Deathwing Knight Master

A character painting today. I present to you a Dark Angels Deathwing Knight Master with his trusty (and creepy) cyber cherub. Enjoy!

He's so cool he wears a church on his head.

Chaos Mutilator and Eldar Howling Banshee

This painting was started a few months ago. I wanted to try a piece that really emphasized contrasts between two characters: contrasts in size, shape, texture, color, etc. The latest Chaos Space Marines Codex had just been released and the Chaos Mutilator that was introduced got my attention. I looked for a suitably polar opposite character to face up against the Mutilator and lo and behold, I found the Howling Banshee. Where the Mutilator was male, heavy, warped, clumsy and with exposed flesh, here was a female, lithe, armored and futuristic.

This painting is actually the second go around. I had originally finished an earlier version which, to be honest, I wasn't too crazy about. I painted my hardest for this image, but it just wasn't firing on all cylinders. Finally I decided to post it to this blog, but then disaster struck. I accidentally saved the 72 dpi flattened web version over my final copy. I no longer had a hi res file. I got rather bummed about that and put the image away and forgot about it for a few months.

About a month ago, I pulled the image back up, brought it back to 300 dpi and started painting over it. Eventually, I came to the painting you see above. It's still not a masterpiece in my opinion, but I definitely feel better about it now. Perhaps it was a blessing that I accidentally lost my hi res file.

Battle For Macragge

For my 200th post, I present to you the Battle for Macragge! I really wanted to get across the idea of a noble sacrifice and an honorable death.

I definitely had the movie Gladiator in my mind while working on this piece.

This piece was a long time coming. This sketch was done sometime last spring, when I was suddenly hit with a lot of freelance work/ I chipped at it until about 2 months ago when my schedule freed up a little and I was able to get back to it.

The original pencils with an overload of details. It's a very busy pencil drawing, but I knew I'd rather put in too much detail and just make some disappear instead of making a simple drawing and trying to resolve the details while painting.

Happy New Year!

Well, Happy 2013 everyone!

I've never been much into writing, as those of you who've followed this blog for these past years might have noticed. My sentences never sound as eloquent as I would hope, so I tend to keep the yip yap to a minimum. All I can really say is every year, I do everything I can to move forward from the year before. Just a little bit. Not epic leaps but small baby steps. I just trust that the small consistent steps will add up over time.

I will say 2012 was a pretty big year for me. I've done some freelance work that is finally coming to light now, and I hope to share as much of it as possible in the next couple of months. I also know that my blogging was pretty weak throughout 2012, and I hope to change that this year. I'm not say the R-word. I'm just saying I will do my honest best to make it better.

So, without further ado, Fantasy Flight has released their latest Warhammer 40000 Deathwatch supplement, The Outer Reach.

I was honored to contribute a piece to this book, and a Space Marine at that!And a Librarian! I really really liked that!

Ku'Gath the Plaguefather

My newest Games Workshop inspired piece is Ku Gath the Plaguefather. I decided to work more on textures for this piece. Hope it shows!

Also, I'll be exhibiting at New York Comic Con this weekend. Please find me at the Artist's Alley, booth Z6. I'll be selling prints!

Salamanders Librarian

So sorry about the lack of posts! I just got back from my first Gen Con last weekend, and I have to say, even with the drama of the 1 stop flights, the lack of buses, etc., it was a really worthwhile event to go to! Thank you to Zoe Robinson and Mike Linnemann at Fantasy Flght Games, Ed Bourelle at Privateer Press, Sarah Robinson and Andrew Vallas at Paizo Publishing and Jeremy Jarvis, Kate Irwin and Jon Schindehette at Wizards of the Coast for your time, reviews and encouragement. In addition, here's a painting I just finished in time for the con.

Kaldor Draigo

My latest Games Workshop piece! This one has been a long time coming. Hopefully it shows.

Some Updates

Hello! I have some slightly overdue updates! The Phillustration show began on June 25th, and it was a blast to attend the gallery reception. It was good to see Christina Hess, Dominick Saponaro and David Palumbo again. I also had the honor of meeting Joe DeVito! (the artist that is!)

The show is at the Philadelphia Sketch Club and runs until July 27th. Stop on by if you're in the area. It's a great show!

And a new sketch I've been working on.....

Blood Angels Librarian

Can you tell I like Space Marines?

I've always loved the idea of warrior mystics. Soldiers who also can cast magic (or in this case, psychic powers) are just way too cool.

Can any GW nerd tell me what power this Librarian is using? A free print to whoever gives me the right answer!

Crimson Fists

Another Warhammer 40k sketch. Today, it's the implacable Crimson Fists.

An Experiment

Well, I painted the Raptors. This all really spontaneous, actually. The drawing was just a doodle in the sketchbook, but I figured, well, I got this far, let's paint it. I decided I wanted to have a sketchier look to the piece. I've always loved artwork where you can see the process. I don't like work that's over rendered. For this piece, I thought I'd try to have more of my sketch showing through.

What does everyone think? Honestly?? Should I try this a bit more, or just go back to my old way of rendering a lot more? Thanks!

Chaos Raptors

A doodle of Warhammer 40000 Raptors. I should do this more often. It's fun!

Moonshine

If the delicate, beautifully rendered drawings of Reubens are a Merlot, and strong, bold lines of Cornwell are a Guinness, this drawing must be moonshine. Or industrial alcohol. Or some sick mixture of both. With dead hornets floating around.

Daemons and Dragons

Here's a new painting of U'zhul the Skulltaker, from Games Workshop. I'm not too crazy with how GW depicted him, so I've made a few changes. His Cloak of Skulls is now a cape of chains-because nothing says bad ass as having tons of chains hanging from your back. I do really like his story however. Villains are so much fun and this evil, arrogant but honorable trophy hunter was a compelling creature. The painting itself was partly inspired by the movie poster for The Shawshank Redemption.

And yes, I know it's 'demon', but seeing how this is a British IP, I figured I should defer to their spelling of 'daemon'.

And here's a revisit of the Forest Dragon painting I did a while back.

Thanks to TL for the critique. I'm very grateful that you shared your time and knowledge with me.

Skarbrand vs. Kairos

Here's the finish of the Warhammer Daemonic throwdown painting I had started a few weeks ago. I've been experimenting with new brushes and approaches to painting, so this has been a challenge.

Well, I'm off to a much needed two week vacation in Thailand. Going to see the extended family for this first time in 20 years. Should be exciting! I'll be going there with pastels and conte crayons in hand. I hope to be able to update this blog while I'm there, but if not, see you in late September!

Quick Warhammer Sketch

Trying to pull a Mu...

Redeemer of the Lost

For all you Warhammer nerds out there (like me!), here's Astorath, High Chaplain of the Blood Angels and Redeemer of the Lost (I told you this was nerdy).

Go Get 'Em, Tiger!

This painting is derived from Games Workshop's Warhammer universe. The background is very dark and grim, so I thought I'd try to add a bit of humor (albeit, dark humor) to this piece.

You think our little guy's got a chance?

PS: Incidentally, I feel like the little guy myself sometimes when I'm taking on the competition in the illustration market.