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Max McDaniels

Here's a portrait of our hero, Max. It was trickier than you might imagine putting Max's image on paper in such detail. After all, when you picture Elvis, do you picture "early Elvis" (e.g., young, skinny, iconoclast) or "late Elvis" (living legend, well fed, sequin jumpsuits....)?!?

By the end of The Fiend and the Forge, Max is no longer the young boy who rode a train in Chicago. Instead of an innocent twelve, Max is now a battle hardened sixteen or seventeen-year old who has seen more than most. I wanted to portray him at this stage as it's a more interesting phase to tackle by way of the eyes, posture, expression, etc. You can judge for yourself whether the portrait captures Max's essence, but I will say the process of creating these little character snapshots has been an interesting exercise as it's forced me to think deeply about each in turn...

I'll be posting more soon, so check back now and again. Just a few short months until Fiend is released...can't wait!

Posted By Henry Neff on Aug 29, 2010                       Permalink | Comments (16) | Post Comment


 


 
Comments (16)
Max has always been my FAVORITE character. I love it when he gets bursts of old magic. It so cool to listen what happens. Max is so awesome, and even cooler in The Fiend and the Forge! I really didn't like the tragedies though. All those monsters.. yeesh... I guess all heroes need to overcome something!
Posted By Sloane on Dec 25, 2010   
he looks totally amazing and just how i pictured him:) i love how you captured the essence of a solid young man, ready for a battle, or a conversation with David:D anndddd, he's hot<3
Posted By Caressa on Dec 13, 2010   
Great picture! This is exactly how I imagined the hero of the Tapestry series to look like :)
Posted By Haphazard on Dec 04, 2010   
I like the way you pictured. It's a lot like i pictured him. Anyway i love all your books. I'm at the ending of the Fiend and the Forge and i absolutely love it. But there is one thing. i really miss Sarah, Lucia,Cynthia in the book. I mean you mentioned them but it wasn't like how they were in the Hound of Rowan and the Second Siege. They were like, along with Conner, the Neville, Ginny, and Luna in the Harry Potter book series. They weren't main characters but somehow they got involved in what the main character was doing sometimes. So that's how they were to me and i missed the three girls very much. Especially Sarah. I've been a Sarah/Max shipper since the first book and was a bit disappointed that Julie and Max were together. I'm not a Julie/Max fan at all. I just don't like the couple. Hopefully there's still a chance for Sarah and Max(I'm actually praying to God that they do end up together). Anyway i can't wait for your fourth book to come out. I'm already getting impatient. Come on the fall of 2012 really. Well i guess i'm just going to have to wait a long agonizing wait like i did the 7th Harry Potter book. Anyway can't wait for fourth book. Hopefully will get to see some more of Sarah, Lucia, Cynthia, Conner, and Mina in the fourth book. Oh and do you think you could draw some pictures of Sarah, Cynthia. Lucia. Conner, and Mina.Please say yes. Anyway Fiend and the Forge was wonderful and again can't wait for the fourth book.
Posted By Lady T on Dec 02, 2010   
I miss old(young) Max :(
Posted By shortythedwarf (Emma) on Nov 04, 2010   
I loooooooov this pic.Its exactly how i imagined him older. Awesome pic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted By Tapestry Master on Nov 02, 2010   
are you going on tour anytime in the future? if so please come to Kansas City.
Posted By shortythedwarf on Oct 24, 2010   
I loooove this picture of Max-it's exactly how I pictured him!!! He's my absolute favorite character. Can't wait for the Fiend!
Posted By Ariana on Oct 11, 2010   
I can't wait for the book to come out! Once again, amazing art - but I kinda pictured him as a little less hard, stiff-upper-lip, cynical, jaded...even as his seventeen-year-old battle-hardened self.
Posted By KittyHawk on Oct 02, 2010   
Happy Tapestry Day!!!!!!!!!!! Finally it's out in the world!!!!!! WOOOOT!!!!!1
Posted By shortythedwarf on Sep 28, 2010   
the picture of max is insanly gud. pretty much just like i thought it would look.
Posted By Elliot Steenson on Sep 28, 2010   
ahhhh! I'm sooo unbelievably excited to read the third book! it seems like Ive been waiting forever!!!! so excited!
Posted By Martha on Sep 21, 2010   
Next Wednesday!!! I can't wait!!!!
Posted By shortythedwarf on Sep 20, 2010   
ONLY 12 MORE DAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'M SOOOOOOO EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted By shortythedwarf on Sep 16, 2010   
Hello Henry it's been a while since I last e-mailed you. I can't wait to read the next installment of the Fiend and the Forge. I love your new website btw!
Posted By Blanche on Sep 16, 2010   
Short? more like decades!!!
Posted By shortythedwarf on Sep 05, 2010