Space mystery

Here is another space related piece from last year. A mysterious book is found on an unexplored planet. How did it get there and what secrets might it's pages contain? No, this time it's not a cookbook..

The final frontier

July 4, 1997.  A cookout with friends in Connecticut. I remember seeing the first pictures sent from the Mars rover and being stunned at how much the surface of the red planet looked like parts of Arizona. Having spent 5 years in Tucson I was familar with the landscape. It amazed me to think that a place so far away could seem so familiar. Since then I have done a number of small oil paintings based on those early images and the idea of further human exploration. I am finishing up a few new paintings and will be posting them soon but this was the first in the series.

The Lich

Today I have another work in progress. A Lich is typically a sorcerer that has managed to break the hold of mortality through magic. While they maintain the intelligence and powers of a living sorcerer, the physical form will continue to be affected by the ravages of time.

Art Challenges

Participating in art challenges is an excellent way to work on potential portfolio pieces and to try new things based on some industry guidelines. Viewing the posted line up of the final submissions is usually a very humbling experience but is also something to learn from. This is my submission to the most recent challenge. If you've never had a chance to visit Jon Schindehette's blog, theartorder.com I would highly recommend it. It is filled with interesting insights regarding how an art director looks at work and many other useful topics, not to mention hosting some very entertaining art challenges. This piece was for the ultimate human fighter challenge and you can view the entire line up and check out the guidelines here.
http://theartorder.com/2011/04/11/ultimate-fighter-challenge-line-up/

It has been a couple of days since the submission but there are so many things I want to change about this already. Back to the drawing board.

Sketchbook Wednesday

I had a professor in graduate school who once submitted a 3” x 3” ballpoint pen doodle on a paper napkin for the annual faculty exhibition. It was strange to see a gallery full of oversized paintings, assemblages, and sculpture and a large, open wall space with this little doodle posted at eye level.  When asked about why he chose to submit it, he would just grin and tell you  “Well it might just be the best thing I’ve ever done”. He was an interesting fellow with a wry, sarcastic, Tennessee sense of humor. His little scribble was one of my favorite pieces in the show.
  My sketchbooks fall into two categories. Some are filled with quick pen or pencil doodles done to warm up or blow off some steam. Others contain more traditional landscapes, nature studies and other drawings from observation. These are from the doodles. I won’t claim they are the best things I have ever done, but my old professor might..

An old favorite

Like most fans of science fiction and fantasy art  I grew up watching the original  Star Trek series on TV. My favorite episode is 'The Arena'. In this episode, Captain Kirk is transported to a planet with a barren, rocky, desert landscape where he  squares off against a lizard-like officer of a Gorn vessel, ( or "wessel", Chekov). The original Gorn is a lovable sci fi character but he could use a bit of an update.  I  kept the basic lizardman concept but gave him more of a post apocalyptic, gamma world feel.  Nothing says mutation like an extra set of limbs! He might decorate his appearance with feathers and would certainly be well armed, making him very threatening to behold. Here is my version of Gorn 2.0.