This is the front cover of my book "The Voyage of St Brendan". Based on an ancient Celtic legend, this is the first time it has been turned into a comic book. Available now from https://store.ancientfaith.com/the-voyage-of-saint-brendan/
This page shows the boat arriving at the Isle of Birds, which was probably one of the Faroe Islands.
Rowing the ship up a river on the Isle of Birds. The boat was based on a replica of St Brendan's boat, made by Tim Severin, from the hides of cattle stretched over a wooden frame.
St Brendan and his monks being stalked by a shark. Reinterpreting the original text was interesting and there are several appearances by sea monsters, some of them 'fire breathing', and thinking about what they could have been inspired by was fun.
This is a full page illustration showing the fight between the sea monsters
This is the illustration that I based the cover on.
St Brendan landing in Ireland after his epic voyage.
Drawing the scene with the demons was a big challenge. I decided that a dark,foggy night, with shadowy, half glimpsed demons would be more frightening.
The sailors discover a strange sight in the middle of the ocean - someone is chained to a rock...
St Brendan looking over the side of the boat. The craft had a large paddle at the stern for steerage, sometimes called a 'steerboard' (where the term starboard comes from).
St Brendan talks to Barr-fhind, another monk, who tells him about the 'Land of the Promise of the Saints'.
Barr-fhind in his coracle, landing on the Atlantic coast of Ireland at the start of the book.
St Brendan hearing confession in the Oratory (based on the Gallarus Oratory, on the Dingle Peninsula, County Kerry, Ireland)
A map of the places along the route that St Brendan (possibly) took, 'island hopping' from Ireland to North America, several centuries before the Vikings. The Faroe Islands, Iceland, the Azores (bit of a detour!) as well as (possible) sites for other events that took place on the voyage.
Drawings were sketched in pencil first, with 2B on layout paper.
Once the sketch was resolved I inked over them with a Pentel Manga brush pen. They were coloured in Photoshop using a Wacom Cintiq.
I made this model of the curragh (the ship) from cardboard, wood and paper, as a prop to help with the drawing.
I also made a rather crude model of the monastery, to make sure I was consistent in portraying it.
