The third pass at A Christmas Carol poster was filled with light. Light equals drama.
I had a rather detailed room as the setting. The intricate mirror behind Scrooge was fighting with the credit type, so I had to blur it out in spots. Ultimately it was decided that it might be better to just get rid of the room details.
All the fruit also needed more painted detail. Things were still a bit sketchy.
Both actors portrayed in this poster reprized their roles for this year’s production. It is very rare that I get to include the actual actors since the posters are painted far in advance of the auditions for each show.
Since I rethink the design for A Christmas Carol poster so often, I am becoming very familiar with the Charles Dickens show. The possibilities are endless, from the depth of despair to the sheer joy of celebrating the holiday.
Since all the posters are painted at the same time, things often rough while changes are made and if time allows, each poster is refined where people will notice the most. It is a fun juggling act. Sometimes I hit the mark right away and other times I search blindly for what is needed. That is the fun of being an illustrator, it is seldom a linear path.