New Fantasy Illustrations

Howdy all!

I'm reviving this blog from the dead for a quick post. I've been trying to update my website, but it's in ancient HTML created in GoLive, which doesn't work on my computer anymore. So until I'm able to figure something else out, I'll use this blog to showcase new work.

I've been working on some new samples for RPG work. Here are some new ones, hot off the press.

Click on images for larger versions.




"Tame the Beast"
watercolor, acryla-gouache on canvas board
11x14 in.




"Charge"
gesso on board, digital
11x15 in.




"Dragon Priestess"
gesso, acryla-gouache on board, digital
11x15 in.




"Dragon Kiss"
gesso, acryla-gouache on board
18x24 in.

I painted this one a few years ago for the first Spectrum Fantastic Art Live show. It was my first attempt at watercolors on watercolor canvas. I like the process. I think it'll stick.





"Realm of LARP"
digital

This one is also from a few years ago. This is a cover for an online comic based on "Realm of LARP", a TV reality show my sister worked on. It was a bit of a challenge because each character had to work individually on the same background. They were going to be used as origin stories for arch of the actors/contestants on the TV show.

These two are my favorites.

Nude of the Day Rejects Part 6 - Portraits

Howdy everyone. Halloween is over and it is time to clean up all the cobwebs on this blog.

Starting off with some paintings I did last year on Halloween at PNCA. I was doing a demo in my friend's Chuck Lukacs's painting class. Chuck brought out some costumes and props to dress the model (Chris) and I got to work with a clothed model for a change.








The next batch were done back at the good old Society of Illustrators Jazz & Sketch. I was in NY on three separate occasions this year and took the time to go hang out with everyone at the Society. On Thursday nights, they do themed costume nights. I don't remember what the themes were but I got some fun drawings done there.

Lillian:




Margo:


Minnie Tonka:


Back in Portland, my regular figure studio (Hipbone) has also been experimenting with costumed poses. Sometimes it's unintentional, like when a model fails to show up, Jeff Burke, the owner and moderator steps in like a trooper. Jeff used to model professionally at the Art Student's League in NYC and has modeled for Andy Warhol (back when he actually painted his own stuff). Jeff celebrated his 25th Anniversary as the owner and operator of Hipbone Studio back in September.

Jeff:










Other times the costumes are hastily thrown together and lack the showmanship of the burlesque models at the Society of Illustrators. But I still have a good time focusing on my favorite part of the model, the face.

Melanie:


John:


Emilie:




Well that's it for now. Thanks for stopping by and checking out my work. If you're interested in purchasing any of these paintings please email me to check availability and pricing.

Spectrum Fantastic Art Live!!!

Hey gang,

Guess where I'll be next week? Where all the cool art nerds will be, of course. In Kansas City, Missouri.

(Record Scratch!!!)

Say WHAT? Why? Missouri? Really?

Ya, I'll be at Spectrum Fantastic Art Live along with the who's who of the fantasy illustration community. I'll be sharing a booth with some guy named Greg Manchess. (whomever the hell THAT is?)

No, Greg is a really good friend of mine and was (and still is) a hero of mine all through out college and beyond. I'm deeply honored to be stinking up his booth with my crappy artwork. ;) I'm doing my best to crank out some new work and finish off stuff that's been on the drawing board for a number of months now. I'll also have prints of some of my most recent illustrations, some of my nudes, and some of my coloring books for Dover.

Here's an image of said recent piece.



It's a mix of oils, acrylics and digital.

I'm still alive - 2012 edition

Howdy all.

It's true I'm still alive. Once again I've gone forever without an update. I'm amazed by how many people check this blog daily even though I'm largely absent.

I have a ton of stuff to post from 2011, but I'm more excited about 2012. So here is something I'm working on (still in progress).



I'll go in detail about this piece when I finish it (hopefully not another 6 months from now). What I will say is this is my attempt to get over a big creative rut I've been going through. I've been having a hard time just getting myself to a drawing table. And with deadlines looming this was a scary place to be. So in an attempt to overcome this rut, I decided to make today (02.18.2012) Illustration Day. My girlfriend and I took the day off from our commissioned assignments to work on an illustration with the object of the day to start and finish it. Rebecca succeeded in finishing hers. I succeeded in overcoming my rut. And I'm pretty happy with the progress so far. I'm gonna take another day later in the week to try and bring this to a final.

Stay tuned.

Late Spring Update: L5R and Call of Cthulhu

Summer is almost upon us and it's been months since I checked in. I'm still alive (just barely) and still plugging away at this whole art thing. In a few days will be the 1-year anniversary of my life as a freelance illustrator. The year has had it's ebbs and flows and I'm still struggling to get used to them. But I'm currently in the "flow" stage which is why I have been neglectful of this blog. Unfortunately, I can't share all the work I've been doing in said "flow" stage due to those pesky NDA's that gaming companies love so damn much. So you'll have to settle for the work done during the "ebb" stage, in 2010.

First up work from over a year ago, done back in February 2010. These are for AEG's popular Legend of the Five Rings CCG game. These are a long time coming. They are from the War of Honor set that just came out a few days ago.





I was still new to the world of L5R when painting these, so I really messed up on the characteristics of the particular clans I was illustrating. The female in that last illustration is supposed to be wearing a mask to hide part of her face dress way sexier than the conservative outfit I have her in. The male's colors are way off and don't even get me started on that samurai armor. UGG! But the AD never mentioned anything to me about these important story elements and the cards were approved. Maybe that's why I didn't get more L5R work until the end of 2010.

In November 2010 I got an email from a new AD to work on the Forgotten Legacy expansion. This set is coming out next month, but the website has already spoiled 2 of my cards so it's safe to post them here. (I'll update the blog when they spoil the third card):

(click on the images to see them in card form)




I'm not happy with these either. The figure in the first image is shameful. Someone has to beat me senseless for doing such a crappy job, especially since I practice painting the human figure on a weekly basis. Goes to show once again, that there is no substitute for good reference.


I also had the chance to work on Fantasy Flight Games' Call of Cthulhu: Silver Twilight expansion.



This piece was done mid July as a "break" from apartment hunting in Portland after just moving there. Another one I'm not too crazy with.



I think the issue for me is working digitally. I get hung up on the details (zooming in WAY too close) and fail to see the image as a whole. This is definitely something I've been trying to fix in 2011. My process has changed and evolved in the early part of this year and I can't wait to share the results with you. I'm actually proud of a few of them.


Before I go I'd like to highlight another milestone (bet you know what's coming). In a few day's I'll be celebrating the 4-year anniversary of my Nude of the Day blog and I'm running a sale throughout June. Click the banner for details:



AND as an added bonus, if you're a member of the Nude of the Day Facebook Fan Page you get an extra 20% off your order!


Thanks for being patient with me. I'll be back real soon with some updates on my work for Dover and some watercolor illustrations.