Jun 10, 20242 min read

Spotlight on the New Cover Version for Book One: The Messenger From Myris Dar

“It began as a rework of Rowan's armor, and grew to become an entirely new painting!"

I have been wanting to update my painting of Rowan which is featured on the cover of Book One, The Messenger From Myris Dar, for quite some time.

I decided to rework her armor to add more detail and realism to it. But as I worked, I quickly realized the rest of the painting would also require an update. Instead of trying to repaint what I already had, it became an opportunity to create a new version of the background with more expansive and epic feel.

Here is the sequence....

character painting of Rowan for The Stone Guardians illustrated fantasy book series by Kindrie Grove — Early version with a start of the new details on the armor just begun.

My ability to portray the characters in my books has expanded along with the writing, and when I first painted this piece, I loved it. But finding my way to a more detailed and realistic style has been a goal for the illustration work for this project, which meant creating new versions of the works or revisiting them.

I quickly realized that the rest of the painting needed an update...

I wanted to bring in more imagery for the city of Pellaris, and to give a grander sense of scale for the place that Rowan helps to protect.

I began with the curving battlement and the two towers, and then added the keep on the cliffs in the distance. Some foreground items were required as well, and I settled on the shield with Pellar's compass motif which is introduced in Book Three at the Pellarian Embassy in Tyrn.

Fantasy illustration by Kindrie Grove for The Stone Guardians book series featuring a warrior and on the battlements of a city — Armor and hair reworked, battlements and towers before refinement and details.

The Cover

Book one cover image featuring a painting of a warrior woman on the battlements of a city by Kindrie Grove — New cover version for The Messenger From Myris Dar

Final cover is a different format as the painting. I extended the blue of the top in photoshop and then added the text overlay in InDesign.

About the Painting

Oil on canvas

36 x 36 inches

NFS

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Spotlight on the New Cover Version for Book One: The Messenger From Myris Dar. Fantasy painting for The Stone Guardians by Kindrie Grove All art work and illustrations by ©Kindrie Grove. All written content and characters related to The Stone Guardians Books by Kindrie Grove are protected under copyright law.