Michael Whelan

DARKNESS OVER HAYHOLT (2016)
Acrylic on Gessobord - 24” x 36”

When DAW contacted me 35 years ago about illustrating the cover for a high fantasy novel by Tad Williams, an amazing relationship began with THE DRAGONBONE CHAIR. 1/5

#fantasy #fantasyart #sff #illustration #tadwilliams #ostenard #dawbooks

Nov 17 at 1:43pmWeb
Show threadMichael WhelanNov 17
Tad’s work continued to inspire epic covers from Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn to the sequel series The Last King of Osten Ard, which began with this commission for The Witchwood Crown. 2/5
Show threadMichael WhelanNov 17
For this book, I explored several motifs for the witchwood trees, which readers of the original trilogy might recall were combined with iron in “a blasphemy against the earth” to forge the sword Jingizu. 3/5
Show threadMichael WhelanNov 17
This time around, the publisher preferred a more mysterious approach without the main characters—it’s the red menace in the windows of the Tower of Hjeldin that takes center stage. 4/5
Show threadMichael WhelanNov 17

Cover illustration for THE WITCHWOOD CROWN by Tad Williams (DAW) 5/5

https://www.michaelwhelan.com/galleries/darkness-over-hayholt/

Show threadspooksie 👻Nov 17
@MichaelWhelan I love how the tower looks like it has evil eyes surveying the landscape! Very creepy.
Show threadLongspeakNov 17
@MichaelWhelan Y'know, eons ago, I read Tailchaser's Song. I enjoyed it but for some reason never read anything else from William's. I should maybe see if this can be remedied.