Muddy Faces

By Jesper EjsingThe other day I was creating another wallpaper for my screen. I try to shift the image each month choosing the latest drawing that I was happy with. Since I use the computer a lot, the wallpaper is a constant reminder of what is my best art so far. It reminds me what is good and helps me to sharpen that. To be perfectly honest I do not always know what I am doing. But focusing on the lucky ones, and staring at them each day, convinces...

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Printing your work

-By Dan dos SantosGetting a good quality print of your work can be really difficult, especially when you are not there to personally oversee the printing process. I struggled with this for years, as achieving a good print seemed to be some sort of alchemy... consisting of an elusive combination of scanning, color-adjusting and file formats.In this post, I would like to focus on some of the technical aspects of preparing your art for print. Photographing/Scanning...

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Lists

-by Arnie FennerA few weeks ago Scott Taylor posted an essay on the Black Gate magazine blog, "Art of the Genre: Top 10 Fantasy Artists of the Past 100 Years." I've never put much thought into list-making myself—and I don't believe that there ever was or will ever be an absolute, unquestionable "#1" in the arts, be it painting or writing or acting—but it's always interesting to read someone else's opinions as to who they feel are the field's Top...

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Coolest Trophy Ever?

Perhaps!Patrick Wilshire just revealed the new Illie Award Trophy. This is an award given to the best traditionally created work of the year, presented at IlluXcon. This is the second year the Wilshires will be presenting this award, and they really went all out by commissioning Thomas Kuebler to sculpt it. The sculpture stands 17 inches tall, and is a one of kind original.If you've never seen Thomas' work in real life, you are truly missing out!...

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Small Demo

Tough act to follow with Greg’s post. Absolutely fantastic.  Here’s another recent concept from FIRE AND ICE that I saved off in stages.   Dark Wolf (again, because besides Teegra, he was my favorite to paint). I won't show the whole painting yet because it hasn't been released. Loose pencil sketch. I'd rather find out where to go with paint (or pixel paint in this case)I laid in a simple wash for the silhouette using digital...

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Pirate Paintings for National Geographic Pt. 2

Gregory ManchessThe first major painting for the Real Pirates exhibition was a battle scene involving loads of figures, both pirates and non-pirates. Based on a specific, real event in the history of Black Sam Bellamy’s pirate activities, I depicted an attack against the merchant frigate Tanner, moored off Petit Grove near Haiti. The pirates sneaked up the side of the ship and washed over the rail to overwhelm the unsuspecting crew.Overall, there...

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The Hidden People Sketchbook

By Justin GerardMy friend and long-time co-worker Cory Godbey recently released his 2011 sketchbook which features a lot of work from a personal project that he has been working on this year.  Some of you may remember him from the Eowyn and the Nazgul competition where he entered the following piece:I have the pleasure of living in the same neighborhood as Cory. We have been known to set off explosive devices every now and then but we had nothing...

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Great books for under $15

-By Dan dos SantosEvery now and then, I stumble around Amazon and treat myself to a few new art books. I confess, I do this more than I should. Recently, I came across several really good deals that I thought I should share. So here for you are 3 great book buys for under $15*****************Ilya RepinThis book is 200 pages, has great reproductions, and collects the majority of Repin's major works. Just $14, and free shipping.*****************Edmund...

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FANTASTIC WORLDS EXHIBITION

Fellow Muddies Donotao Giancola and John Jude Palencar along with an impressive roster of artists are now on view at the Kenosha Public Museums in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Donato will be conducting a workshop at the museum... but I'll let him tell you about that at a later date. The exhibit is curated by Rachel Klees Andersen. Here's the exhibit info:FANTASTIC WORLDS- Masters of Science Fiction & Fantasy Art Participating Artists:  Steven...

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Hugo Awards... Live!

Logo ©Jeff ZachowskiIt seems every Art Director I know is in Reno, Nevada right now attending the World Science Fiction Convention, which is also the host of this year's Hugo Award Ceremony.The Hugo Awards celebrate the year's best achievements in SF/F novels, films, and artistry.  If the embedded player is not working, you can watch the award ceremony live via the link below. The show starts in just one hour, 9pm Pacific Time.http://www.ustream.tv/channel/worldcon1...

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