IMAGINE FX SCULPTURE WORKSHOP

I'm happy to share that my art made it into Imagine FX this month!!! Issue 133 is on sale now worldwide. I've always wanted to contribute something to this magazine and they were kind enough to let me share a labor of love with their global audience. Special Thanks to the whole ImagineFX team. If you'd like to see my process for developing maquettes for illustration check it out at your local bookstore. The final painting I built the sculpture for is heavy on social commentary so I wasn't sure they'd want to include it but they gave it the full page spread treatment. Doing this painting meant a lot to me and was my way of personally dealing with the hate and violence that plagues our country. Back to work. New alien sculpts to make!

ALIEN LIVES MATTER

Science Fiction at its best has always been a form of social commentary.  Precautionary tales and imagery that cover issues such as politics, race, prejudice and inequality.

“Alien Lives Matter”  Is a painting directly inspired by the demand for justice for victims of police violence and the institutional racism which continues to plague the United States.   As an Illustrator of science fiction I ask myself what would it look like if we as humans treated an extra terrestrial the way we treat ourselves?  What might the outcry from a coalition of young multi racial activists look like?  I set out to create a composition which depicts a peaceful protest march through the streets of New York City's Times Square.  Oil on Panel 30"x 40".  Limited Edition Print available here.

http://ericwilkersonart.com/store/alien-lives-matter-limited-edition-

Rough concept sketch

Final Drawing

CHAMPION

Here is a cover I did awhile ago for the novel "Champion" by DS Brown.

It was a fun opportunity to experiment a bit with digital painting different textures for the characters faces. I also took a bit of time to sculpt a maquette of one of the alien heads.

Alternate Concept

 

Approved rough sketch

 

Painting faces II

Progress from the weekend. Temperature zones are the same for non caucasian flesh tones but more subtle depending on complexion and reflected light. Head 5 of 9. #scifiart #instaart #imaginative #illustration #contemporaryrealism #scifi #WIP #fantasy #sciencefiction #multicultural

A photo posted by Eric Wilkerson (@ericwilkersonart) on Aug 18, 2015 at 2:04pm PDT

Painting faces

So many more heads to paint with all that times square multi color reflected light. #scifiart #instaart #imaginative #illustration #contemporaryrealism #scifi #WIP #fantasy #sciencefiction #multicultural

A photo posted by Eric Wilkerson (@ericwilkersonart) on Aug 16, 2015 at 10:13am PDT

MARS ATTACKS: THE GREAT ESCAPE

"THE GREAT ESCAPE"  © TOPPS
Oil on Panel 18"x24"
Available for purchase

This is one of my contributions to the new Mars Attacks: Occupation Trading Card set which continues the storyline from the Invasion set released in 2013.  The art description called for a 16th century knight, a samurai, a 1970's boxer and maybe a 1930's gangster (all alien abductees from various points in human history ) to somehow break out of their stasis pods and escape a martian base.  The focus had to be on the knight and the boxer as they fight their way out of the stronghold.

My first thought when reading the assignment was how much fun it would be to explore designing the martian base interior (or at least a hint of it) as well as painting an African American boxer from the 70's punching an alien in the face.  The boxer was made the focal point of the painting for two reasons. First, I thought it would be a nice change to see a minority figure in the foreground of a multicultural scifi painting where the humans are united against a common foe.  Secondly, the boxer is the only one of the heroes that would have ever seen a hand gun or knew that the martian's ray gun could be used against them.  I imagined they'd have to shoot their way out.  Boxing gloves and swords alone against ray guns would have left these guys vaporized pretty quick.

Early sketches reveal my desire to make the boxer look like a cross between KungFu Joe and Black Dynamite.

The characters needed to be consistent as they are in other cards in the set.  It was decided that the boxer should be barechested and have more of an Muhammad Ali/ Joe Frazier vibe instead.  Once the sketch was approved I went to work.   Thankfully I know a guy that is super muscular and agreed to model for me.  It would have been a nightmare to try and make myself look muscular or work from assorted muscle reference.  

final drawing

There are a number of tremendously talented painters working on this new set which was just successfully funded through kickstarter.  I look forward to seeing all the art when Mars Attacks: Occupation is released.

SCI FI BOOK COVER WIP

The past few months have been crazy.  I said yes to a lot of work right before my daughter was born.  I was in some kind of panic as if I would never have time to paint again after she was born. Which in hindsight was really stupid on both counts.

Here is a work in progress close up of a book cover I'm wrapping up now.  More to show next month as NDA's clear. Very excited to finally share some new concept work soon.  For now this is what I have.  Been playing with making my own custom PS brushes to mimic how I paint traditionally and fell in love with a fan brush I made.  Saved me bags of time while painting feathers.

More WIP images and maquettes made for this are over on my instagram. Please follow for future updates. Thanks!

MARS ATTACKS: BEACH BLAST!

"BEACH BLAST" Oil on Panel 13"x19"

"This Martian Commander was told that if he reduced his disruptor strength and shot through a human at just the right angle he would be able to see the human heart still beating.  The Commander spent the entire afternoon killing before realizing he'd been fooled."

reference sculpt

I'd be lying if I said I didn't get a little nauseous while painting this maquette. I angled the little sculpt near a window at around 2-3pm to get the type of light I wanted to rake across the body. This worked perfectly and allowed cool reflected light to do things in the shadows I wouldn't have guessed.  It was hard to decide how far to push the bloody guts and chest cavity.  I refrained from adding drips and splatters across the back, arms and bottom.  Also took out my little art symbol tattoo.  Thought it drew the eye too much.

Original Painting available for purchase.  Contact if interested.

MARS ATTACKS: SAN DIEGO COMIC CON 2013

"INVASION BEGINS" Oil on Panel 13"x18"

Good News Everyone!!  Here is the first of 3 new collectible cards I painted for TOPPS revival of the Mars Attacks card series.  Here is the official press release.  “To jumpstart the release of their forthcoming revival of MARS ATTACKS trading cards this fall, The Topps Company, in conjunction with IDW Publishing, will give away an exclusive, limited edition tie-in card at San Diego Comic-Con, July 17-21.   This exciting exclusive will be distributed only at San Diego Comic-Con and will feature brand-new hand painted artwork by science fiction artist Eric Wilkerson.  

The card, entitled "Invasion Begins" will be card #0 and will include an all-new story that will kick off the upcoming Mars Attacks: Invasion card set, the first all-new story-based MARS ATTACKS card set in more than half a century, due in stores this October.  

The upcoming set will include all-new artwork by some of the industry's top talent, including Earl Norem, Joe Jusko, Greg Staples, Glen Orbik, Alex Horley, Manuel Sanjulian, Dan Brereton, Jim Nelson, Jeff Miracola and others.  The story will tie in to current and upcoming MARS ATTACKS comics from IDW.

During San Diego Comic-Con, fans will be able to pick up the exclusive #0 card at the IDW booth (#2643).  Quantities will be strictly limited and supplies are expected to go fast.”

For fans of the series, if you are not able to make it to comic con this year, I will be getting a ton of artist proofs of card #0.   Proofs, prints and original art are available. 

Seen below is the final card. The TOPPS banner for IDW booth #2643 and facebook promo banner.

SOJOURN FOR EPHAH

This painting was done for the cover of the September issue of “Orson Scott Card’s Intergalactic Medicine Show” An online bimonthly magazine.  I was asked to illustrate an image for the story “Sojourn for Ephah” by Marina J. Lostetter.

I thought it was a beautiful short story and I tried my best to stay true to the text while at the same time trying to make something visually interesting.

After reading the story I thought that the first meeting between the priest and the alien on a far off earth colony was the most poignant moment of all.  


Here’s a few close ups and line art for the 3 loyal visitors I have left after being away from my blog for so long.  Going to try and post more often.

Sometimes while working on a painting I flip the composition to see which way I like it.

Half way through the sketch stage I realized I liked this better reversed.

  

FAT ALIEN FINAL

 
Finished tubby.  This was a lot of fun to do.  It started as a idea I got from a character design blog.  Based on the character generator, This guy is a scheming, rotund, smiling engineer who may or may not be an alien.  I think this was around 5 hours start to fin.  Not exactly out of my comfort zone so I'll have to try harder next time.

FAT ALIEN SKETCH

Quick tonal study WIP started tonight.  Will finish up tomorrow. Warming up for my next alien portrait painting.

ALIEN PORTRAIT #1 Retro Alien “KUSH”

My take on the 1950’s classic big head alien in a glass bubble domed space suit.  Also included a time lapse video.  Oil on MDF panel 20"x22".  This will be one of a few recent oil paintings that will be on view at Spectrum Live, May 18-20, 2012.

K’Shalakaz Nychook, affectionately named Kush is wearing a human made standard issue Encounter suit with modified helmet and visor for its uniquely large head.  Its spacesuit is designed to re-create the environmental conditions of its atmosphere.

ALIEN PORTRAIT SERIES

Sitting on a ton of concept art and illustration work that I can’t show is slowly driving me insane.  So I decided to create a side project for myself to keep my oil painting skills up.  Most of my day is spent on digital work for clients so I’m excited to dive into this as time permits.

First up is a profile portrait based on a maquette I used for another painting.  Presented here is the rough sketch and final line art.  I will post the finished piece along with a little time lapse video tomorrow.

AQUANAUTS: DISTANT ORIGINS

Illustrations that depict a person(s) standing in front of or gazing out a large window have been a staple in american sci fi for almost a century.

    Usually the image will show some futuristic vista on another world or more commonly a colorful nebula.  For that reason alone I decided to relocate this entire image deep into the unknown abyss of the ocean and focus on the characters within this world.  For beneath the surface lies the future… a shameless quote from the intro to “Seaquest”. 

 This image was done for an upcoming sci fi art exhibition being held this month at the Tubman Museum in Macon, Georgia.  The Show will include the work of JP Targete, "Brotherman" creator Dawud Osaze Kamau Anyabwile and many others working in the field of comics, illustration and fine art.

It was really cool to be included in the invitational for the exhibition.

I liked the idea of doing a simple portrait of a human officer standing between two opposing alien races on some distant aquatic planet.   I gave two of the aliens’ gills to suggest some common link between the two.   Here is the result.  24” x 40” Oil on MDF panel. 

A few weeks ago I met a number of students from all over the world at a workshop given by James Gurney.  Some of them had  many questions that I tried my best to answer without visuals.  So for them and you, the next few posts will chronicle the creation of this image from start to finish.