sneak peek at Cartouche Chronicles 3: maze of the Minotaur Artwork
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Note: All artwork created by Eric Cutright with Clip Studio Paint EX and a Gaomon PD156 Pro graphics tablet (plus Microsoft Visio Pro 2019 for precise linework and Adobe Photoshop Elements 2020 for miscellaneous photo editing).
See the Illustration Narrative in Cartouche Chronicles 3: Maze of the Minotaur for a complete listing of all artwork materials and references. All artwork Copyright 2021-2026 by Eric Cutright, All Rights Reserved. Use or reproduction of any content elsewhere without my authorization or use of my artwork for AI or AI training purposes is strictly forbidden. |
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Front Cover, Spline, and Back Cover
Working rough drafts, I still have a bit more crazy to add ! For the front cover, eventually I want to work in the Minotaur either right between Anubis and Horus or at the end of the maze, but I haven't figured that out just yet. I also had fun adding the golden string behind the Six as they begin to work their way through the maze (so they don't get lost), just like Ariadne's in the classic myth - or is it perhaps all true, hmmm ?
Working rough drafts, I still have a bit more crazy to add ! For the front cover, eventually I want to work in the Minotaur either right between Anubis and Horus or at the end of the maze, but I haven't figured that out just yet. I also had fun adding the golden string behind the Six as they begin to work their way through the maze (so they don't get lost), just like Ariadne's in the classic myth - or is it perhaps all true, hmmm ?
Chapter 1: Doppelgangers
Close to finished (I think)- still need to add posters and other room bling plus more Easter eggs!
Characters (left to right): Tyler, Sophia, Akiiki, Marc, Aniya as Lucas, Tut as Asim, Priya as Mensah, Ankha as Sydney
Close to finished (I think)- still need to add posters and other room bling plus more Easter eggs!
Characters (left to right): Tyler, Sophia, Akiiki, Marc, Aniya as Lucas, Tut as Asim, Priya as Mensah, Ankha as Sydney
Bonus Chapter 1 Easter Egg poster #1! I had so much fun creating this "Visit Oak Island" poster as an Easter egg for Marc's room in Pompeii (above) that I decided to post it here as bonus material! This poster is a spoof on Asim's ridiculously romanticized version of his "first date" on Oak Island with Sydney from CC2: Practice (right before she conjured Big Spikey to clearly express her disagreement).
Characters (left to right): Past president One Eyed Willy Fan Club pirate zombie, Templar Knight zombie, past president CC Fan Club pirate zombie, Bastet (still need to fur her), Anubis (still need to fur him)
Characters (left to right): Past president One Eyed Willy Fan Club pirate zombie, Templar Knight zombie, past president CC Fan Club pirate zombie, Bastet (still need to fur her), Anubis (still need to fur him)
Bonus Chapter 1 Easter Egg poster #2! I've recently been working on some new background posters for my room illustrations to make my teenager rooms look a little more lived-in and interesting. Here is a little homage to my favorite K-pop group based on their "How It's Done" poster, featuring my own powerful trio of main female characters.
Characters (left to right): Sydney, Sophia, and Akiiki (plus a couple of very cute friends in the bottom right)
Characters (left to right): Sydney, Sophia, and Akiiki (plus a couple of very cute friends in the bottom right)
Bonus Chapter 1 Easter Egg poster #3! I've recently been working on some new background posters for my room illustrations to make my teenager rooms look a little more lived-in and interesting. Here is one I am currently drawing for "TJ's Fabulous Herculaneum Tours" that Sydney and Tyler took with amazing guide Thomas Jefferson in Chapter 21 of CC2, which is going to become both a room poster and a T-shirt for some of my characters in CC3 and beyond :)
First rough draft, still a lot to do to finish the paintings and wall details in the Herculaneum background building (I picked the College of the Augustali in Regio VI), and it needs a few more Easter eggs (like the 1776 flags, Liberty Bell, University of Virginia logo, and K-pop logo on TJ's jacket), of course !
First rough draft, still a lot to do to finish the paintings and wall details in the Herculaneum background building (I picked the College of the Augustali in Regio VI), and it needs a few more Easter eggs (like the 1776 flags, Liberty Bell, University of Virginia logo, and K-pop logo on TJ's jacket), of course !
Chapter 2: Snafu
Just about finished (I think!), I'm still tinkering with some of the cats and makhluq alwasis in the background, and might add some more Easter eggs.
Characters (left to right): Ummm, sorry - too many spoilers. Let's just say time travel is involved, so maybe you can figure it out!
Just about finished (I think!), I'm still tinkering with some of the cats and makhluq alwasis in the background, and might add some more Easter eggs.
Characters (left to right): Ummm, sorry - too many spoilers. Let's just say time travel is involved, so maybe you can figure it out!
Chapter 3: Leeloo
Getting close to finished with this one, still tinkering a little with the furring. My first-ever attempt at drawing a massive makhluq alwasi ! Leeloo is a crazy mix of fierce lion, gorgeous spots like a jaguar, dangerous build of a saber-toothed tiger, wicked teeth that remind me of the spiders from The Hobbit (old animated version), and a colossal spiked-back dinosaur with a deadly tail like a mighty stegosaurus.
Characters (left to right): Leeloo, unlucky bird (top center), Sydney (climbing up), The King
Getting close to finished with this one, still tinkering a little with the furring. My first-ever attempt at drawing a massive makhluq alwasi ! Leeloo is a crazy mix of fierce lion, gorgeous spots like a jaguar, dangerous build of a saber-toothed tiger, wicked teeth that remind me of the spiders from The Hobbit (old animated version), and a colossal spiked-back dinosaur with a deadly tail like a mighty stegosaurus.
Characters (left to right): Leeloo, unlucky bird (top center), Sydney (climbing up), The King
Chapter 4: Truce
Just about finished (I think!), still want to add some background pictures on the walls and some other room blingage and Easter eggs.
Characters, front (left to right): Marc, Akiiki, Ankha as Sydney, Tut as Asim
Characters, rear (left to right): Dad, Lucas, Maud' Dib (tiny mouse on Lucas' shoulder), Emma, Mom, Chunk, Kate, Sloth, Marion, Ava, Mensah, Sallah
Just about finished (I think!), still want to add some background pictures on the walls and some other room blingage and Easter eggs.
Characters, front (left to right): Marc, Akiiki, Ankha as Sydney, Tut as Asim
Characters, rear (left to right): Dad, Lucas, Maud' Dib (tiny mouse on Lucas' shoulder), Emma, Mom, Chunk, Kate, Sloth, Marion, Ava, Mensah, Sallah
Chapter 5: Mystics
Just about finished (I think!), trying to decide if I like this Anubis version from CC1 or if I want to switch to my new Anubis version from CC3 (see CC3 Chapter 16 illustration further below).
Characters (left to right): Anubis, Sydney, Asim, Leeloo
Just about finished (I think!), trying to decide if I like this Anubis version from CC1 or if I want to switch to my new Anubis version from CC3 (see CC3 Chapter 16 illustration further below).
Characters (left to right): Anubis, Sydney, Asim, Leeloo
Chapter 6: Reunions
Working draft - still need to add posters, Easter eggs, and other room bling!
Characters (left to right): Marc, Akiiki, Sophia, Asim, Tyler, Leeloo, Sydney
Working draft - still need to add posters, Easter eggs, and other room bling!
Characters (left to right): Marc, Akiiki, Sophia, Asim, Tyler, Leeloo, Sydney
Bonus Chapter 6 Easter Egg poster! So obviously I love all things ST, so made an Easter egg poster for Marc's room as a little homage to my favorite show. It was incredibly fun to draw, especially Anubis' evil god-buddy Khepri, the scarab headed god whose grotesque body is entirely made up of squirming beetles and insects, maximum yuck! This is a first rough draft - I still have a bit to do (mostly making Khepri look nasty, dangerous, and evil enough to fit the vision in my crazy mind, plus maybe adding a couple more characters behind them) !
Chapter 7: Seabase
Just about finished (I think!)
Characters, left to right (ummm, not counting Lenny the leopard gecko, iguanas, ducks, and chickens): Marc, Akiiki, Alec, Emily, crazy kite-surfer, Tyler, Sydney, Asim, Sophia
Just about finished (I think!)
Characters, left to right (ummm, not counting Lenny the leopard gecko, iguanas, ducks, and chickens): Marc, Akiiki, Alec, Emily, crazy kite-surfer, Tyler, Sydney, Asim, Sophia
Chapter 8: Shipwreck
This is my first released chapter illustration for CC3, and is based on the real-life Scouts BSA Troop 1028/9 Seabase adventure in July 2021 to St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands. I really had a blast drawing all my favorite USVI sea creatures (plus a few crazy Easter eggs) for this one, but it was a little bittersweet to draw as Marc and I were set to go a few weeks earlier but our trip was cancelled by nasty old Hurricane Elsa. But I'm happy to report that we both had a wonderful time on our rescheduled Seabase adventure in August 2022 with an amazing crew of Scouts (several of whom, like Marc, have characters in my book series based on them) and naturally there was some new Scout craziness on the trip that made great material for this chapter!
Now just about finished (I think!)
Characters clockwise from left: Akiiki, Marc, Sophia, Asim, Alec, Emily, adults on boat: Miss Jenifer (Alec’s mom), Captain Charlie, Mr. Eric, and then Sydney and Tyler on the far right
This is my first released chapter illustration for CC3, and is based on the real-life Scouts BSA Troop 1028/9 Seabase adventure in July 2021 to St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands. I really had a blast drawing all my favorite USVI sea creatures (plus a few crazy Easter eggs) for this one, but it was a little bittersweet to draw as Marc and I were set to go a few weeks earlier but our trip was cancelled by nasty old Hurricane Elsa. But I'm happy to report that we both had a wonderful time on our rescheduled Seabase adventure in August 2022 with an amazing crew of Scouts (several of whom, like Marc, have characters in my book series based on them) and naturally there was some new Scout craziness on the trip that made great material for this chapter!
Now just about finished (I think!)
Characters clockwise from left: Akiiki, Marc, Sophia, Asim, Alec, Emily, adults on boat: Miss Jenifer (Alec’s mom), Captain Charlie, Mr. Eric, and then Sydney and Tyler on the far right
Chapter 9: Babysat
Just about finished (I think!)
This was my first-ever attempt at feathering, and I absolutely love the way it turned out! It's also just a bit easier than my crazy furring technique for all my furred creatures, and weirdly satisfying to draw!
Human/god characters, left to right: Mensah (giant Aztec Roc form), Lucas (jumping to rescue the falling Chunk), God (grey dove), Isis (pink dove), Emma, Ava, Horus
Creature characters, left to right: Whale sharks, Chunk (falling), Maud' Dib (Emma's shoulder), Sloth (between the girls), Heart of Hathor, Third Eye of Horus (center), manta rays, Galapagos marine iguanas (or as Lucas calls them - mini-Godzillas), Swift Wing of Ra (top right), dolphins
Just about finished (I think!)
This was my first-ever attempt at feathering, and I absolutely love the way it turned out! It's also just a bit easier than my crazy furring technique for all my furred creatures, and weirdly satisfying to draw!
Human/god characters, left to right: Mensah (giant Aztec Roc form), Lucas (jumping to rescue the falling Chunk), God (grey dove), Isis (pink dove), Emma, Ava, Horus
Creature characters, left to right: Whale sharks, Chunk (falling), Maud' Dib (Emma's shoulder), Sloth (between the girls), Heart of Hathor, Third Eye of Horus (center), manta rays, Galapagos marine iguanas (or as Lucas calls them - mini-Godzillas), Swift Wing of Ra (top right), dolphins
Chapter 10: Blue
Finally, a relaxing day of lowkey fun (plus a Seabase reunion) for most of our heroes! Just about finished (I think!). I had a blast adding all my favorite creatures including luna moths, turtles, hummingbirds, funny fish, newts, snakes, chipmunks, geckos, spiders, frogs, and dragonflies plus some crazy Easter eggs as usual - so much fun!
Characters, clockwise from bottom center: Marc, Akiiki, Asim, Sophia, Emily, Alec, Third Eye of Horus (TEOH), Tyler, Sydney, Leeloo, Freddy
Finally, a relaxing day of lowkey fun (plus a Seabase reunion) for most of our heroes! Just about finished (I think!). I had a blast adding all my favorite creatures including luna moths, turtles, hummingbirds, funny fish, newts, snakes, chipmunks, geckos, spiders, frogs, and dragonflies plus some crazy Easter eggs as usual - so much fun!
Characters, clockwise from bottom center: Marc, Akiiki, Asim, Sophia, Emily, Alec, Third Eye of Horus (TEOH), Tyler, Sydney, Leeloo, Freddy
Chapter 11: Knossos
After recently coming back to this one to wrap it up, I think I finally am nearly finished ! I felt obligated to really try to do this wonderful site justice, so it took me forever to do the linework (over 40,000 lines ! ) for this 3D birds-eye overview of the whole palace of Knossos (back in its hey-day). It was a huge challenge but I love the way it is turning out! I had a marvelous time adding trees and landscaping throughout, some bull-leapers in the center courtyard, and of course adding hundreds of ancient Minoans moving around the palace and grounds going about their normal routine (while Lucas and his friends are spying on them via his time window). I took a few artistic liberties like adding a Pompeii-style oval theater in the top center (where my favorite K Pop group happens to be performing ! ) instead of the more rectangular (and a bit boring) one from antiquity, and obviously I went a little crazy with the roof-top bull horn decorations and Minoan light-wells (basically open skylights to let sunlight in which are cool, but must have been a bit annoying when it rained).
Characters, left to right: Mensah, Ava, Sloth, Emma, Maud' Dib, Chunk, Lucas
After recently coming back to this one to wrap it up, I think I finally am nearly finished ! I felt obligated to really try to do this wonderful site justice, so it took me forever to do the linework (over 40,000 lines ! ) for this 3D birds-eye overview of the whole palace of Knossos (back in its hey-day). It was a huge challenge but I love the way it is turning out! I had a marvelous time adding trees and landscaping throughout, some bull-leapers in the center courtyard, and of course adding hundreds of ancient Minoans moving around the palace and grounds going about their normal routine (while Lucas and his friends are spying on them via his time window). I took a few artistic liberties like adding a Pompeii-style oval theater in the top center (where my favorite K Pop group happens to be performing ! ) instead of the more rectangular (and a bit boring) one from antiquity, and obviously I went a little crazy with the roof-top bull horn decorations and Minoan light-wells (basically open skylights to let sunlight in which are cool, but must have been a bit annoying when it rained).
Characters, left to right: Mensah, Ava, Sloth, Emma, Maud' Dib, Chunk, Lucas
Chapter 12: Minos
My vision of the awesome throne room in the Palace of Knossos (back in its hey-day). I was stuck on this one for many many months before I finally finished the Minoan dresses and armor to my satisfaction, but now just about finished (I think!)
Balcony Theseus admirer characters, left to right: Aikaterini, Xena, Kassandra, Jocelyn, Thaleia, Xanthi, Ismini
Throne room floor characters, left to right: Ariadne (left column), Queen Pasiphae, King Minos, Theseus, Phaedra (right column)
Cool fact: The solid stone (and vividly painted) throne here is the oldest throne ever uncovered in Europe! I've now cleverly covered most of it up with King Minos but hey, trust me, it used to look awesome :)
My vision of the awesome throne room in the Palace of Knossos (back in its hey-day). I was stuck on this one for many many months before I finally finished the Minoan dresses and armor to my satisfaction, but now just about finished (I think!)
Balcony Theseus admirer characters, left to right: Aikaterini, Xena, Kassandra, Jocelyn, Thaleia, Xanthi, Ismini
Throne room floor characters, left to right: Ariadne (left column), Queen Pasiphae, King Minos, Theseus, Phaedra (right column)
Cool fact: The solid stone (and vividly painted) throne here is the oldest throne ever uncovered in Europe! I've now cleverly covered most of it up with King Minos but hey, trust me, it used to look awesome :)
Chapter 13: Bull-leaping
Almost done with this one - my rendering of the central courtyard of the mighty Palace of Knossos (back in its hey-day) with crazy bull-leapers plus lots of anxious spectators, and maybe more Easter eggs coming soon! The bull-leaping scene is based on the famous fresco from Knossos, and I tried to get the bull and the leaper poses as close as possible to the ancient original!
Characters (left to right): Icarus, mighty Minoan bull, Phaedra, Ariadne
Almost done with this one - my rendering of the central courtyard of the mighty Palace of Knossos (back in its hey-day) with crazy bull-leapers plus lots of anxious spectators, and maybe more Easter eggs coming soon! The bull-leaping scene is based on the famous fresco from Knossos, and I tried to get the bull and the leaper poses as close as possible to the ancient original!
Characters (left to right): Icarus, mighty Minoan bull, Phaedra, Ariadne
Chapter 14: Ariadne
Just about finished (I think!)
Characters, left to right: Ariadne, Theseus' fellow sacrifices in maze entrance, and Ariadne's crush Theseus
Just about finished (I think!)
Characters, left to right: Ariadne, Theseus' fellow sacrifices in maze entrance, and Ariadne's crush Theseus
Chapter 15: Schemes
Almost done with the Queen's Hall in the mighty palace of Knossos (back in its hey-day), I finally finished the dancing girl frescoes and added some bling to the room like the famous Minoan bull rhyton on the left and some cool bull amphora in the middle, and may yet add a few final touches. I really had fun adding Easter eggs to the famous Dolphin Fresco at the top left with a little homage to Finding Nemo (one of my favorite movies), and I snuck in my favorite K-pop group logo on one of the amphoras.
Characters, left to right: Aikaterini (!!!), Ariadne (leaving room), Ismini, Kassandra, Xanthi (light blue/green stripes), Xena (red/yellow stripes), Thaleia, Jocelyn (light blue/grey stripes), Ariadne's crush Theseus, and Ariadne's sneaky and mischievous little sister Phaedra making her move with the help of a love potion - ummm, big sis had better look out for trouble !
Almost done with the Queen's Hall in the mighty palace of Knossos (back in its hey-day), I finally finished the dancing girl frescoes and added some bling to the room like the famous Minoan bull rhyton on the left and some cool bull amphora in the middle, and may yet add a few final touches. I really had fun adding Easter eggs to the famous Dolphin Fresco at the top left with a little homage to Finding Nemo (one of my favorite movies), and I snuck in my favorite K-pop group logo on one of the amphoras.
Characters, left to right: Aikaterini (!!!), Ariadne (leaving room), Ismini, Kassandra, Xanthi (light blue/green stripes), Xena (red/yellow stripes), Thaleia, Jocelyn (light blue/grey stripes), Ariadne's crush Theseus, and Ariadne's sneaky and mischievous little sister Phaedra making her move with the help of a love potion - ummm, big sis had better look out for trouble !
Chapter 16: Storm
Just about finished (I think!), mainly still debating if Anubis needs furring like my CC1 version :)
Sneak peek dialog from CC3 (blatantly working in one of my favorite power quotes):
A few seconds before this scene - "Trust me, youngling, you cannot withstand this storm," Anubis growled menacingly to Sydney.
This scene after Sydney's surprise teleport - "Trust ME, dog, I AM the storm," Sydney whispered fiercely, neatly slicing off his ear with her lightsaber while breaking his necklace to retrieve the three precious cartouche bracelets.
Characters, left to right: Anubis, Sydney (post-teleport), Third Eye of Horus (TEOH), Lucas, Ava, Sydney (pre-teleport), Asim
Just about finished (I think!), mainly still debating if Anubis needs furring like my CC1 version :)
Sneak peek dialog from CC3 (blatantly working in one of my favorite power quotes):
A few seconds before this scene - "Trust me, youngling, you cannot withstand this storm," Anubis growled menacingly to Sydney.
This scene after Sydney's surprise teleport - "Trust ME, dog, I AM the storm," Sydney whispered fiercely, neatly slicing off his ear with her lightsaber while breaking his necklace to retrieve the three precious cartouche bracelets.
Characters, left to right: Anubis, Sydney (post-teleport), Third Eye of Horus (TEOH), Lucas, Ava, Sydney (pre-teleport), Asim
Chapter 17: Despair
Just about finished (I think!), still want to tinker some more with the lava monsters and maybe add some Easter eggs.
Characters (left to right, not counting beetles, skeletons, and lava monsters): Tyler, Emma, Mensah, Sophia
Just about finished (I think!), still want to tinker some more with the lava monsters and maybe add some Easter eggs.
Characters (left to right, not counting beetles, skeletons, and lava monsters): Tyler, Emma, Mensah, Sophia
Chapter 18: Oracle
Working draft - still lots to do! I think the skeletons need some rusty weapons and suitably disgusting disintegrating zombie clothing shreds, plus a few more Easter eggs here and there.
Characters (left to right): Alec, Emily, Sloth (jumping), Chunk, Ankha, Lucas, Ava, Freddy
Working draft - still lots to do! I think the skeletons need some rusty weapons and suitably disgusting disintegrating zombie clothing shreds, plus a few more Easter eggs here and there.
Characters (left to right): Alec, Emily, Sloth (jumping), Chunk, Ankha, Lucas, Ava, Freddy
Chapter 19: Search
Just about finished (I think!) . Theseus' Greek warship was soooo much fun to draw!
Characters, left to right: Icarus (flying), Greek oarsmen, Daedalus (flying), Theseus, Phaedra, 3 Greek princesses, Ariadne, Ava, Lucas, Maud' Dib (tiny mouse on Lucas' shoulder), Kate
Just about finished (I think!) . Theseus' Greek warship was soooo much fun to draw!
Characters, left to right: Icarus (flying), Greek oarsmen, Daedalus (flying), Theseus, Phaedra, 3 Greek princesses, Ariadne, Ava, Lucas, Maud' Dib (tiny mouse on Lucas' shoulder), Kate
Chapter 20: Maze
First super rough draft - will be an extract from the final CC3 cover art.
First super rough draft - will be an extract from the final CC3 cover art.
Chapter 21: Minotaur
Working rough draft, still LOTS to do but I 'm really happy with it so far! This was my last main chapter illustration released for CC3, since it took me a while to figure out how to make the minotaur look mean and nasty enough to suit the crazy in my head!
Check out all the cartouche bracelets (and attached bones/skulls, yuck!) this guy has collected over the centuries - I think our friends may be in real trouble!
Characters (clockwise from lower left): Emma, Mensah (boy), Mensah (giant black mamba), big bad minotaur Asterion, Sophia, Tyler.
Working rough draft, still LOTS to do but I 'm really happy with it so far! This was my last main chapter illustration released for CC3, since it took me a while to figure out how to make the minotaur look mean and nasty enough to suit the crazy in my head!
Check out all the cartouche bracelets (and attached bones/skulls, yuck!) this guy has collected over the centuries - I think our friends may be in real trouble!
Characters (clockwise from lower left): Emma, Mensah (boy), Mensah (giant black mamba), big bad minotaur Asterion, Sophia, Tyler.
Chapter 22: Seeds
Working draft - I still have lots of furring (almost 2/3 done), makhluq alwasi weaponizing, Easter egging, and resizing to do! Still experimenting with the furring - easily the hardest and most frustrating part for me.
Makhluq alwasi characters, back (left to right): Sloth (still need to fur him), Leeloo (rough draft model), Chunk (still need to fur him)
Human characters, front (left to right): Ava carrying Mensah, Asim carrying Sophia, Sydney carrying Tyler, Lucas carrying Emma
Working draft - I still have lots of furring (almost 2/3 done), makhluq alwasi weaponizing, Easter egging, and resizing to do! Still experimenting with the furring - easily the hardest and most frustrating part for me.
Makhluq alwasi characters, back (left to right): Sloth (still need to fur him), Leeloo (rough draft model), Chunk (still need to fur him)
Human characters, front (left to right): Ava carrying Mensah, Asim carrying Sophia, Sydney carrying Tyler, Lucas carrying Emma
Bonus Artwork
Sneak peek at a new cartouche type unveiled in CC3, also discretely hidden somewhere above! Whoever it is, they obviously reveal it in Charlottesville! Good or evil? You'll have to wait for CC4 - Attack on Atlantis!
Sneak peek at a new cartouche type unveiled in CC3, also discretely hidden somewhere above! Whoever it is, they obviously reveal it in Charlottesville! Good or evil? You'll have to wait for CC4 - Attack on Atlantis!
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All website contents copyright Eric Cutright, 2018-2026, All Rights Reserved.
Use or reproduction of any content elsewhere without my authorization or use of my artwork for AI or AI training purposes is strictly forbidden. |
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