This piece was originally a loose concept I had for Gallery1988’s ‘Location Scout’ show, but just didn’t have the time to fully flesh it out (which you can read about here). For the aforementioned image I depicted the hotel from the original 1980 film ‘The Shining’, with the intention of creating something that also included the sequel ‘Doctor Sleep’, from 2019. I also realized the more I fleshed out the layout, the less it was about the location, and more about me fulfilling a personal need to include everything I wanted from both films. I discarded the idea, but kept the concept on hand for use later. Thankfully, as I made my way through my invitationals for the year, I found a contender with Gallery1988’s ‘Close Your Eyes’.
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| First initial concept for a Doctor Sleep/Shining combo piece. |
I started the process much like I
normally do once I select a subject for my piece. This time however I had a
clearer idea of what I already wanted to do with a strong layout already
established in Procreate on my iPad Pro. The only thing I really needed to do was locate all the reference
material I would need in order to accomplish the task. I began by watching the
Mike Flanagan film, which is a direct sequel, to the original Stanley Kubrick film, and
stars Ewan McGregor (Danny Torrance), Rebecca Ferguson
(Rose the Hat), Kyliegh Curran (Abra Stone), Cliff Curtis (Billy), Zahn McClarnon (Crow Daddy), and Emily Alyn Lind
(Snakebite Andi). Also special acknowledgements to both Alexandra Essoe, and Henry Thomas for
filling in during those flashbacks. It couldn’t have been easy to embody
someone else’s performance. The story itself catches viewers up to the events
that leave us with an adult Danny Torrance (McGregor), who reluctantly assists
a budding young psychic Abra Stone (Curran), after she draws the attention of
the True Knot, led by charismatic Rose the Hat (Ferguson).
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| Final layout design. |
The film is an audio/visual feast. The Newton Brothers did a marvelous job scoring the film, adding to the tension. I tried my best to capture this in the illustration by using a few tropes from the movie. ‘Steam’ as it is called, plays a heavy role in the story, so I quickly decided to use this as my main device for the narrative image. I knew I also wanted to depict the three major players (Danny, Abra, & Rose), while not overcrowding the layout with faces. The best way to mitigate this I decided was to depict both Danny and Abra, while using Rose’s iconic ‘Hat’, to signify her presence. This also helped ground the illustration.
For my background I went with the blackboard wall from Danny’s residence, that played a key role between our protagonists. I also wanted to incorporate an element from the film (and subsequent adverts), in which we are presented with the infamous throwback ‘RedRuM’. In this case the literal plaster cracked from the wall. I wanted the word to be legible, but my plan was also to render it slightly obscured by the ‘steam’ I was using as a narrative device.
I then moved onto to developing the visages of both Abra, and Danny. It can be a challenge when attempting to capture an actor’s likeness or image from a film. I was very thankful that my reference material was decent enough that I was able to successfully replicate them, and without much struggle. Sometimes it’s a fight. This time I was able to quickly develop the faces, and then go back in later and clean them up.
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| A collection of sketches ready for the color process. |
I already knew from my initial design, The Overlook was to be placed central, between the two visages of our heroes. The placement was essential as it is pivotal to both stories, as well as a connecting element that bridges the films. I (reluctantly) utilized my previous illustration from the ‘Location Scout’ show of the hotel, and simply did some editing to make it look abandoned by adding boards onto the windows. I rationalized that reusing this image was the best route to finishing this piece on time, and because it was going to be so small in contrast to the original image, I pulled it from, it would be more implied.
The next step was to determine what to do with some of the negative space I had left. Luckily during my rewatch I gathered a couple of references that could work to fill in the gaps in the piece. Above the hotel, I added Abra’s window, which appears multiple times during the film, and plays a role in the narrative. I also added the skull-moon because it just felt appropriate, no real reason there, there was just space, and I felt like it. It does add some ambiance though I suppose, but I also wanted it to be rather subtle anyhow.
Below ‘The Overlook’, I used the forest as a transitional image that leads us to ‘The True Knot’. Now, originally I wanted to make a knot either out of roadways, or use the shape of the caravan to imply one. Either way, I couldn’t get it to work the way I wanted, and I was also having trouble envisioning how this would transition to the hotel from above. Instead, I opted for a simple approach by choosing to depict one of their RV’s. I found an image from the film that worked well, allowing me to creating the illusion of it emerging from the forest behind. I added the park bench as a reference point for those who recognize it from a rather poignant scene in the film.
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| Final color adjusted (for legibility) color image. |
With some time remaining, I decided to add back in, an idea I had but couldn’t figure out how to incorporate. In the film there is a cat (and I LOVE cats), named Azzie (after Azrael the Angel of Death), who would provide bedside solace to numerous patients. While he doesn’t play a huge role in the film, he is based off of an actual cat named Oscar (who passed in 2013, I know, very sad). I determined the best way I could get Azzie into my piece was to create some paw prints as if a cat had walked through the room. I’m not entirely sure it reads, but I wanted to work it in rather subtly anyways.
I then sent the piece out to SGX to print.
I started this piece on January 5th, 2024 technically as it was the origin for my ‘Location Scout’ contribution, however I wouldn’t return to it until late August (around the 25th), 2024. I would complete the piece on September 20th, 2024 (although adjustments took me to the deadline September 27th, 2024), spending approximately one hundred and six (106) hours on this project. I’ve estimated that about twenty (20) hours were spent sketching all the image, with an additional five (5) hours modifying the original ‘Overlook’, and the remaining time spent digitally painting in Procreate. There was also some time spent editing in Adobe Photoshop adjusting the layout, or resizing images as necessary.
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| Final 11" X 14" image on White Pearl Linen. |
The 11” x 14” image (printed on White Pearl Linen, thank you SGX), was made for Gallery1988’s ‘Close Your Eyes’, a group show celebrating spooky season with artworks based on your favorite flicks,
which opened October 11th, 2024. At this time the prints are exclusively available via the gallery, so please check their website for all remaining works related to the show including mine.
For more information, or to see a catalog of my other work, please visit my online store here.
You can also find me on various social media platforms below doing a multitude of other artistic things that include hand lettering, and the occasional sculpting, crafting or painting.
Website: www.michaelstiles.com
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