New Friends

A new idea I just got in my head. I really should go hit an aquarium. Hopefully, I'll finish it for you shortly.

IF: Double

Double Trouble!

ArtOrder Gotta Have a Hook Thumbs

Okay, so I'm way behind on posting this. I'm taking part in Jon's latest ArtOrder challenge. Here's my submission.

I was lucky enough to get a critique from Jon.
Here it is for your convenience.

I picked up your entry because of #1. This is the most inventive way of including the horror in the image without actually showing the horror. While I like the concept (a lot), it has a lot of pitfalls right now. I'm getting a great shot of the dwarf, but the horror almost feels like an afterthought. I've got to look for it to find it. I'd be curious to see what would be the result if you tightened up even more so that I saw just his face over the shield, maybe a hint of the hammer, and the shield taking up the majority of the image. I'd like to see the hook horror really big and scary in the reflection. I want to get the sense that the dwarf is about to be consumed in a single bite. Thumbnail it a bit and see if it has any merit. If it works, it can be a most powerful visual.

I experimented with Jon's suggestions. Suffice it to say, I've settled on this.

I'll have the final pencil for you next week...till then, take care, stay cool.

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).

Forest Dragon

My latest dragon painting. Funny to think it's been a while since I did one. I've been working on this for a bit more than a month (hence the long delay between posts).

The dragon is based loosely on the Forest Dragon from the Warhammmer Fantasy universe. I was a teenager when this piece was first released and I fell in love with it. I've been wanting to do something with it for a long time now, and I finally figured it out. And yes, the big tree is based on Avatar's Hometree.

I thought I'd show you my process. This admittedly ugly painting was the seed of the final piece. This is where I established what I wanted the painting to convey: an immense dragon hanging from a giant tree in a forest lit by moonlight. I also knew I wanted a color scheme dominated by blues and blue greens.

This is the refined pencil sketch. Here I determined a lot of fine detail, such as the vines on the giant tree and the smaller dragons on the lower left to give a sense of scale. Note I also extended the left side of the piece to show a bit more.

And this is the maquette I built. The foliage was created with moss. The wings were torn off a cheap Halloween decoration (oh the advantages of working for Amscan....). Note the lighting here is completely off. I did not use this photo for painting. I just gently backlit the maquette and painted from life. Obviously, I could only do this painting at night. How appropriate.

Well, hopefully this has been an enlightening post. Let me know if you thought so. I would appreciate it. I you think I'm a complete idiot, well, let me know that too. Just be nice and tell me why. Thanks!

Bodies

I was fortunate enough to be able to head out to South Street Seaport this past weekend to visit the Bodies Exhibition, sketchbook in hand. I've been thinking about picking up an écorché, but given how expensive they are, I figured visiting Bodies would help me decide if I really needed/wanted one. So here are the sketches!

This hand was my favorite. I wanted to see how cartilage affected the back of the hand.

I was not as happy with this foot study. You can tell I struggled with the toes. Also, I was drawing with a lead hand.

Finally, a back study, because my understanding of the back muscles is woefully lacking.

A skull I drew at home to familiarize myself with conté pencils.

PS: Some of you would probably find the practice of drawing, or even being around, cadavers a disturbing process. Nothing I can say would assuage your feelings. I can say this: it is a place of learning, where a few select people have donated their bodies to the advancement of science, knowledge and ultimately, wisdom. These people deserve our highest respect and esteem.

Tragically, some of these exhibits came from unclaimed bodies. It's a sad state of affairs that people in this world really do die alone, unclaimed and forgotten. I pray that these lonely souls will find comfort in knowing that their earthly vessels now touch the lives and minds of the millions around the world who come to see them.

ESA Preview 1

So here's a preview of the 'secret project' that I've been talking about. What does 'ESA' stand for? Well, you'll have to stay tuned to find out (Yes, there's the European Space Agency, but not in this case).

Portraits Part 2: Maya

Here's another painting of Maya. We loved her hair so much while doing the last painting, but we wanted her to wear it down the second time. Maya was more than happy to grant our request. Hopefully, this painting captures at least a small part of her beauty.

Maya with Hair Down, 16"x20"

ArtOrder Mutation Nation

Phew!! I wasn't sure if I'd get this done! This is the proper submission to ArtOrder. I was inspired by an old Discovery Channel show called Air Jaws. I thought 'how much fun would a flying Great White Shark be?!!' So here he is in all his glory.

He's snacking on a griffin style pigeon/rat hybrid (a rat with wings...get it?!!!)

Now vacation is officially started. Boston, here I come!!

Fanglion

This WAS an entry for the Mutation Nation Challenge over at ArtOrder. There's a bit of lion, lionfish, hatchetfish, viperfish, anglerfish and fangtooth fish. I found out later I could only use two animals to create the little critter, thus disqualifying my new creation. Grrr........

While working on this piece, I stumbled on a fantastic blog for those of you who love animals and creating monsters, like I do. It's the Ugly Overload blog, which gives ugly animals 'their day in the sun'. It's very informative and a lot of fun to read. Yes, kids, science IS fun! The link is at the right side of this blog page. Also, I broke out my DVD of the Blue Planet series from Discovery. I finally justified the $80 or so I spent on it. Hahahaha!!!


Did I mention there's a bit of fish in this creature?

ArtOrder Beholder

Behold the Beholder! This is probably THE iconic D&D character. I remember seeing this guy for the first time back in the 90s, during my teens, in a Jim Lee X Men Comic. It's a creature I never forgot, even though I have never played a game of D&D (sorry Jon....). I think that really speaks to the power of the design of this creature.

Painting to come!!

Portraits Part 1: Maya

Hello!

Sorry about the long wait between posts. I'm currently working on a really exciting project involving one of my first loves: biology. I'll be giving sneak peeks in the weeks to come, but for now, it's staying on the DL.

In the meantime, here's an oil portrait I did about 3 months ago. I only now just got it photographed.

Maya, 16"x20"

Best of ArtOrder 2009

Hmmmm...been a while huh? Good to see you again; I hope this post finds everyone having a good 2010 so far.

Here's some stuff I sent to ArtOrder to try to get into the Best of ArtOrder. It's all artwork I did throughout 2009, retouched and (hopefully) improved. Some of the pieces just received quick touch ups; some have been radically reworked. Hope you like it!

Owlbear: Some background improvements, especially with lighting.

Cockatrice: Background redone and the whole piece finally colored!

Dinogloth: Background got some much needed attention.

Krampus: Finished!

Plein Air Part 4

This was painted right after a morning snowfall on New Year's Eve. I was supposed to be helping out with getting ready for the party we had that night. Sorry mom.

Life Paintings Part 1

New Year, New Decade, New Possibilities, Bloody Old Medium.

Glo-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-ria!!

Angels we have heard on high,
singing sweetly o'er the plains,
and the mountains in reply,
echoing their joyous strain.

Glo-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-ria! In excelsis Deo!
Glo-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-ria! In excelsis Deo!

Merry Christmas everyone!

ArtOrder Krampus

After a hiatus from ArtOrder, here's my submission for its latest challenge. Think of this guy as the anti-Santa Claus.

Merry Christmas!!!

Finished my Christmas card! Hope you like it! Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

CCHHHUUUUU!!!!!!!

Something for the nephew. Yeah, I know, Pikachu's pretty old news these days, but still, give some respect to the rodent who can blow s%*t up.

Plein Air Part 3

Some more plein airs. Can you tell which was painted first?