Les Pierres Enfumées

A morning escape :

The digital painting Les Pierres Enfumées is an order for the front cover of the Brigitte Decuignière's eNovel of the same name.
The author wanted a cover page illustrating the castle of Montségur in which the story takes place. So, in order to dynamise the scene and include Storytelling, I proposed to illustrate the very beginning of the story in the foreground of the castle ; a strong image but that did not reveal the intrigue.
I draw some ideas, my sketches had enthusiastic returns and the autor give me free hand for the project.
At this point the real research started ...
What did the castle and landscape look like in the 13th century ? How were the bergeres dressed at that time ? How does a sunrise color a scene ? ... ?

Technically, the illustration is composed of photobashing, overlay textures , photo manipulations and layers of settings on which I heavyly painted on.
Now the bases are laid, and I could soon focus on the details, ..., .