Lizard Queen

Process post at me blog...

The Sun Wraith

Here is a another piece for Clipwire Games and Haven World.

These guys have really given me the chance to go nuts on these paintings. It's been a while since I've had this much fun working on a game.

-Reau-

It was a time of high adventure

 

"The Ice King Cometh" (adventure time tribute)

acrylic on panel

8"X10"

World of Warcraft: Draenei

I'm glad I finally get to post this one. This is the first painting I did for the World of Warcraft TCG. It was just released in the Naxxramas Raid Deck.

finally...!

"title?!" watercolor, gouache 20.5 x 9"

Thanks to all y'all who gave me some great feedback the last time I posted this, when it was halfway finished. I got a little obsessive with this painting, but it's finally done. It was hard to get the lighting of the photo right since the paper's got some buckling (didn't I learn anything in school, like using tape?!) and I have yet to flatten it out. Anyways, on to the next thing!

painting feedback! gimme some!

Hey folks, so I've been sketching and doodling like mad, getting ready for another show at the end of December. I have no idea why I presist working with media that drives me insane (ie: watercolor) but I can't help but love working with it... to a degree. I'm trying out working much, much larger than I normally do.


So here's a piece I kinda jotted down out of my head with no real planning. It's fun and I feel almost done, but I wanted some feedback... it feels overworked and I kinda want to go into it with more white gouache, and I'm a bit frustrated with the values. What do you think? Thanks for anything you can give me!

Awesome Hellboy stuff, by the way!

Dragon Kensai

This piece is for Path of the Destroyer. One of the latest sets from the Legend of the Five Rings collectible card game.

Sketches

*Both sketches are 18x22" pencil and white charcoal on paper*

When I was 21, I gave my parents the news that I had decided to go to school for art. I was transferring out of community college and wanted to pursue a career in illustration. This was a huge step for me, but this news didn't sit so well with my father. Traditionally, the idea of art school seems to be frowned upon for some odd reason. I never understood how anyone could discourage someone for chasing something they're passionate about. Luckily for me, after a few years at school, my dad started to see the progress I was making and noticed how serious I was taking it. My work got better, I was studying more, really getting involved and surrounding myself in it. Eventually my father came around and now shows a real interest in what I'm doing. Oddly enough, he gets excited at the idea of me needing his help to pose for pieces. This latest sketch proposal sounded something a bit like this...

Me: "Can you pose for me tonight? I need to do a sketch."
Dad: "Yea? Sure. What am I going to be this time?"
Me: "Um.. you're going to be a ..uh...a dwarf."
Dad: "A dwarf? What happened? I was a king last time, now I'm a dwarf?"
Me: "Some dwarves are kings too, Dad."
Dad: "I'm not sure if I like being demoted, do I get a crown again?"
Me: "No.. no crown this time."
Dad: "Oh, well... alright then." *slight sound of disappointment as I have him don a cloak*

Either way, he's really happy with the sketch he's in. I'm really looking forward to starting these and I'll have both finished by the end of the month. Just wanted to share them with you guys now that the "8-Bit & Beyond" Show has passed. Hope you guys dig them and I look forward to seeing what everyone else starts to produce now that summer is almost at an end!

-Eric

Wizard King Final

Wizard King 24"x36" oil on panel

Hey everyone, this has been a couple months in the making and I can finally say to you (and to myself) that it's done! This piece will be mounted above the front door in my parents' house in honor of my dad who posed for it. I've had to set this piece off to the side one too many times to work on other projects but it feels amazing to have it finally done! I'd like to thank everyone who took the time to stop by the blog and leave their comments and encouragement. It really means a lot to have that kind of support. This is the largest painting I've done to date and it was a whole lot of fun to work on along with being a huge learning experience.

Anyway, I hope you guys dig it!

Progression of the process from sketch to final

sidenote: I'll be updating this photo in a day or so after I get a chance to varnish it, but I was just too excited after finishing it tonight and had to post it up :]

Sam Spade and Plutonium

Sleuthing Nuclear Smuggling, 10x6.5", pencil/digital

Hey everybody. Sorry for the absence, but most of my work has been nothing too interesting (coloring other people's comics), but while I was in Yellowstone I got a call from the art director of Security Management magazine about doing a spot for them.

The article was entitled Sleuthing Nuclear Smuggling and was about how breaking the black market around nuclear materials can't rely on hi-tech devices, but hands on detective work. I like this sort of illustration- thinking of different concepts to relay the message is like working with a puzzle. I threw around a lot of typical detective imagery (magnifying glasses, fedoras, trench coats, etc), but thankfully because I had some time to work on sketches I came up with better ideas. Here's hoping I can get another chance like this.

Since I haven't posted in a while, I also wanted to share something in the way opposite direction: fantasy card game illustrations. Thanks!

Sir Chretien Rellion, 10x8.2", pencil/digital

Stolen Mount, 9x7.35", pencil/digital

Wizard King: Sketches

cropped piece of the finish

Hey guys, I just recently trudged my way through the sketch phase for my next big portfolio addition. I'm starting the finish this weekend but I thought I'd share some of the sketch/process stuff I came up with along the way. I would love for more of us to show your own processes, I think it's really interesting to see how everyone works.

Thumbnails:

Most of my thumbnails end up either being boxed in or loose sketches that evolve into little scenes. I tried a bunch of different concepts with this one, a lot of which having to do with the crown piece he is wearing. Being one of the main focuses of the composition, knew it had to be spot on.

Horned helmet/crown piece was something I was torn on, but didn't think it would communicate "king" ..so the idea was scrapped after a few other trial and errors. (others not shown here)

More crown studies.. trying a frontal view


I've been experimenting with borders and designs lately, this is just a selection of where I was thinking of taking them.


Another crown idea, A cropped half of a possible sketch.

One of the MANY shots I got for photo reference, my dad was a good sport about it.
Even though he is wearing a cloak and holding a staff and a sword in this picture. :)

Sketches:

First round rough "final" sketch

Finished sketch
23" x 17" Pencil and Charcoal on paper

Ultimately, I'm happy where it's going. The finish will be 24" x 36"
I'm really excited to get started on this and can't wait to see all the work everyone will be pumping out this spring!

sidenote: Thanks, everyone, who came out to the Joker show tonight, it was great to see a lot of familiar faces and get to chat for a bit with new ones. To those who couldn't make it out.... may you burn in hell. Kidding, hope to see you at one of the next few shows The Autumn Society has booked over the next few months! Joe, you did an incredible job organizing everything and making our first group show a huge success and I personally am stoked for the next!

Kade & Ezra

close up shot from the finish below

Hey all! I do sincerely apologize for my lack of posting lately, soon I shall have sketches up for some upcoming samples I'll be doing for Wizards of the Coast along with some other work that has been on my plate these past few weeks. A couple side notes first: My sister just recently gave birth to a baby boy, Matthew Eric (Yes, middle name after yours truly), so things on the home front have been rather busy to say the least. Secondly, I have been asked by one of the profs at my old school, University of the Arts, to speak to one of their classes, now that I am almost a year out (which is still insane to think about, time flies!), so I'll have the pleasure of talking to a younger group of illustration students in a few weeks. And lastly, things seem to be moving forward with my own illustration course which I'll be teaching this upcoming fall ('09) at Burlington County College.

Things have been hectic around here, but it's exciting stuff and as always, excited to get started on some new pieces :)

Onto the main event:

This piece is for an upcoming comic, Kade & Ezra, for Arcana Comics. It was a whole lot of fun to work on, the AD left me a TON of freedom and just let me play with it and work on my own time. I know most jobs have fast-paced, shorter than preferred deadlines, so I enjoyed this one a great deal. I'm really happy with the way this one turned out, in fact, I've been doing a lot of pieces with reds and oranges, it has me excited to change up my palette and give myself something new to toy around with. (hm.. first WotC sample piece... possibly something with ice? ;) ..we'll see)

"Kade & Ezra"

18"x24" oil on panel

More to come soon! I promise, the next post won't nearly be as long as this break was. Also, I've been all settled down in my new studio, I think the futon is the anchor for my sanity down here.