The Illustrated Odyssey

Hey everyone! So I've been really busy these past few weeks and here's one of the reasons why: been working on an illustrated series for class. We were asked to create three images from our own imagination on a written work (such as a poem, book, or song). I chose to do my favorite epic poem, Homer's "Odyssey."


















I started with dozens of thumbnails and character sketches. I knew I wanted to have a common theme throughout the series. Since the role of women in The Odyssey is quite apparent, I thought I'd do a series on the women Odysseus encounters on his journey home. This idea changed over the development process and I ended up doing the three most memorable scenes: Odysseus' years with the sea nymph Calypso; the fiasco on Cyclops Island; and Odysseus reuniting with his wife Penelope.



I first sketched each image on cold-press poster board. I scanned these images into the computer and did a few color tests to see what worked best. Then I began painting with watercolors on the poster board sketches. I know this process is not the best. I plan on using a projector or perhaps tracing paper on my next project-- this way I can avoid horrific mistakes that might be irreversible to the original sketch.

After painting I scanned each image into the computer and touched it up using Photoshop. I also added frames I had designed and painted for each image and touched these up as well. And voila!






















Here we see Odysseus after surviving the demise of his ship and crew by the sea. Originally in the text it was Zeus who struck the boat with his lightning. I decided to substitute Zeus for Poseidon, who would later pummel Odysseus before he reached his home. Odysseus is awed by the beauty of Calypso, the seductive sea nymph, whom he will be held hostage by for the next seven years.






















My most favorite part of Homer's poem: Odysseus and his crew escaping the clutches of the cyclops Polyphemus. After the hungry host became drunk, Odysseus gouged out the monster's only eye using a fashioned spear. The crew then escaped Polyphemus' clutches by hiding under his sheep.






















This last image is of Odysseus and his wife Penelope, reunited after so many years apart. The slain bodies of the treacherous suitors turn the floors of Odysseus' home red with blood. Athena, the goddess of wisdom and Odysseus' guardian, reclines in the window shining her blessings upon the couple.