Dragon Slayer Extraordinarie

NEWS FLASH: THIS IS NOT FOR ARTORDER!!!! Nope, it's for ANOTHER art challenge, in this case, Imaginism Studios'. Rules for the challenge can be found at their DeviantArt website.

The dragon is Kei Acedera's creation, as reinterpreted by me. Hope she likes it...

Oh finally, if you're thinking about taking a class to up the quality of your artwork and your marketability as a professional illustrator, seriously check out Imaginism's online school, Schoolism. I've talked about it before, but I cannot overstress how highly I think about Schoolism.

Oodles of Life Drawings

Some more life drawings from my class at WCC. Let me tell you, coming back to these life studies after 4 years feels like visiting your old college. A little dusty, but everything's still there. I'm grateful I didn't lose it all. I owe it all to my old teachers at the Academy: Chuck, Lisa, Sherrie, Jian, Xao Ming, Henry, Warren, Valerie, Bill, Oliver and Barbara (God bless her soul). And of course, I'm indebted to my current teacher, Bruce. Thank you all!

ArtOrder Shock and Awe

This week's ArtOrder assignment (seems that's all I do doesn't it?)

The topic is simple and straightforward: make a big bad weapon that screams death and destruction. Do these Dungeons and Dragons people think we're nerds or something? Wait...don't answer that.



Anyway, I've titled this thing the Thunder Hammer. I think it's a bit uncreative though. Anyone got any better suggestions? Titan's Fist? Hammer of the Gods? Toe Squisher?

Come up with something cool and I'll send you a print of one of my paintings. You pick. Either from this blog or my website. Email your answer to me at piyastudios@yahoo.com. Thanks.

PS: I thought I'd share my silhouette studies for this project.



Fun huh?

Draculsaurus Pyro

I reworked my Dinogloth painting for the ArtOrder blog. Not much of a surprise that I would gravitate towards big scaly reptiles huh? I think this new version can now be considered a finished painting. I've been changing my way of doing things lately, due in no small part to Kekai Kotaki's article on ImagineFX Issue 41 (Kekai's blog is found here). His way of painting is much more free, spontaneous and more organic (not to mention a hundred times faster!). The tradeoff is that the line between work in progress and final finished painting becomes more hazy. I hope I have sound judgement on finding that line.

Oh and I named my dino Draculsaurus pyro (Fire Dragon Reptile). If my Latin is completely off, please let me know. Thanks.

ArtOrder Fire Elves Sketch

This week's ArtOrder sketch.

I've placed the Elven race on a far off planet orbiting a red dwarf star. Due to the low energy output of the star, there is very little heat on the planet. The only sources of heat and energy available are the many active volcanoes that dot the landscape. The elves have learned to harness the power of these volcanoes to survive and thrive.

The atmosphere of the world blocks much of the incoming visible light, but is transparent to dangerous UV radiation. In response, the elves have evolved pitch black skin to protect themselves and reflective corneas to help with seeing in such dark conditions. Thus, the elves eyes glow red.

I've chosen to depict a typical city of this race. Flowing lava is channeled throughout the city to keep it warm and to be harnessed for power. The city is built as compactly as possible. Skyscrapers are an inevitable result. However the elves have never lost their sense of grace, reflected in their organic architecture.

Thanks to matte painter Dylan Cole, whose art inspired this idea and to Seth Shostak and the SETI Institute, whose work continues to keep me thinking and coming up with these out-of-this-world ideas.

Happy Easter

Happy Easter to all! May God's peace, blessings and grace be to all people.

ArtOrder Dinogloth Sketch

This week's challenge is a zombie demon dinosaur. Geekdom at its best.



He's a mix of a Therizinosaurus, the skull of a Dracorex, the teeth of a Tyrannosaurus, with a bit of the Balrog from Lord of the Rings thrown in the mix.

This image is a great way to grate on the nerves of a paleontologist....

ArtOrder Bromide Sketch

This week's ArtOrder topic is the Bromide race. They're a race of plant based humanoids, mostly peaceful, full of agility and grace and with an inherent ability to defend themselves.



I chose to depict mine has a humanoid female, mostly because I haven't done much with the female figure (I find the female form one of the most intimidating subjects to take on artistically). Also, a woman's body lends itself well to depicting grace and rhythm. But as well all know, nature is red in tooth and claw, so I tried to design her hands and forearms to be thick, hard and durable in the form of tree bark.