The Mother of Dragons – Daenerys Targaryen, 30″ x 30″ Oil on Panel 2014, collection of George R.R. Martin and Parris McBride

It is hard to believe, but ten years ago I was in the beginning phases of work on these twelve images for George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire 2015 Calendar.  I cannot recall posting these images in their entirety here, and am including the preliminary drawings created for their development as well.  Two paintings do not have separate preliminaries, as I was rushed at the end of the process, nearing deadline, and drew directly onto my boards.

George’s world is so rich and varied, I wish there were thirty-six months to each year so I could have filled the calendar with inspired imagery!  But alas time, money, and the Gregorian twelve months limited my choices.  You can see a few of the alternative ideas I had in the concept roughs at the end of this post.

I want to point out my intent to vary the content presented from month to month – tackling intimate close ups, to groups, to battles, landscapes to architectural scenes and also weaving a hint of the dozens of various factions and characters all at play.  What an immense bundle of content to juggle!

In order to make these a perfect grouping, kept them the exact same size at 30″ x 30″, oil on panel.  I recall the effectiveness of this display from my childhood, seeing the stations of the cross on the walls of my parent’s church, small, intimate and all presented as a tight series.  If only these images could be found there instead now, what a lesson that would be!

I’ll start off with my absolute favorite from the set, The Hand of the King – Tyrion Lannister and Shae.  It now hangs in the entryway to the studio, my own personal church.

The Hand of the King – Tyrion Lannister and Shae, 30″ x 30″ Oil on Panel 2014, collection of the artist

The Night’s Watch – Jon Snow, 30″ x 30″ Oil on Panel 2014, collection of George R.R. Martin and Parris McBride

The House of Black and White – Arya Stark, 30″ x 30″ Oil on Panel 2014, collection of George R.R. Martin and Parris McBride

Forging the Iron Throne, 30″ x 30″ Oil on Panel 2014, collection of the artist

Little Birds – Vaserys, 30″ x 30″ Oil on Panel 2014, collection of William Neimeyer

Road to Kings Landing – A Storm of Swords – Jamie Lannister and Brienne of Tarth, 30″ x 30″ Oil on Panel 2014, collection of George R.R. Martin and Parris McBride

Riverrun – Robb and Catelyn Stark, 30″ x 30″ Oil on Panel 2014collection of George R.R. Martin and Parris McBride

 

What Is Dead May Never Die – Damphair, 30″ x 30″ Oil on Panel 2014, collection of the artist

Stannis Baratheon, 30″ x 30″ Oil on Panel 2014, collection of Doug Ellis and Deborah Fulton

The Cinnamon Wind – Sam Tarley and Ginny, 30″ x 30″ Oil on Panel 2014, collection of the artist

North of the Wall – Brandon Stark, 30″ x 30″ Oil on Panel 2014, collection of George R.R. Martin and Parris McBride

And to close out the process, here are the rough  concept sketches and abstracts which helped guide the research and visual development of references.

 

The Mother of Dragons – Daenerys Targaryen, 30″ x 30″ Oil on Panel 2014, collection of George R.R. Martin and Parris McBride