New Personal Work: "Soulbound," and DeviantArt Updates

First off, here's a new personal piece I finished yesterday:

"Soulbound," digital painting, ©2014
[prints available here]

This piece was originally conceived as an entry for a male pin-up challenge on the Women in Fantasy Illustration Facebook group, believe it or not. Through a couple conversations and the ideation process it ended up evolving into something else- there's a story that's been developing behind the scenes, and you can see some recurring symbolism and themes emerging in my recent personal work. If you're feeling adventurous, see if you can spot some of it.

On a style note, I really enjoy that aesthetic in 19th century paintings that feels like you're watching actors in a Greek tragedy, with sheet-draped actors and the intimate eye-level POV. I don't know how many more I'll do like this because I don't want it to become a crutch or a formulaic "thing." I dig it here, though.

"OMAIGAHHH..."

Second off, I finally updated my DeviantArt account again, with loads of work from this year so far. There was some shockingly old (translation: bad) work still on there that I cleared out, too. And I don't want to hear about how DA is a great place to show an artist's evolution. No one needs to see that crap within 100 miles of my portfolio. Those lazy compositions, the blinding saturation, the knuckleless sausage fingers...

Yeah, sausage fingers.

Ok, my dear readers... It's been a day. Time to paint.

"Athena" cover for ImagineFX Magazine, issue #110

I'm honored that I get so many amazing opportunities in the illustration world, and this is no exception. Some of you who follow my work know that I've been creating workshops and tutorials for ImagineFX Magazine since 2009 (June 2009, to be exact). Here we are exactly five years later, and I get to show you my very first COVER for the illustrious publication!


ImagineFX Issue #110 "Athena" Cover

The subject was Athena for their Myths & Legends issue- the magazine features a step-by-step workshop on the process of creating the image. No spoilers here... go buy the issue! You can also see the full painting without the text on my portfolio website.


Proud moment when my copy arrived in the mail today! via Instagram

Magic Card Art: Wind Dancer

Card Name: Wind Dancer
© 2014 Wizards of the Coast

Gatherer Link: http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=382407

Medium: Digital
Original Art Available? No
Artist Proofs Available? Yes

Artist Notes: I made a blog post exactly one year ago today about a painting that changed everything. This is that painting.

I had been going through a tough time for months prior to working on this, both with my work and my life in general, and was starting to give up on myself. The painting depicts a faerie character reaching out to the viewer over turbulent waters, offering safety, or a way out- in a sense, that's exactly what I was looking for at the time. The creation of the painting itself is what jolted me out of that bad period, and another literal interpretation of something I was going through, that paved the way for more recent pieces like Learning to Leave.

2013 was a crazy growth year no one knew I was having, and I came out of it with momentum that's still going. Thank you to those who've stood by my side.

EDIT: Adding a link to the art review on GatheringMagic.com.