SPECTRUM 19

It’s a bit late to be sharing this news since the latest edition of Spectrum has been in stores for a few months now but I wanted to say how excited I am that the Fenners chose my painting “Aquanauts:Distant Origins” to be represented on the spine of this year’s best of science fiction and fantasy annual book.   I was just hoping it would get in but never imagined it would grace the cover.  Very special thanks to the creators of Spectrum Fantastic Art for including my ambitious painting.  Here is a link to the process of creating the painting. Step by Step

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.

SPECTRUM FANTASTIC ART LIVE: DAY TWO

Day two was the first full day of the convention and it was packed full of great activities for all.   This was a day full of presentations, artist interviews, portfolio reviews and painting demos from numerous artists.  I tried my very best to stay at my booth but ended up running around the convention like a hyperactive kid in a candy store. 

 

 Iain McCaig gave a panel presentation in which he showcased concept art from all the iterations of John Carter of Mars.  Seeing all that incredible concept art was really satisfying.

Matt Stawicki and Stephan Martinere stopped by to share painting and film concept tips

Finally got to meet two of the hosts of Sidebar Nation and Illustrator Jeff Miracola

From left to right - Swain Hunt, JP Targete, Iain McCaig, Armand Baltazar, Dwight Clark and me

TAD Demo

James Gurney's creature painting demo

Two of the demos

from the second day

I managed to stay still long enough to get one convention sketch done.  I'll most likely sculpt and paint this one.

At the end of the second day, a ceremony took place to honor this year’s spectrum award winners.  I got there late because I was starving.  I managed to record some of the presentation.  Here is a few minutes of a live performance from the show.

SPECTRUM FANTASTIC ART LIVE: DAY ONE

I was supposed to update this blog nightly after the events of the day but I knew after the first day that was going to be impossible.  I was having way too much fun and was thoroughly exhausted at the end of each night.  By now there are several beautifully written reviews on fan blogs.  This review is for the artists that didn’t come and the artists that aspire to join the ranks of professional exhibitors in the future. 

Spectrum Fantastic Art Live - Bartle Hall Grand Ballroom

As I stated in an earlier post, I had not done a large art convention in over 10 years so when I set out for Kansas City Missouri on May 17^th 2012 it was with two goals.   First was to share my art and love of this genre with anyone who stopped by my booth.  Second, to meet as many of the amazingly talented artists in the room as possible.  I’m thankful to the organizers of the event for creating such a terrific experience and for letting me take part in the inaugural Spectrum Fantastic Art Live.  The opportunity to meet artists I admire, enjoy the camaraderie and interact with fans made the trip worthwhile.

Day one started out with setting up the booth JP Targete and I would share.  I wandered around a bit to see how others were setting up their spaces.   

 Each had a unique way of decorating their 10’x10’ booth and promoting the space.  I was so overwhelmed by everything on the first day that I had a mild anxiety attack.  (Not the breathe into a paper bag kind) more like (let me sit down before I faint and collapse on a small child)

Rockstar Games Art Director, Daren Bader

I had no idea what to expect at first since I'm not a part of the usual crowd of illustrators that attend events like this. A number of artists I met years ago or only knew through forums stopped by the booth to say hello.  Warm greetings from Daren Bader, Ron Lemen, Vanessa Lemen and a few others put me at ease and I thoroughly enjoyed myself after the first few minutes of day one.  Apparently there were more people aware of my work than I originally thought.

Amazing trio of painters - Ron Lemen, Vanessa Lemen & JP Targete.  A nice reunion since their last Massive Black Workshop together.

from left to right - concept artist Denman Rooke, Eric Fortune & concept artist Ryan Yee stop by to strike a pose

Illustrator, Matt Stewart came by to see the painting I did of him

signing copies of old spectrum annuals for a fan

I met Fine Artist Travis Louie for the first time...then found out he only lives 30 min from me back in upstate NY.

 

Looking hard for the brushstrokes in a Travis Louie original

The insanely talented work of Thomas Kuebler

Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts

 

Day two photos and commentary tomorrow....

SPECTRUM FANTASTIC ART LIVE!

On May 18^th-20^th I’ll be exhibiting at Spectrum Fantastic Art Live in Kansas City Missouri.  I'm really excited since I haven't done a real convention to promote myself since Worldcon 2001 in Philadelphia.  Been too busy working, which is good and bad I guess. Working steady in my field yet largely unknown... I'll be sharing a booth with Illustrator, concept artist, Art Director and all around awesome dude, JP Targete.   I’ll have a few large oil paintings on view, sculpted maquettes to show & prints available.  We’ll be at booth # 805. 

Starting May 17th I’ll begin to chronicle the entire trip with sketches, photos and video from the con for anyone interested.

Floorplan

Spectrum Fantastic Art Live 

JP Targete