Scribe © Keith Thompson
Today’s image is by English/Canadian artist Keith Thompson. Thompson studied illustration at Sheridan College near Toronto and currently works internationally as a freelance artist. His work is used in books, magazines, tv, film, and video games. Most recently, he illustrated Scott Westerfeld’s young adult novel Leviathan
Thompson creates his work using black colerase pencil on 110lb paper which he then scans and glazes using soft light layers in Photoshop. Most of his pieces come with their own story. The image above is called “Scribe” – here is the story:
“A scrivener automaton working in a rather wealthy merchant’s library. The arcane procedures for creating automatons are as varied as their appearance and roles in society (servitors, military, labour, prostitution, etc). The taxidermic use of cured human remains is legalised, economical and common place in their construction (similar to how the powdered wigs in our past often used the hair of corpses). However the practice of “rendering” down living persons into an automaton state is outlawed, it is frequently employed since the resultant product tends to outperform the legal alternative. The merchant who owns this particular scribe automaton has some very extensive paperwork detailing her conformity to all applicable regulation. Despite this assurance, those who deal with her have noticed how quickly she learns new tasks, and have caught her smiling when backs are turned.”
To see more of Thompson’s amazing creations, visit KeithThompsonArt.com.