Fables 41

Prelim:  5.5" x 8.5", graphite on bond
Final Drawing:  10" x 14", graphite, colored pencil and gouache on Rives BFK

The Adversary, hard at work on one of his soldiers.  While James seems to currently prefer colored pencil as a mid-tone rather than relying solely on graphite, it certainly does lend something to the original art.  Another nice design touch:  Notice the "scarlet letter" in the title!

James' comments, from Wizard magazine #171 (January, 2006):

"This was the cover I was waiting 41 issues to draw.  The script described a Gepetto we all know and love, except for one deadly twist--he destroys worlds and enslaves fairies.  We see a kindly old man bent over his workbench, but the coloring hints at something far more sinister."