A mysterious magician collects acorns with his dog, then cooks one in a fire as the sun begins to set...

I tried scanning the magician again with pen outlines.

I think the pen adds contrast, but I also think it could be achieved with black paint...not sure which direction would be better.

Shortly after finishing this painting, I found a quote by Cass Canfield, an early editor of Harper publishing, "I am a publisher - a hybrid creature: on part star gazer, one part gambler, one part businessman, one part midwife, and three parts optimist."

After reading the quote, I imagined that the magician was a publisher and the acorns were his books.