Being a graphic designer as well as an artist can lead to some fun projects. When I’m working with authors, I tend to try to help them with what they need to push the books I’m doing the covers or other artwork for. After all, if they do well then hopefully I’ll get noticed as well. Especially when the author is someone I already know, that makes it fun and hopefully I get to help Read more…
I’ve been working on three covers for Maelstrom/Thunderstorm Books for the last few weeks, the third of which I’m working on right after I get done typing this. The two that are complete have now shown up, titles and all, on author Brian Keene’s site here. Two of the covers, for A Gathering of Crows and The Rising: Deliverence, are Keene’s, while the other is for Kelli Owen’s book Six Days. For now, go visit Read more…
Here’s another one of the 5″ x 7″, ink on cold press sketchcards that I’ve been doing.
I’ve been a busy little bee somehow, and here’s another of the scratchcards.
This is the first one of the sketchcards that I’ve tried to color, and I used a technique I haven’t tried before.
While I was at the booth at the Gallery Underground (Ft. Collins, CO) this evening, I created another sketchcard. After a failed attempt at an Iron Giant sketch (let us never speak of it again), I created this one below. I call it “Rough Times”. Like the other two, it’s 5″ x 7″, ink, on 140 lb. Cold Press stock. It’s quite similar to the one I did last night, but that was (more or Read more…
Here’s the second of the sketchcards that I’ll have at the gallery, starting tomorrow night. They are fun, and they are also helping me get back into the swing of things with inkwork. This one is of a mask/sculpture of Pacal, the Mayan ruler of Palenque. I think inks are fun to do, and years ago I remember enjoying them a lot. I think they will be nice things to sell as original art pieces Read more…
I’ve seen several artists online talk about doing original sketchcards, either at local galleries or at conventions. It’s something I’ve been considering for awhile as well, and with the new gallery I thought I’d give it a try. Here’s the first one, an ink sketch based on a gargoyle I have. It’s 5″ x 7″, so pretty small, and I think I’d sell them at a very cheap, reasonable price. Let me know, as always, Read more…
I think it’s good for all artists to look back at where they’ve been, to see how they’ve improved.
I think exploring caves gives you a chance to see an entirely different environment from what you are used to.
Last night was my first night in The Gallery Underground, an alternative art gallery in Fort Collins, Colorado.
I decided, since I had a few old frames left over from another project, that the best thing to do would be to destroy the ever-loving hell out of one of them.
I like seeing how art evolves, from the beginning of the thumbnail sketches all the way through the final product. I think you can literally see an artist’s though processes as they work through issues, try new things, and complete what their vision is. In my case, it might be more like watching chaos unfold in front of you. I created a video/slideshow of my cover art for author Brian Keene‘s novella Scratch, which was Read more…
I never just charge into a piece for the sake of doing art, I always let it mull around in my head some first. Sometimes I have a pretty good idea and I just need to smooth things out. Other times, there’s a lot of thought in what the scene portrays, who’s in it, what’s their motivation, did they just do something or are they about to, so on and so on. If you don’t Read more…
Since January of 2010, Jason Sizemore and MG Ellington over at Apex Magazine have given me the opportunity to talk on their blog each month about art, and how I create it. Now, so far, it’s been mostly rants about the things I see wrong with art and with the various genres I’m a part of. I thought I would sum them up as they are so far, as I’ve done quite a few now. Read more…
In the case of grayscale art, often I’ll look at it and see if I can enhance it with color.
I’ve been very anxious to show everyone this, and now, upon the release of the novella, I can do just that. Below I’ve attached a number of pieces of art that I did for author Brian Keene’s book Scratch, just released from Cemetery Dance Publications.
Scratch, if you don’t follow Keene’s work (and his followers are Legion), is the story of a giant snake. One that gives our characters quite a bad time.
I have to say, working on such an in-depth and extensive project was a daunting idea at first. But working with an author like Brian, who is so open to ideas and so helpful with the ones I came up with, was just fantastic. All the fine folks at Cemetery Dance are very supportive and wonderful to work with as well, and overall this was a great experience.
Now, the art itself is spread quite thoroughly throughout the book, and while the esteemed Mr. Keene doesn’t think that the art alone gives away the story, it’s certainly a possibility.
So, fair warning. The art is chock full of spoilers.
One more time, for those Keene fans (and others) who haven’t read it:
If you’d just like to see what the art looks like, please enjoy the full gallery below. Every image in Scratch is there, please let me know what you think.
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If, however, you’d like a bit more “meat” with it, follow along below this (and to the next page) for comments on how I created the art, thoughts on it, and so forth. REALLY spoiled then, and I mean it.
After this, there’s no going back, because the rest below contains
Without further ado, follow along to the next page for my insights.
I’ve been a part of a local gallery for several months now, and it’s been a great experience. Having been an illustrator for so many years, it’s been interesting to explore the prints and fine art side of things. Luckily, the On Display Gallery in Fort Collins, Colorado (just up the road from home) specializes in alternative art. I definitely fit in there, and I’ve had a number of good comments from people in the Read more…
Sometimes, I shudder to post new ideas or new techniques that I try. I never know if they really work out, if they are ok but just need work, or if they are so awful that the sun will shrivel up and we’ll all die. But, I also think that as an artist I always need to push ahead, to grow and to get better at what I do. Posting the results on my website, Read more…
I struggle with the types of art that gallery viewers would appreciate versus the illustration side.