I sketched out this little guy on a scrap of canvas, using a jar of leftover paint mixed for rendering the sky in my recently finished Tad Williams' cover. I set it aside to dry and forgot about it until a few days ago.

Although it made me smile, I thought there were parts that could use a little extra cleaning up. Oops. Thank goodness I had the presence of mind to take a shot of the first version before I mucked around with it.

Some collectors go for sketches and preliminary works, preferring the raw vitality and freshness of the inspiration as it was first expressed, unhindered by second-guesses and overthinking. I get that—now.