Model Sheets Concept for 2015-08-29 Badin and the Secret of the Saami

Many hours of research have gone into the story and script of Badin and the Secret of the Saami (well over 200 hours as of this writing). Swedish history, folklore, language and—most importantly—the history of Badin and the Saami people of the 18th century have given the script a rich back-story. This story is historical fiction. For me—and hopefully the readers—it is the best of both worlds.

Read that again, he says

Although the script is done, my research continues: I must illustrate a world and a people from long ago. I need to know how things looked. I look forward to the challenge. Getting through the model sheets phase is so hard because I just want to start drawing the graphic novel!

I have deliberately avoided making mockery of folklore in the story. As I have been learning, the forest is a holy place to all with roots in Sweden—that includes magical creatures. It is a place of sanctuary for the Saami as well as the Swedes. Keeping this link between humans and nature is important. I felt this connection while I was in Sweden for Allt För Sverige. Dousing fields and lawns with weed killers just was not something I saw done over there (Swedes did not seem to suffer from fear of dandelions like we do in the United States). Foraging for mushrooms, berries and herbs is done without fear of ingesting noxious pesticides.

This abstract illustration above is from another model sheet of a minor—but very important—character. This was created using Manga Studio 5EX.