Shadows

There's a strong play between light and dark in this book.  The Nain Rouge is evil, dark and looming, whereas the children are like shining beacons in contrast.  Certainly, the Nain Rouge has grown into something very different in this book.  As I mentioned previously, the Nain Rouge was merely a pesky imp in the previous novel.  Now he has turned into something far bigger...

I have loved drawing the Nain Rouge appearing from the shadows.  His fingers are so thin and liquid, I love creating slightly grotesque characters that are unnaturally thin and wiry.  And no better words describe the Nain Rouge than grotesque and unnatural.

In his shadow self, the Nain Rouge appears in every illustration, always hiding when not in plain sight. His fiery eyes peer out from under his hood and his hand stretches out towards the children, menacingly.  Sometimes he melts into focus, and that is something far more frightening.