Castle 2

A dark clothed lady passes through a looming gate, as the snow falls heavily in the gloom. Introducing movement into a static illustration is an always evolving challenge, with the format itself often working against our goals. Rather than drawing the physical footsteps or the character in mid step explicitly, it is also possible to use context to great effect. In this illustration, I wanted not only to show the character entering the gate of the castle, but also to highlight the details of her clothing and the movement of her hair in the wind. Using this composition, we are able to indicate several of these key factors effectively. The sweeping motion of her hand on the open gate, combined with the upright, forward looking pose tells the story on its own, with some help with the warm flowers blossoming in the snow.