Two more for Magic

This one is called "Loxodon Partisan" This one was a lot of fun, and although I'm very happy with how the painting turned out, there is one thing I would change. When the image is reduced to card size, the strange dog like creatures the elephant headed loxodon is fighting are lost in the background. Maybe a more cropped composition, or at least some fog or something might have helped.
Oil on paper on board , 12" x 16".



This is "Quilled Slagworm". An enormous, copper plated worm, with quills and hair. When Gina would look at this one on the easel and say "eew, gross", I took it as a sign I was on the right track.

For reference, I made a model. Most models I make are not this elaborate-a relative term when you see the ones James Gurney makes. It's made out of sculpey, copper sheers, and plastic bristles from a broom. Regardless of the quality of the model, there's almost always information that can be gleaned proves useful.

Most times I make a model, it's done exclusively for lighting. This time, however, in addition to the lighting, I got some useful information about color, texture, and reflections. The ground is aluminum foil spray painted black. Originally I intended to paint it completely black, but I liked the way the spray paint collected in the crevices of the crumpled foil, letting metal show on more elevated areas. For something that is supposed to exist on a world literally made of metal, I thought this was an interesting surface I couldn't have made up on my own.
Oil on paper on board, 12" x 16".

Neurok Commando

The art director's request was simply "paint me a cool looking Neurok". I'm glad a use was found for this one. Done earlier than the other pieces for this set, I feared it would linger forever in the limbo known as the "slush file". Oil on paper on board, 9" x 12" .

Viridian Emissary

Another piece for Mirrodin Besieged. Oil on paper on board , 12" x 16".

Crush

Something for the upcoming Mirrodin Besieged set of MTG . Oil on paper on board, 9" x 12".

Illustration Portfolio class

This Spring I’ll be teaching a class entitled “Illustration Portfolio” for the Continuing Education department at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. The focus of the course is the development of an impressive illustration portfolio to show potential clients or employers. We’ll work on researching potential clients and creating samples tailored for prospective clients’ brands while maintaining an individual artistic vision. I’m really looking forward to getting out of my hermit cave and trying my hand at teaching. You can download a pdf. of the Spring brochure here. Also, here’s an interview I did for the Continuing Education Blog, Creative Consumption.

The Cloud Roads

Here's a book cover I just finished for Night Shade Books called The Cloud Roads. The story is about Moon, an orphan who finds he has the ability to transform himself into a flying creature. Moon finds more of his kind, and joins the fight against an strange power called the Fell.



Digital comps showing two different approaches to the cover. An action scene, and a portrait of the main character, Moon.

Strider

This is a new piece I’ve been working on between commissions. In The Lord of the Rings, Strider the one of the many names and pseudonyms that Aragorn goes by in his travels to conceal his true identity and the heir to the long empty throne of Gondor. This is how we first meet him though, rough looking with mud caked boots and a weather-stained cloak. Though it’s a fairly literal interpretation of the text, I felt it also illustrates who Aragorn is at this time in the story. Strider’s face is obscured in shadow, just like his true identity and lineage is hidden. Just as he is waiting for the hobbits, he is waiting for the time to be right to reveal himself and confront Sauron openly and claim his rightful throne.
Oil on board, 24” x 30”