SHONTO'S GARDEN

Cover illustration for Sean Russell

Aug 05, 2024

Light slants across the mist hanging over an Asian-style water garden. Lost in meditation, a monk sits with legs crossed, levitating a few feet off the ground. On either side of him, two banner hang from a pergola with wide overhanging eaves like a pagoda. Set on blue, an simple overlapping flower crest reflect Japanese iconography while on red an ornate dragon evokes Chinese style. On an arched bridge over peaceful green-blue waters, a band of warriors gather looking toward the solitary monk. — SHONTO'S GARDEN (1990), Acrylic on Watercolor Board - 25" x 36"

For his novel THE INITIATE BROTHER, Sean Russell draws from both Chinese and Japanese lore for the fantasy this painting illustrates. I made sure to reflect the same sources in the two banners behind the monk. One is of a Chinese motif, the other Japanese.

This is one painting that made me thank the kind souls who invented the airbrush. There is no better tool available to the painter of acrylics for achieving the sort of misty effects seen in the background of this work.

For obvious reasons, this has always been a favorite image with Martial Arts enthusiasts.

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Additional images from SHONTO’S GARDEN

LEFT: Detail from SHONTO'S GARDEN featuring a solitary monk lost in meditation under a pergola with wide overhanging eaves like a pagoda. With legs crossed and hands resting in his lap, he levitates a few feet off the ground. On either side of him hangs a blue banner with a simple Japanese flower crest and a red banner with an ornate Chinese dragon. The background scenery is that of a lush Asian water garden. RIGHT: A bald monk levitates with legs crossed. The end of his robes hang underneath him tugged by gravity. In his lap, his thumb and fingers meet in an inverted steeple. A long crystal hangs from a cord around his neck. His robes are uneven with one arm bare and exposed. — Detail from SHONTO'S GARDEN and figure study, THE MONK, Acrylic on Illustration Board - 8 ½" x 5"

LEFT: Detail from SHONTO'S GARDEN featuring warriors gathering on a bridge arching over calm waters. A pagoda style roof is set atop four pillars at the center of the bridge. Round paper lanterns hang from each corner. A tall figure framed by the pillars has the air of command, his colors inverted with dark robes and a splash of blue over the chest, a contrast to his men who carry spears. They also carry two banners with Kanji characters, one writ in blue and the other red. RIGHT: An arched bridge is topped with a pagoda style roof set atop 4 pillars. — Detail from SHONTO'S GARDEN and perspective layout sketch, Graphite and Colored Pencil - 13 ½ x 19"

Book cover for THE INITIATE BROTHER by Sean Russell, published by DAW Books — THE INITIATE BROTHER by Sean Russell (DAW)

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SHONTO'S GARDEN

Cover illustration for Sean Russell

Additional images from SHONTO’S GARDEN

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