David Gil

A gouache sketch of the protagonist of my upcoming picturebook "The Crossing of Akau". It's a tale of self-discovery and redemption, set in the island kingdom of Tonga in the mythical past. Stay tuned for more sneak peeks and the future launch date! 😀🙏 . . . #opaquewatercolor #gouacheillustration #traditionalartwork #gouacheportrait #gouachesketch #modelsheet #characterdesign #polynesian #kidlitart #tonga #picturebookillustration #paintingwip #picturebookart https://www.instagram.com/p/B2AQwNGhC14/?igshid=18mvsz7ek3x44

A gouache sketch of the protagonist of my upcoming picturebook "The Crossing of Akau". It's a tale of self-discovery and redemption, set in the island kingdom of Tonga in the mythical past. Stay tuned for more sneak peeks and the future launch date! 😀🙏 . . . #opaquewatercolor #gouacheillustration #gouachepainting #gouacheportrait #gouachesketch #modelsheet #characterdesign #polynesian #kidlitart #tonga #picturebookillustration #paintingwip https://www.instagram.com/p/B0y7HWylZKm/?igshid=kna6ivyh7e85

A quick sketch of a view of the Convent of St.a Clara, from the banks of the River Ave in Villa do Conde, a town in northern Portugal. . . . #topographicalart #tinteddrawing #lineandwash #urbansketching #sketchbook #watercolors #watercolourist #watercolorlandscape #watercolorsketch #viladoconde #portugal #traditionalart #landscapeart https://www.instagram.com/p/B0wdJjZBaIp/?igshid=1jllxwtnyu9y2

Summertime sketching, picking out little known gems of the portuguese countryside. This is a bell tower of an enormous church in the town of Azurara, south of the city of Villa do Conde, through the River Ave. Turns out most of the building is hidden by woods. . . . #topographicalart #penandink #pentelbrushpen #sketchbook #urbansketchers #portugal #azurara #viladoconde #belltower #oldarchitecture #church #drawingoftheday #artstagram #monochromeart https://www.instagram.com/p/B0t6Rqalt-Y/?igshid=hqec9lccyczt

A bronze bust of the quintessential portuguese poet, Luís de Camões, which is located in a rather secluded and quiet corner of the Foz seaside promenade in Porto. Sketched early in the morning, on a bespoke sketchbook bound by @anac_alvim . . . #portugueseculture #porto #fozdodouro #urbansketching #sketchbook #penandinkdrawing #usk #sculpturedrawing #camões #pentelbrushpen #monochromeart https://www.instagram.com/p/B0eY0E0FOUa/?igshid=1mt7ueo64buob

The mouth of the river Ave, with the chapel of Our Lady of Guia and the fishermen's lighthouse, in the city of Vila do Conde, northern Portugal. . . . #watercolors #worldwatercolormonth2019 #viladoconde #portugal #nortedeportugal #landscapeart #topographicalart #seascape #summertime #lighthouse #watercolorartists #watercolorart #acquerelli #aquarelle #aquarellfarben #aguarelas #aquarela #pleinairpainting #littlewonders #watercolourpaint #watercolor_art #watercolourist https://www.instagram.com/p/BzjJNciFL5U/?igshid=f7fosklhzhou

Inktober Elves 19 - Wisteria "Happy that ye are, child, for the shades of trees have not yet grown too tall for ye! How I long for that time when life and love had the weight of a little wingbeat of a child's sleep." . . . #inktober2018 #inktoberelves #elven #children #littlekids #penandinkonpaper #indianink #brushinking #emotionalart #dreamart #90snostalgia #scorpion #garden #wisteria #oldmanriver #youth #innocence #lamb #squirrelsofinstagram #monochromeart #traditionalart #drawingoftheday #weirdpastoral #pastoral #gnarledtree #illustration #fantasyart #creaturedesigner #conceptart #portugueseillustrator #mistery https://www.instagram.com/p/Bzgj-4TFQ-Z/?igshid=1fu59svx6a1d4

The Fort of St. John the Baptist, in Vila do Conde, a beautiful city to the north of Porto, in northern Portugal. I enjoy sketching along this coastal region. Was nearly eaten alive by a swarm of gnats, no doubt attracted by the delicious scent of the gum arabic and honey in my watercolors... . . . #worldwatercolormonth #watercolors #worldwatercolormonth2019 #viladoconde #portugal #nortedeportugal #topographicalart #colorful #landscapeart #urbansketching #pleinairpainting #fortress #monuments #historicalarchitecture #historicalbuildings #traditionalartwork #worksonpaper #aquarelas #aguarela #aquarelles #acquerelli #akvarell #littlewonders https://www.instagram.com/p/BzbemrjlswP/?igshid=12zf3ij3exwir

It's July, World Watercolor Month! Although I sketched this view of Porto on the very last day of June, it's meant to kick off my contributions to this year's challenge. Since I haven't yet finished my elf cycle, expect to see more watercolors interspersed with ink drawings, until the elf variations are complete! I'm also currently working on a childrens' picturebook project - so if I go quiet for some stretches, you now know why. As soon as I'm able to, I will post more pictures related to this longer project. This was drawn on a lovely custom sketchbook by @anac_alvim! Go visit her profile and send a DM if you want to learn more about getting your one-of-a-kind, bespoke sketchbook! . . . #worldwatercolormonth2019 #watercolors #worldwatercolormonth #penandink #sepiaink #fozdodouro #porto #portugal #riodouro #nortedeportugal #topographicalart #worksonpaper #sketchbook #urbansketching #landscapeart #seaside #plainsailing #pleinairpainting #lighthouse #traditionalartwork #lineandwash #inkandwatercolor https://www.instagram.com/p/BzZHceLlKAh/?igshid=14wv7gknidwhy

Inktober Elves 18 - Raven The raven is frequently associated in Western culture as symbol of evil and death, thanks to late Romantic literature (see for instance "The Twa Corbies" and Poe's widely popular "The Raven). However in this concept I've decided to dig deeper into the older and richer symbology of the bird. Instead of portraying the Raven as the usual demonic "Crow-Man", here the character takes the role of prophetic bird, messenger and guide of the dead. The aging elf confronts the Angel of Death who works in behalf of Heaven, and peers at his inner self. The spirit bears a Scissor, like the oldest of the Fates, who had the job of cutting the threads of the lives of mortals at the end of their earthly existences. It also bears a lamp, like the Hermit or the philosopher Diogenes, a symbol of higher, deeper knowledge. In the background, we see scenes from the legend of St. Vincent Martyr, patron saint of Lisbon - his tomb, found by the king and his men thanks to ravens; And the two ravens who followed his coffin as it was shipped back to Lisbon. This same ship is also a metaphor of the soul, sailing through the shadow of the dark night of death into the sunrise of the beyond. . . . #inktober #inktoberelves #conceptart #fantasyart #fantasyillustrator #emotionalart #neobaroque #baroque #angelofdeath #rebirth #lifeanddeath #ship #raven #crow #inkdrawing #penandink #indianink #brushinking #monochromeart #characterdesigns #characterillustration #traditionalillustration #darkfantasy #creaturedesigner #drawingchallenge #worksonpaper #illustrationgram #illustrationbest #inkfeature #innerchild https://www.instagram.com/p/BzJYT44hHKB/?igshid=s7ftix7xz80q

Inktober Elves 17 - Hemlock Hemlock flowers yeld a powerful poison used since antiquity, for which no cure is known to date. Hemlock is (in)famously as the instrument of Socrates's execution. The elven Socrates holds on to his ideals and moral code, to the bitter end. #inktober2018 #inktoberelves #hemlock #socrates #elves #fantasyartist #fantasyillustration #conceptart #characterdesigns #indianink #brushinking #penandinkonpaper #worksonpaper #monochrome #traditionalart #inkfeature #inkandbrush #instaart #artstagrams https://www.instagram.com/p/By3XEz0FRmo/?igshid=rlfqlqkmiq7

Inktober Elves 16 - Wolf. A lone wolf drow elf rides to battle, amid a fierce thunderstorm. Finally switched to a no. 0 sable brush and it's been exhillarating to use it for inking. Getting the wolf's head and the helmet design right were some pretty intense moments but it's been a very fun learning experience! #inktober2018 #inktoberelves #barbarian #raider #fantasyart #conceptart #fantasyillustrator #knight #lonewolf #wolfspirit #wolfart #wolfstagram #wolfdrawing #elf #highfantasy #inkdrawing #indianink #inkillustration #brushinking #wildling #monochrome #illustrationartists #traditionalillustration #penandinkart #inkfeature https://www.instagram.com/p/ByliYd5FIb4/?igshid=2zcog2cl1lgy

Inktober Elves 15 - Celosia. Celosia plants are edible and are used as foodstuff in Indian and Indonesian cuisine. Here, a tribe of elves harvest mutant celosias. #inktober2018 #inktoberelves #elven #elves #fantasyart #celosia #traditionalillustration #brushinking #penandink #indianink #motherandbaby #workingwomen #landscapeart #characterdesign #creaturedesigner #fantasyillustration #conceptartwork #peasants #villagers https://www.instagram.com/p/ByOHx2Kleeq/?igshid=2lxu5fxu0rja

Inktober Elves 14 - Cat A juxtaposition of Puss-in-Boots and the Cat with a Fiddle. . . . #illustration_best #illustrationnow #illustrationartists #illustration_daily #illustragram #illustrators #penandink #indianink #brushinking #monochrome #fantasyart #conceptartwork #creaturedesigner #fantasycharacter #violin #dance #violinist #violinconcerto #pendrawing #inktober2018 #inktoberelves #elven #elves #loveofballet #catstagram #catlife #masquerade #fairytales #beautifulbizarre #drawingoftheday https://www.instagram.com/p/BwIRcpuFrUf/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=14ndv1mnfcl45

Inktober Elves 13-Fern. Orc n' Roll!! A pair of young elves square off against an orc that guards the legendary fern flower. In slavic cultures, this impossible flower is said to be the object of quests and grant all sorts of magical powers to the finder, happiness and fortune. In reality the fern does not produce flowers, so this plant is like a blue rose. . . . #fantasyart #elves #inktober2018 #inktoberelves #quest #characterdesign #creaturedesign #conceptartwork #worksonpaper #fantasyillustration #illustratorsoninstagram #graphicartist #penandink #inkdrawings #crosshatching #linedrawings #treasure #magical #orcs #illustration_daily #illustration_best #illustrationartists #illustrationnow #imaginefx https://www.instagram.com/p/Bv-DgN5FSDK/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=ysooi7p56uef

"Orchid" Elves, from my 2018 Inktober cycle. Brush, Dip pens and Indian Ink on Bristol paper. Size A4. Orchids symbolize, with a certain ambivalence and particularly in the East, both fertility and purity. In this scene I portrayed these features in the female gender - its double capacity to nurture life and the potential for spiritual evolution. We see in this imaginary elven court scene, two twin sisters. A queen, embodying an exuberant subspecies of orchid ("Princess Frederick") meets with the high priestess, who embodies another curious variety of a guatemalan orchid ("La Monja Blanca"). Thus we witness the dual dimensions of the feminine - maternity and fertility interplays with spiritual sensibility and emotional intuition. . . . #elves #elven #linedrawing #motherhood #youth #spirituality #intuition #fantasyart #highfantasy #queen #king #family #instadaily #illustratorgram #traditionalillustration #penandink #inkart #inktober2018 #inktoberelves #whippet #priestess #nuns #fertility #contemplation #conceptartist #worksonpaper #feminity #orchids https://www.instagram.com/p/BvaTIsyFqTW/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=19uxip6cgsxv1

Variant illustration for the "Raccoon" Elves. Depicted here a pair of rogues stealing hidden treasure from a Tercio dwarf. I've decided to complete this set of inktober drawings and refashion them into a full cycle of fantasy character designs. Stay tuned for more! . . . #raccoon #inktoberelves #inktober2018 #treasure #penandink #inkdrawing #dippen #brushpen #brushinking #inking #fantasyart #linedrawing #conceptartist #traditionalart #characterdesign #worksonpaper #elves #dwarves #illustratorgram #illustratedaily #graphicartists #instaillustrate #illustratorart #illustragram https://www.instagram.com/p/BvP8cbWlKwU/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=i32zpp7j6mr4