CONVENTION APPEARANCES: SELF PROMOTION

2013 was a very good year for me.  This year is shaping out really well too.  I picked up a few new clients across publishing and advertising and dipped back into game design work.  
One thing I've been terrible at is self promotion and pushing my work at conventions.  I've done a few over the years in between stretches of working staff illustration jobs or being completely buried in freelance concept art work that I never left the house.  I figured " Hey I'm a full time professional artist.  Who cares if people in Prague don't know who I am?"  I think it may have also been a lack of confidence that kept me away from doing more convention art shows.  

So with that said,  I'm happy to announce Upcoming Artist Alley Convention Appearances: 
I'll be at DRAGON CON -AUG 29- SEPT 1. 
And NEW YORK COMIC CON - Oct 9- 12. 
This will be my first time exhibiting at both so I'm nervously excited. Look forward to seeing art friends and meeting new ones.   I plan to do more cons from now on, schedule permitting. I will post floor map info as I get it.

L I L I T H

"Life is a series of choices.  As it turns out, death is the same; not for the ones who are ready, they embrace their fate - move on.  For the rest of us, we linger.  After our survivors pray and throw dirt on our coffins, we're still waiting because for some of us, there's a bigger question: 'What am I now? Where do I go from here?'  We find ourselves in an eternal nowhere between human and thing.. monsters.  Some of these monsters choose to simply accept what they've become.. some don't.  Which leaves us with the most important choice: do you accept what you are or do you refuse? ..Which is the true curse?"  - Aidan Waite

This is a painting I recently completed for a group show at Last Rites Gallery in NYC. "L I L I T H" oil on panel 20"x 26". This is my second time showing my work in a New York City gallery. It was really fun to do and I'm excited to once again show my art among so many strong talents. Opening reception was March 8th and will be on display until April 12th. Special thanks to friends who made it to the opening.The piece got a great response during the reception. It was interesting to see and hear the reactions of the crowd. One patron jokingly said I should have titled the painting "Moist".   

Here's some progress shots and a few pictures from the reception on March 8th.  The progress pics were taken with my phone. I didn't properly chronicle this but if anyone out there is interested in the steps I take you can watch the alien painting video on my website. Process video

I don't like guess work or happy accidents so as usual I sculpted reference before working through the final drawing and painting.

With my drawing transferred to the panel and color/ value studies worked out, I blocked in the background and then started with the legs, working my way up. Saved the chest and face for last.  I usually like to see the whole painting come to life before nailing the face.  Most artists I know work the piece as a whole or start with the face.  When you know what you're doing you can start wherever you want.

CTN Animation Expo 2013 is coming....

This Friday I'll be attending CTN Animation Expo again but this time as an exhibitor. I'm a bit nervous to be showing a side of my portfolio that only a few agencies, children's book publishers and animation studios have ever seen. Since my passions are equally split between realist painting and animation I didn't know exactly how or where to show art that wouldn't comfortably fit on my website until I went to CTN last year. This is a sample of the prints I'll have at my table XT11 on Nov 15-17 in Burbank CA. Looking forward to visiting friends at Dreamworks, SCEA, Riot Games and The HUB. Time to test the waters and share what's been sitting on the hard drive.

Visit http://robotenvy.wordpress.com/2013/11/11/robot-artist-spotlight-eric-wilkerson/ for some of the never before see robot art I'll have to offer at CTN and a quick interview I did with the Robot Envy team.  Looking forward to a great time in Cali!  For those interested in going, visit http://www.ctnanimationexpo.com/ for details.

GOD OF ANOTHER WORLD

Oil on Panel 24"x36"

This is a recent commission for a fantasy book cover.  “God of Another World” by Chad Michael Cox is the first in a potential series of new books.  This should be in stores and online next year.

The author gave me extensive notes, character descriptions and passages of text to review.

I was given free reign to design the characters’ wardrobe based on the color palette for each person mentioned in the notes.  This turned out to be more challenging than I thought.  To switch gears from robots and space suits to ornate fantasy robes was a nice change though.  A fancy style guide packet full of prepared concept art would have been helpful.

I chose to heavily infuse cultural influences from Japan, China, Morocco, Greece, Italy and India into the overall painting just to visually ground the piece in some kind of reality for me. Starting with...

Faunride – strong Caribbean influence dressed in traditional Japanese inspired garb.

Maldinado – More of a Spaniard in appearance/ facial hair.  Basically I was inspired by Duncan Macleod from highlander dressed in ceremonial samurai armor.

Adow -  Adored with Indian gemstone jewelry, robes inspired by Roman and  Moroccan design

alternate idea

Approved digital color sketch

final line art

This was fun and I look forward to the opportunity to paint these characters again.  Up next...Dark urban fantasy.  Switching gears from scifi is a fun change of pace.  Happy to be busy doing what I love.

SFBC: ENDER'S GAME CONCEPT ART

Earlier this year I decided to revisit the design process for the Ender's Game cover I did for Science Fiction Book Club.  Since I still have 3 years worth of concept work I can't show, I wanted to work up something quick that I can. The following is basically a more thought out view of Ender's flash suit I designed for the cover. 

 Ender is basically playing laser tag in zero G. My approach treats the flash suit as more of a child sports uniform with protective padding for collisions with other teams or the battle room walls.  I'm eager to see if this approach was thought of along the concept pipeline for the film.

Since Ender seemed kinda dark and Emo, I revisited what he might look like as an adult in Speaker for the Dead.  Would he keep up with the fashions 3000 years from the events in Ender's Game?  Would he embrace various tribal rituals of those he speaks for (tattoos, piercing etc).  What if he was constantly getting into fights with people who disagreed with how he spoke for the dead. These were fun to do.

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.

"I,ROBOT...ZOMBIE" Process

   The "Zombie" show at Last Rites Gallery starts tonight.  If you are in the area come check it out. 
Today we continue the behind the scenes look at making a robot zombie.  Here is my rough sketch.  

The palette wasn't worked out for the painting at this point. Mainly just working with values and playing with thoughts for the overall concept. 
A photo shoot with a model was scheduled soon after completion. 

After the shoot I realized I would need much more information to pull off a painting of a robot with splayed open flesh.  The next day I started sculpting a reference maquette. 

A proper level of imaginative realism was needed for this to look somewhat convincing. So I believed my painting would succeed or fail based on the level of finish given to the sculptural details.  Way too much unnecessary pressure!

resting in a pile of miniature garbage bags

With the sculpt baked, lights were set up to re-shoot my reference for the painting.

Half way through I realized that there was no info for how hue changes from 3 light sources would affect the flesh or metal finish I wanted for the chest.  I could have made it up while painting but I’d already come this far…

So after getting some advice from a professional sculptor for DC comics, and a bit of nervous procrastination I started painting a maquette for the first time. There is a great anime model kit shop near my house that had all the needed supplies.

I sprayed an even flat base coat over the maquette and painted the flesh in acrylics.

The metal parts were painted with gold and silver metallic paints.

Once dry, I sprayed the whole thing with a clear semi gloss coat.  Clear nail polish was used for a more glossy liquid look around the eye. 

 This was almost a second option for my composition. I loved the hue changes across the skin from the light sources.

 

                                              I'm no Jordu but I think it came out ok.

With all this information, combined with many photographs of intestines, zombie faces and scrapyards, I proceeded with the final line drawing and then the painting.

 Thanks to artist, Brian Despain for all his advice while developing this image.  Every once in awhile it helps to have an objective eye look at your art.  The reception is tonight so I'll post pics for those interested. 

Hope all this helps someone out there. Questions, comments? Drop me a note.