early in October don't forget to head out and grab your copy.

And to all the fans of the keepers out there, I just want to say...I have a manuscript for the 3rd book, path of Beasts sitting right here waiting to be read. =D

Bizarro

I think I'm going to do a whole series based on Superman Characters. So here is the next in the series after energy supes. These are great fun to do, I try to do a bit of work on them in the morning as a warm up or as a reward in the evening =D

On the left is the first sketch I did, which I nearly took to finish. I ended up changing directions because I felt like Biz was coming out a bit too malevolent.

Who should i do next, Powergirl or Zibarro from all Star Superman?

Superman

Here is another pic that started as a sketch for Houdini's. God bless 90's comics.

the Keepers - City of Lies

 

Here is a new book cover I did for Allen and Unwin, Its the sequel to Museum of thieves. I know a lot of people have been waiting for this one. I believe it comes out in August or September. Make sure to check out Lian’s and A&U’s website for updates.

Once again the design work was done by Josh at Design by committee and I think he did a really great job. Below you can see his handy work on the hardback edition. Also the paperback edition of Museum of thieves is out, with more illustration on the cover, yay!

On a small side note I just want to offer a big congrats to Lian, because I think this book is just going to send her fans over the edge. I have the best time drawing her characters!

Hellboy and Houdini's

Have you checked out Houdini’s last escape? The link is to the right under blogs I follow. Check it out. Each week all the participants do a sketch based on a nerd-tastic topic. I was asked to join a few weeks ago and I’ve been working my way through the backlog.

This Painting of Hellboy started as a sketch for Houdini’s. I liked it so much I decided to finish it up and maybe use it as a folio piece.  Please enjoy!

Also I’ve attached a couple of the other sketches I’ve done for the blog, click the link to see more work from me and the other talented artists!

(the top sketch is Jack Burton from Big trouble in little china, and the second sketch is a re-imagining of the Dark Knight returns with Adam West!)

I am in Desktop magazine =D

Desktop Magazine did a feature on illustration for thier May issue and I was one of the artist they showcased. A huge thanks to Illustrators Australia for the recommendation.

They have the article online now, you can check it out here.

Sage book cover

I love Alto books. They are always getting me to paint space babes. How can you not love that?

This is a cover for a book called Sage: the power within. it was written by a new young Author named Stephanie Holder and its a super bad ass action adventure. it comes out in July this year so go buy it when its out!

I feel like this is one of the strongest pieces I've done. Loved working on it and loved the long deadline =) enjoy

The Bridge cover

This book cover was done for text publishing, for a story written by Jane Higgins, who won the Text prize!

Much like Highlander, there can be only one winner of the text prize. Per year. Basically the prize is that Text will publish an outstanding unpublished manuscript. What an awesome way to break into the industry. You can check out more info on the prize here.

It's a great story, and it comes out August 1st, so go and buy it and support an awesome new book.

here is the final desgined cover, by the charming and talented W.H. Chong

It was great fun working with Chong, but it was an unusual method for me. This is the first project I've done where i was provided with a rough.


I took the rough and ran with it, and ended up in some very different directions to the original sketch by Mr Chong.

to which they replied No thanks! so i did one much more in line the original sketch.

The Big Dry

(click to embiggen)

This is a book cover I did for little hare books for a story called The Big Dry. Its written by Tony Davis. I'll do another post when it hits shelves so you can go and buy it immediately.

The process for this cover was slightly different than what I am used to, because I didn’t actually get to read the story. What I got was a brief which outlined key points in the story, and from what I read it sounds completely awesome and I cannot wait to read it.

Below is a crop in so you can see the little dewds, as well as a couple of the roughs I’d sent to the publisher. They opted for a best of both worlds approach and asked that I combine the roughs.

I really loved doing this one, so please enjoy!

Book plates and new IA website

whoops been a little while since i've posted. Its only because i have been super busy working on the best projects EVER DRAWED. This is the first of 4 or 5 posts i'll make, right NOW.


This is a book plate and it was drawn for a famous writer named Lian Tanner. She is super famous and has loads of fame, BUT she hasnt forgotten the little people. Infact she is giving these away on her website for the low low price of FOR FREE. The idea is, she will sign this book plate for you, and you can stick it in the front of your copy of Museum of Thieves.

Free guys.

Free.

If you ask me thats a pretty good deal. go on over to her website, post in her comments section and she may send you one.

www.liantanner.com

Oh yes and Illustrators Australia has updated thier website and it looks fancy but not too fancy. Go and have a look at all those great Aussie artists.

www.illustratorsaustralia.com

Kismet Magazine interview

Here is a small interview i did for Kismet magazine. Its a really cool mag, especially if you are into photography and fashion. The link to this months mag is here so enjoy!

I've attached a small part of the feature they did, its basically the text minus the art spreads =)