Winnifred Cloverdale: Daggerheart RPG Character

My RPG friends from childhood have reunited to roll some dice again. Jesse Glenn got inspired to run a newer RPG from the folks at Critical Role called  Daggerheart. We've had two sessions so-far, a character creation session and then the first part of the adventure. After we made characters I drew my character and posted about the art process here: http://davidpetersen.blogspot.com/2025/09/caledon-spargan-daggerheart-rpg.html

For this post I'm sharing my drawing and the process of making the art for Mike Davis' character Winnefred Cloverdale.

Mike's character is a halfling war wizard. Mike had done some quick doodles of her with a punk pixie haircut and a houndstooth scarf. I asked him about what other details I should incorporate. He told me about her hallowed axe, a leather strap armor skirt, and a pouch of cards she uses to cast her spells. 

Taking all of those bits into consideration I started drawing her on copy paper. It took a few drawings of her head/face before I was happy to merge them into another drawing or two of her body and gear, all assembled in Photoshop and tinted different colors to keep the drawing bits clear from one another. I warped a houndstooth pattern into the forms of her long scarf. 

The above layout was printed out and taped to the back of a sheet of 300 series Strathmore bristol. On my Huion lightpad I was able to see through the bristol surface down to the printout to use as a guide as I inked. The inks were done with Copic Multiliner SP pens (the 0.7 nib mainly).

Beyond the struggle I have with drawing/inking any human face the other challenge was the houndstooth pattern. I decided to isolate part of that pattern almost like a rune on Winnifred's hallowed axe. Most everything else was rather straightforward inking-wise.

When the inks were scanned into Photoshop I could start the coloring process. That first step is called 'flatting' and just about filling in the various areas with flat colors (no rendering, gradients, or textures). Mike told me Winnifred's hair was blonde and that he always loves green/olive incorporated into his character designs. 

At this stage I also established color holds, which are areas I want the inkwork to be a color other than black. They are on the houndstooth, here eyes, freckles, axe runes, and the smoking magic trail (though by the end I also did some on her eyebrows to soften them up a bit.

The last step was to do all the color rendering adding highlights, shadows, and textures to the base colors. This was done with Photoshops's dodge and burn tools.

Drawing your RPG character (as well as the other players in your party, if you happen to be the 'artist' of the group, is one of the real pleasures of playing an RPG and part that I certainly missed. I still have yet to share Nick's character: a Drakona (Dragon person) Seraph which I hope to share soon along with all of the characters together. 

Wind in the Willows Quartet gears up Illustration

My illustrated edition of Kenneth Grahame's classic Wind in the Willows published by IDW has been released in paperback (order here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/796673/the-wind-in-the-willows-with-illustrations-by-david-petersen-by-kenneth-grahame-david-petersen/)!

This book took me years to complete the illustrations for when it was first released, and I'm so pleased to have it back in print, so for this week's post I'm going to share the art process of one of the inked illustrations from the book: Gearing up.

"Rat, with an air of excitement and mystery, summoned them back into the parlour, stood each of them up alongside of his little heap, and proceeded to dress them up for the coming expedition. He was very earnest and thorough-going about it, and the affair took quite a long time. First, there was a belt to go round each animal, and then a sword to be stuck into each belt, and then a cutlass on the other side to balance it. Then a pair of pistols, a policeman's truncheon, several sets of handcuffs, some bandages and sticking-plaster, and a flask and a sandwich-case."

This is one of the main visuals that I always wanted to tackle when daydreaming about someday drawing an edition of Wind in the willows. Before this Rat has gone around making piles of weapons; pistols, swords, etc for each of his friends so they can storm Toad Hall and take it back from the weasels. It's also from one of the few chapters where all four of the main characters are together. Here you can see I've put all the drawings above together, edited in Toad's weapons, and color coded each character to make them easier to see apart from one another.

I inked the final black and white illustration on Strathmore 300 bristol by taping a printout of the above layout onto the back of it and placing it on a Huion light[ad where I could see through the bristol to use the layout as a guide. For pens I used Copic Multiliner SP pens (the 0.7 & 0.3 nibs).

The textures on each of the character's clothes is where most of my focus was so that there were different densities of grey and the illustration wasn't overly muddy with clarity of each character's body language.

My illustrated edition of Wind in the Willows is available NOW for purchase:

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/796673/the-wind-in-the-willows-with-illustrations-by-david-petersen-by-kenneth-grahame-david-petersen/

The book has Grahame's original text, with over 70 illustrations by me as well as a new cover (blogpost about that art process: https://davidpetersen.blogspot.com/2025/09/wind-in-willows-2nd-edition-cover.html).

Lower Port Sumac Model Video

The model of Lower Port Sumac used for issue/chapter 2 of The Black Axe. It's made of print-&-assemble medieval village papermodels, basswood sticks, strips of bristol board, and a sheet of styrofoam.

In the video below, I talk about building it, what Mouse Guard city the house models were used for before this one, the real-life inspirations, and how building the model helped creatively imagine what kinds of merchants bought and sold in the sea-level port sumac.

Direct YouTube Link:

https://youtu.be/Zg6vTfvuuC8

Badger's Kitchen Hearth Illustration

My illustrated edition of Kenneth Grahame's classic Wind in the Willows published by IDW has been released in paperback (order here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/796673/the-wind-in-the-willows-with-illustrations-by-david-petersen-by-kenneth-grahame-david-petersen/)!

This book took me years to complete the illustrations for when it was first released, and I'm so pleased to have it back in print, so for this week's post I'm going to share the art process of one of the color illustrations from the book: Badger's Kitchen Hearth.

"...they found themselves in all the glow and warmth of a large fire-lit kitchen.The floor was well-worn red brick, and on the wide hearth burnt a fire of logs, between two attractive chimney-corners tucked away in the wall, well out of any suspicion of draught. A couple of high-backed settles, facing each other on either side of the fire, gave further sitting accommodations for the sociably disposed."

"...from the rafters overhead hung hams, bundles of dried herbs, nets of onions, and baskets of eggs. It seemed a place where heroes could fitly feast after victory, where weary harvesters could line up in scores along the table and keep their Harvest Home with mirth and song..."

What I found most important about this scene was the feeling of the setting as described from Grahame's text above. So, I built a model of Badger's hearth and of the two tall backed settles (past post about that model: https://davidpetersen.blogspot.com/2017/02/wind-in-willows-models-badgers-kitchen.html

With the setting drawn using the model as reference, I drew in our three characters after the visitors have changed out of their wet snowy clothes and into warm robes and slippers on another sheet of paper (probably overlaying it with the background drawing for perspective and contact point references). The drawings were scanned separately and assembled in Photoshop.

With the above layout done, I printed that out and taped it to the back of a sheet of Strathmore 300 series bristol. The piece was inked on a Huion lightpad where I could see through the bristol to the printout as a guide to ink from. I used Copic Multiliner SP pens (the 0.3 & 0.7 nibs).

Even though I knew this piece was going to be in color, I needed the inks to enforce the idea that the hearth was emitting the warm glow and the rest of the kitchen started falling into shadow. So I used a lighter touch on the texture and detail the closer everything got to the flames and more dense with ink the closer to the edges of the illustration.

The inks were then scanned and I started the coloring process of establishing flat colors for everything. Some of the colors were already established from the cover art and the other illustrations I'd done of the characters, but getting that overall warm tone of the brick and stone and wood took some playing around even at this early base color stage.

The details of all the food stores hanging from the ceiling were hard to color––I needed the various objects to read properly as hams, onions, garlic, eggs, etc, but I also needed them to fall away into those outer edges of the illustration and not draw attention to themselves. 

This step is also where I established color holds (areas where I want the ink lines to be a color other than black) for the flame, fire glow, Mole's glasses, Badger's gown, Rat's coat, and the china pattern on the table.

The last step was doing the final coloring render––adding in shadows and highlights and textures. That was all done in Photoshop using the dodge and burn tools with a stock textured brush.

It was hard to strike that balance of warmth and glow while also implying the rest of the kitchen has fallen into a late winter's night darkness.

"The kindly Badger thrust them down on a settle to toast themselves at the fire, and bade them remove their wet coats and boots. Then he fetched them dressing-gowns and slippers... In the embracing light and warmth, warm and dry at last, with weary legs propped up in front of them, and a suggestive clink of plates being arranged on the table behind, it seemed to the storm-driven animals, now in safe anchorage, that the cold and trackless Wild Wood just left outside was miles and miles away, and all that they had suffered in it a half-forgotten dream.

My illustrated edition of Wind in the Willows is available NOW for purchase:
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/796673/the-wind-in-the-willows-with-illustrations-by-david-petersen-by-kenneth-grahame-david-petersen/

The book has Grahame's original text, with over 70 illustrations by me as well as a new cover (blogpost about that art process: https://davidpetersen.blogspot.com/2025/09/wind-in-willows-2nd-edition-cover.html).

Digital Sketchbook collection 2016-2024

I have a new 156 page Mouse Guard digital sketchbook collection available that puts together sketchbooks from 2016 - 2022 plus several pieces never collected in the sketchbooks used in the 2023 & 2024 calendars included. Commissions, Free Comic Book Day covers
& promotions populate this bundle of work.

mouseguard.bigcartel.com/product/mouse-guard-digital-sketchbook-collection-2016-2024

Here's a little sample of what's inside.

Also available is the original Digital sketchbook collection featuring work from 2004 (before the Mouse Guard comic was published) through 2015:

mouseguard.bigcartel.com/product/mouse-guard-digital-sketchbook-collection-2004-2015

And a new printed sketchbook will be released early in 2026 debuting at Emerald City Comic Con...

Wind in the Willows Model Reference

My illustrated edition of Kenneth Grahame's classic Wind in the Willows published by IDW has been released in paperback (order here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/796673/the-wind-in-the-willows-with-illustrations-by-david-petersen-by-kenneth-grahame-david-petersen/)!

The book has Grahame's original text, with over 70 illustrations by me as well as a new cover (blogpost about that art process: https://davidpetersen.blogspot.com/2025/09/wind-in-willows-2nd-edition-cover.html).

This book took me years to complete the illustrations for, and I'm so pleased to have it back in print, so for this week's post I'm going to share posts about the physical models I used/built to help me visualize & illustrate the book. Below are photos & videos of the models of Toad's Caravan, Rat's boat, Badger's Kitchen, & Toad Hall

Toad's Caravan & Carriage House Models

Direct link to Caravan Model Video: https://youtu.be/jszqVd476aI

Direct link to Carriage House Model Video: https://youtu.be/LF9jhk1ZIII

Badger's Kitchen Models

Direct link to Cupboard Model Video: https://youtu.be/H-2rMZmGlBQ

Direct link to Kitchen Hearth Model Video: https://youtu.be/y-HFxwQVlN8

Ratty's Home & Boat Models

Direct link to Dining Room Model Video: https://youtu.be/gufQ1VCN6KA

Direct link to Boat Model Video: https://youtu.be/NPFBCWlYbN8

Toad Hall Models

Direct link to Great Hall Model Video: https://youtu.be/glXnKesQPxU

Direct link to Foyer Model Video: https://youtu.be/CyQf2tcyzG0

–––––––––––––––––

My illustrated edition of Wind in the Willows is available NOW for purchase:
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/796673/the-wind-in-the-willows-with-illustrations-by-david-petersen-by-kenneth-grahame-david-petersen/

Recent Sketchcover Commissions

Here are some of the recent Sketchcover commissions I've done at NYCC & Baltimore

Lieam

Saxon

Kenzie

Kenzie

Lieam

Saxon

Guardmouse

Recreation of Brian Jaques memorial I drew in 2011

Sadie in a leaf boat

Celanawe in a library

Conrad in his movie costume––

a gift for Giancarlo Esposito who did the mo-cap for him before the movie was canceled in the Disney/Fox merger.

Mouse Guard Model: Library Arch

The model of a Library arch used for the  cover of issue 2 of Legends of the Guard Vol. 1. It's made of bristol board, cardboard, and a bit of basswood.

In the video below, I talk about building it and photographing repeatedly to assemble photos into a complete library hall in Lillygrove, where Calla's Ghost appeared and stabbed the librarian with a spectral sword when he offended her over not knowing who was the first Matriarch of the Guard.

   

Direct YouTube Link:

https://youtu.be/sqiKdE50BNc

Wind in the Willows B&W Illustrations

My illustrated edition of Kenneth Grahame's classic Wind in the Willows published by IDW has been released in paperback (order here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/796673/the-wind-in-the-willows-with-illustrations-by-david-petersen-by-kenneth-grahame-david-petersen/)!

The book has Grahame's original text, with over 70 illustrations by me as well as a new cover (blogpost about that art process: https://davidpetersen.blogspot.com/2025/09/wind-in-willows-2nd-edition-cover.html).

This book took me years to complete the illustrations for, and I'm so pleased to have it back in print, so for this week's post I'm going to share posts about thee of the full-page full-color illustrations in the book as well as the original hardback cover which is now a two page spread in the book.

Inked Illustration Process Post of
Rat & Mole arriving late at Badger's Home.

https://davidpetersen.blogspot.com/2016/09/wind-in-willows-badgers-entry.html

Inked Illustration Process Post of
The Field Mice packing up and moving after the harvest.
https://davidpetersen.blogspot.com/2016/10/wind-in-willows-field-mice-illustration.html

Inked Illustration Process Post of

Toad Hiding from the Authorities after escaping Jail
https://davidpetersen.blogspot.com/2016/08/wind-in-willows-toad-in-hiding.html

–––––––––––––––––

My illustrated edition of Wind in the Willows is available NOW for purchase:
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/796673/the-wind-in-the-willows-with-illustrations-by-david-petersen-by-kenneth-grahame-david-petersen/

Discordant Fellowship 'Cover' & live reading

I have written and illustrated a new Mouse Guard short story titled 'The Tale of the Discordant Fellowship'. It's an 8 page story, like Baldwin the Brave, The Owlhen Caregiver and, King Knight Fool Villain'

Like those other tales, I drew a 'cover' for the story even though there are no plans to publish it as a single issue, but more on the release plans in a bit...

The story ties in nods to the pre-history of Mouse Guard back when there were no mice and it was titled 1149: https://davidpetersen.blogspot.com/2012/04/pre-mouse-guard1149-before-mouse-guard.html

This story will 'debut' at Baltimore Comic Con in a few weeks where I will be reading it aloud as the panels are reveled on the screen during the Comics Aloud panel that Sunday at noon (the panel will also have readings of their works by Jeff Smith, Derek Kirk Kim, Mark Buckingham, & Jeremy Bastian). As for print––with Diamond's collapse, I don't know when there will be another Free Comic Book Day, but this tale will eventually be collected in a hardcover of those types of tales (I'm only 1 short away from enough to collect them). In the meantime, I plan to make a recording of my performance and post it to my paid subscribers on Patreon next month.

For this post I wanted to break down the process to create the cover art. I drew it after completing all the art pages for the story. The six characters were all drawn separately on sheets of copy paper and them assembled with each being tinted a different color to help me see which lines belonged to which characters. The rock, log, and plants were drawn after I'd moved the mice into a composition that felt balanced.

The other major element was to add in the heraldic shield emblems I designed last year for those 1149 animals: https://davidpetersen.blogspot.com/2024/04/1149-shield-heraldry.html

I digitally blocked in colors to make sure the layout worked with the base colors and quickly threw in some grassy weeds shapes in the background to fill the void.

The layout was printed out and taped to the back of a sheet of Strathmore bristol 300 series. On my Huion lightpad I was able to see through the surface of the bristol to use the printout as a guide to ink from.

I used a Copic Multiliner SP 0.7 for the linework and the weed silhouettes were inked with a Pigma brushpen.

Because I wanted the inked art to be complete, I inked those heraldic shields into the final art despite having them all inked and colored from before.

The inked artwork was scanned and I started the coloring process. This first step is all about establishing color areas so they can be easily isolated as the rendering goes on (the fur color is different than the cloak, is different from the skin, is different from the stone, etc.) it's a professional version of coloring inside the lines digitally with just flat colors. And as you can see here, it doesn't even matter what colors are used, just as long as they are different from one another. 

At this step I also established color holds, areas where I want the ink lines to be a color other than black. I added color holds to the shield emblems, details on some of the characters, and on the background weeds.

The last step was to do the final rendered colors...well actually first I had to swap out all those wrong colors above with closer-to-correct base colors based on the finished pages from the story. The rendering was almost entirely done with the dodge and burn tools in Photoshop (with a stock textured brush). 

I worried the emblems and the background were fighting the characters for focus, so I pushed back everything behind the characters and muted it out with a soft warm light.

I hope you are either 1: attend Baltimore Comic Con and come to the reading, 2: subscribe to my Patreon at any tier to watch the reading next month, or 3: have patience for an eventual printed version.

Wind in the Willows Color Illustrations

Today my illustrated edition of Kenneth Grahame's classic Wind in the Willows published by IDW has been released in paperback (order here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/796673/the-wind-in-the-willows-with-illustrations-by-david-petersen-by-kenneth-grahame-david-petersen/)!

The book has Grahame's original text, with over 70 illustrations by me as well as a new cover (blogpost about that art process: https://davidpetersen.blogspot.com/2025/09/wind-in-willows-2nd-edition-cover.html).

This book took me years to complete the illustrations for, and I'm so pleased to have it back in print, so for this week's post I'm going to share posts about thee of the full-page full-color illustrations in the book as well as the original hardback cover which is now a two page spread in the book.

Art Process Post of
Mole & Rat departing with a picnic basket after becoming fast friends.

https://davidpetersen.blogspot.com/2017/01/wind-in-willows-rat-mole-color.html

Art Process Post of
Rat, Badger, & Mole confronting Toad's motorcar obsession.

https://davidpetersen.blogspot.com/2016/05/wind-in-willows-jacket-process.html

Art Process Post of
Toad getting disguised by the jailer's daughter as a washerwoman to escape prison.

https://davidpetersen.blogspot.com/2016/12/wind-in-willows-washerwoman-toad-color.html

Art Process Post of

The quartet using the secret passage in the Butler's Pantry to take back Toad Hall.

https://davidpetersen.blogspot.com/2017/01/wind-in-willows-butlers-pantry-color.html

–––––––––––––––––

My illustrated edition of Wind in the Willows is available NOW for purchase:
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/796673/the-wind-in-the-willows-with-illustrations-by-david-petersen-by-kenneth-grahame-david-petersen/