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The German Catholic Church

FEBRUARY 10, 2010
In a new article for Der Spiegel, they claim that nearly 100 clerics and laypeople had been suspected of abusing children and teenagers since 1995.
Many of the cases now surfacing are doing so because the statute of limitations is nearing it's end.  The scandal is a familiar one.  Abuse and cover up by the church.
Last Thursday morning at 9 AM I was asked to have a shot at a cover.  A photoshoot was in progress but I was hired to perhaps add something.
My initial sketch to them was a digital assembly as I had to find reference and see if this was feasible in the first place.  Der Spiegel  kept working on their end and sent me perfect reference by midday.
I worked all night and in the morning had a painting.  The editors went with the photo this time, feeling it was even more arresting.  Sometimes here in the states editors want that distance an illustration can provide.  Der Spiegel is different in it's boldness.
Still, a fun assignment and out of the studio in a flash.  That night I was off to the Society of Illustrators to celebrate our year together.
Here is a quick and awkward sketch. 
It might have worked but they gave me primo reference in the end.
I did move buttons around and remove a grin from the model's face.
But really, it was all about the Napoleon hand.
© 2024 Tim O'Brien