Dark Tree Studios

Sketch Meat 024

2011-12-05T09:23:00.001-05:00

An example of the latest craze in designer pets - the Corgi Eva.

Chicken Monster

2011-11-04T17:47:00.001-04:00

A chicken-like monster with tiny grabby hands. Happy Friday.

Markers and graphite

Bunny Dog!

2011-11-02T23:23:00.000-04:00

"Hey there, buddy. I'm gonna stand here and stare at you until you give me something to eat. I'll take lettuce, or bacon."

Marker and graphite

Sketch Meat 023

2011-10-31T00:51:00.003-04:00

Some bits and pieces of demons and critters from the ol' sketchbook.. Happy Halloween!

The Quest Continues...

2011-09-26T11:28:00.001-04:00

Another attempt in my journey to find cuteness. It has gained some approval, I think I'm on the right path.The combination of the bunny frog and the Tuk-tuk bird seems to have fulfilled the continuously elusive definition of cuteness this week.

Copic markers, Prismacolor markers, ink

Sketch Meat 022

2011-08-30T09:43:00.000-04:00

Apparently, women in the age group of 25-27 who are earning pharmaceutical degrees and who also spend an offensive amount of time looking at cute things on the internet do not find my monsters to be "cute enough". So in an attempt to appease this fan base, I have created a few creatures that will hopefully be more in line of what would be considered "cuddly and fuzzy" (with a liberal sprinkling of horns and claws, just deal with it).

Creature Concept: Spike Leg Monster

2011-08-20T13:13:00.000-04:00

What do you get when you mix a chicken, a butterfly, and a random bunch of invertebrate parts? Why, it's a spike leg monster of course! This concept was originally designed for a CGHub activity, the description of which may be found here.

Sketch Meat 021

2011-08-07T22:51:00.000-04:00

This is a grabby sack monster, for want of a better name. I have no idea how he would grab anything with those tiny t-rex arms, but I guess nature finds a way.

Sketch Meat 020

2011-06-11T12:58:00.000-04:00

Dinosaur chicken!

Sketch Meat 019

2011-06-08T00:06:00.002-04:00

Much fun was had at Heroes con this past weekend and I even got some sketching done:

Arm 'n Arm Demon

graphite

Convention and Festival this Weekend!

2011-06-02T23:21:00.001-04:00

Hey folks, it's been way too long since I've posted and I'm sure many of you feel abandoned. Well, now's your chance to get all the attention you crave (and pick up some cool art, too). I'll be showing at Heroes Con in Charlotte, NC this Saturday and Sunday. I'll have a selection of prints available and will be taking commissions as well. I will also be catching up with fellow artists Billy Fowler and Adam Goudelock, who will also be plying their wares.

If you can't be bothered to go to NC, maybe you will bother to go to Atlanta for the Artlantis Festival this Saturday. My doppelganger with a beard, Beau Raymond, will be selling art and making merriment in my stead. Several of my original pieces will be for sale in addition to a variety of prints. There will be heaping ton of cool artists showing, so make the trip downtown!

Goblin Grub

Mixed Media

Creature Concept: The Ancient One

2011-02-21T12:01:00.001-05:00

This guy was created for another CGHub activity - Creature Planets Activity #32. The concept was "the ancient one" and we also had to create an idea for the planet on which this critter lived. I thought of an animal that would grow large in maturity and would have no natural predators as an adult. The planet has abundant resources and a mild climate. These combined factors allow adults to reach extreme old age. That's the basic idea, anyway. I think there is more potential in this design and I plan to develop it further.

I'm very excited to announce that my design won this challenge and it was featured as an editor's pick on CGHub!

Sketch Meat 018

2011-02-09T21:27:00.000-05:00

This is what happens when drawing unicorns after drinking too much coffee:

Happy Whistle Pig Day!

2011-02-02T13:06:00.000-05:00

Looks like General Beau Lee didn't see his shadow.

Creature Concept: Tuk-Tuk

2011-01-30T12:16:00.000-05:00

The Tuk-Tuk was created for a weekly activity over at CGHub. It's always fun to see what sort of descriptions the moderators will come up with. This one in particular caught my interest. The Tuk-Tuk is a medium sized flying creature with four eyes. It lives on cliffs near the ocean, is a carnivorous hunter, and is aggressive when provoked. Another part of the challenge required that we depict a male and a female in their natural habitat. The male is the more colorful of the two.

Sketch Meat 017

2011-01-15T20:22:00.001-05:00

I've been wanting to draw bunny frogs lately. The following sketches are what is produced when attempting such an endeavor. Sometimes you get bunnies, sometimes frogs, and sometimes you get things that make no sense whatsoever. It's a creature concept that I plan to further develop. It has much potential.

Sketch Meat 016

2010-12-23T13:09:00.000-05:00

A quick gouache sketch of a wizard-type character with a strange hat.

Marowak Resdesign - Final

2010-11-28T20:31:00.000-05:00

Alright, here is the final version of the Marowak. The poll is up over at CG Hub, so if you are a member make sure to go vote for your favorite entry! In case you missed the description of this guy, check out this post I made last week.

Photoshop

Marowak Redesign

2010-11-22T00:35:00.001-05:00

This WIP is for this week's CG Hub Creature Planets Activity. The topic is to redesign a Pokemon as though it were a real creature. Naturally, I picked something involving skulls and death. Marowaks wear the skulls of their dead mothers, have an ornery temperament, and walk around throwing bones at their enemies. Cool.
The original Pokemon version:

And my version so far:

The entries are due on Nov. 24, so be sure to check out the thread over at CG Hub!

Sketch Meat 015

2010-11-10T23:03:00.000-05:00

This week's sketch meat is a bit more detailed than usual, mostly because this monster seemed too weird to leave as a scribbly sketch. I call him Cephalophant and he likes to jump very high.

On a side note, I'm offering my prints for sale directly through the blog. On the right margin, you will find the current print available and a "buy now" button. If you see another image that you like from my website or blog, I can make prints of those as well. Just give a shout: darktreestudios@hotmail.com

Log Monster Concept

2010-09-17T13:45:00.000-04:00

This is a digital WIP and some sketches that I've been working on for a bit. It was created for the Log Monster challenge for Art Order. I'm also working on a traditional painting of this concept.

graphite sketches and Photoshop

Sketch Meat 014

2010-08-31T01:36:00.001-04:00

Iguana Guru.

He likes chips.

I also have the pleasure to announce that I have joined the Creature Spot blog. If you enjoy creature art and want to see some truly inspiring stuff, please check out the site!

Tuber Troll

2010-08-25T00:39:00.001-04:00

This is what he looks like in color:

Gouache, Ink, and Watercolor

Oddly enough, I have a sweet potato that has sprouted in my kitchen.

Sketch Meat 013

2010-08-15T00:30:00.001-04:00

This guy is a tuber troll. They are created when you leave a sweet potato on top of your microwave for too long. It sits around waiting to be eaten and when it figures out that you're not in the mood for sweet potatoes, it goes all troll.

Battle Scene

2010-08-10T15:49:00.000-04:00

This piece was created for the "Gotta Have a Hook" challenge from Art Order. Participants were given a brief description of a D&D art commission and were required to submit thumbnails, a detailed sketch, and finally a finished piece of art. Read more about the challenge on the Art Order blog, here. Visit the Art Order Ning to see the various threads containing all the work.

Gouache and Ink on Hot Pressed Watercolor Paper

Sketch Meat 012

2010-06-29T09:45:00.001-04:00

Monsterpillar!

I would read a graphic novel based on the larval stage of giant mutant Lepidoptera. Any one want to jump on that?

Sketch Meat 011

2010-06-20T15:07:00.002-04:00

Deep sea fish are really cool. I would love to have a fish pet like this.

Sketch Meat 010

2010-05-08T20:57:00.002-04:00

Creatures of night brought to light!!

Sketch Meat 09

2010-04-29T23:43:00.002-04:00

Whew, I had to take a break from all that meat! Seriously, though, things have been busy in the Negaverse Industrial Art Compound of Doom. I will endeavor to resume my weekly postings, although, many may suffer a famine from time to time. Such is the way of nature.

rawr

Volithar: Mutant Lionfishman

2010-04-11T22:20:00.003-04:00

This is the final version of my entry for the Mutation Nation challenge over at Art Order. Check out the specs for the challenge here.

While brainstorming ideas for this guy, I began to build a story about the behavior and culture of these mutant humanoids. Lionfish and humans share a few traits (as far as behavior), so it wasn't too difficult to merge the two together.

The Volithar are slow moving, yet incredibly strong. They use their strength to swim through the turbulent post-apocalyptic oceans to scavenge and pillage from weaker species (like humans). They generally travel in tight knit family groups, usually no more than twenty individuals. Volithar are fiercely loyal to their own families, and will often fight or kill other creatures perceived as a threat. Because of this, vast areas of ocean may be devoid of large predators if a Volithar family has claimed it as their territory.

This species is opportunistic and will make use of any material for weapons (even their own bones and spines) and will consume just about any organic matter for food. They have an extremely high tolerance for radiation, pollution, and other toxins and will often live in areas where other creatures can't survive. A unique feature of their metabolism allows the Volithar to safely absorb toxins which are then secreted as a potent poison from glands at the base of their dorsal spines.

The hide of the Volithar is extremely thick and tough. Sharp objects are often used like needles to secure clothing to their bodies. Colorful bits of cloth and trash are added in layers to create a crude form of clothing. Although Volithar have a basic form of culture, their language is complex. Comprised of guttural rumblings as well as body posture and position of dorsal spines, Volithar can communicate audibly as well as visually over great distances.

Gouache and Watercolor

Lionfish Man WIP

2010-04-01T00:51:00.001-04:00

This guy is something I've been working on for a bit. I've always liked lion fish and I thought it would be really cool to imagine what a mutated anthropomorphic version would look like. I'm entering him in the Mutation Nation challenge over at Art Order, which is due April 11.

There are several other sketches I've done, and I have a few other ideas for compositions, so my final image may change. Right now, he's naked and has no bad-ass weapon to pillage and plunder with - other than his venomous spines, of course. I'll have to remedy that in the next post.

Photoshop

Sketch Meat 08

2010-03-29T20:37:00.001-04:00

What is it?

Sketch Meat 07

2010-03-18T01:22:00.001-04:00

This is what you get when you leave your spaghetti with clam sauce in your refrigerator too long:

This is based on the concept of the "Beholder" from D&D, by the way. It's for a sketch contest over at the Art Order Ning

Demon Assassin Final

2010-03-13T20:39:00.001-05:00

You may remember the WIP I posted a while back of the Demon Assassin inspired by an Art Order challenge. Well, I finally got around to finishing it. It's mixed media - gouache, watercolor, ink, graphite, and Photoshop.

This was quite fun to work on. I've got a bit of free time coming up, so I plan to enter the next challenge for Art Order (Mutation Nation). There is no way I could resist the urge to create horribly mutated creatures in a post apocalyptic setting - nothing but win can come from this. Sketches and WIPs will be posted in the coming weeks.

Sketch Meat 06

2010-03-07T20:34:00.001-05:00

I'm not sure where this one came from. It's a mix between a rabbit, a tarantula, and a Chinese-style dragon....yeah, definitely don't know how I got to that. I suppose one would call it a Rabbantula Dragon.

Also, here's a robot:

Sketch Meat 05

2010-02-28T20:21:00.001-05:00

This is a Demon Summoner that I've been working on for the last week. I'm using ink as well as graphite.

full image

detail

February was a great time for sketching and brainstorming for more ideas. Sketch Meat has been a great way for me to keep up creative momentum and as a result I've got a lot of projects in the works. For March, I'm planning to finish up some of the in-progress images and sketches that I've posted.

Sketch Meat 04

2010-02-21T20:41:00.003-05:00

One could call this creature a Squid Monster or it could also be a Squidapus.

full image

detail

Sketch Meat 03

2010-02-14T17:12:00.004-05:00

Monsters are fun.

Sketch Meat 02

2010-02-06T21:00:00.007-05:00

Here is the second post in my yet-to-be-determined-numbered part and newly renamed series, "Sketch Meat". If you derived any sort of sense from that, I applaud your superior intellect. And now for the meat:

Mmmm, tasty.

Monster Cat

2010-02-05T16:44:00.003-05:00

It's a monster cat!

Gouache on illustration board

Demon Assassin WIP

2010-02-03T11:49:00.004-05:00

I started this piece for an Art Order challenge but wasn't able to complete it on time. This is a second version that came from the first draft I started. Originally this looked quite different, but part of the way through I hated it and just smeared the paint around. I really liked how the brush strokes turned out and so I was inspired to continue with the current version.

Gouache, Ink, and Graphite on Hot Pressed Watercolor Paper

Sketch Pages 1,2, and 3

2010-01-31T12:16:00.005-05:00

In an effort to post more frequently, I will be adding pages from my sketchbook each week. To start things off, these are some recent monster and animal studies. I'm working on some new portfolio pieces and I've been looking at a lot of reference material. Some of these sketches will end up as fully rendered illustrations, but most of them are just preliminary studies and brainstorming exercises.

Bromide Final in Color

2010-01-07T21:37:00.004-05:00

Alright, I finally finished it. I ended up working much larger than I normally do, so it took a bit more time. It was a challenge to choose the color palette for this piece. I wanted something that would be plant-like, yet I also wanted to suggest that this guy is a bit alien. I looked at a lot of orchid and insect photos and eventually developed the palette from those references.

Gouache on hot-pressed watercolor paper

Happy Holidays

2009-12-21T20:13:00.003-05:00

I had a lot of fun with this piece, which was commissioned by a friend of mine.

ink, watercolor, and graphite on illustration board

Bromide Concept WIP

2009-12-15T15:41:00.006-05:00

I know it's been a while since I've posted any art so here is something new:

Some of you may remember the Art Order challenge about the Bromide race. Well, I've actually had a bit of free time lately and I started working on a color illustration based on the initial graphite sketch, which can be found here. I'm using mainly gouache with a bit of watercolor on hot pressed watercolor paper.

This is a few hours into the painting:

And this is after a few more:

I'm only working on this in between other obligations, so progress is slow. I hope to have this completed before the deadline of the "Best of Art Order" book submission deadline in January. Read more about that here.

Bitesized show this Friday!

2009-12-03T12:43:00.004-05:00

Stop by Aurora Coffee at little five points and enjoy the show:

I'll have some prints and several originals for sale. If you are looking for a unique gift, this is a great opportunity to get some reasonably priced art. If you don't live in the Atlanta area and are interested in purchasing prints, visit my Etsy shop.

Now On Ebay

2009-11-23T13:45:00.002-05:00

Check out some prints that I have listed for sale on eBay.

Warlord Preview

2009-10-14T10:41:00.003-04:00

Warlord is releasing another expansion pack entitled "Sands of Oblivion". Here is one of my cards:

Visit the Warlord weblog at www.warlordccg.de for more info.

Baltimore Comic Con

2009-10-12T18:57:00.005-04:00

I just got back from the Baltimore Comic Con and had a great time. This was really a fun experience and if anyone hasn't been to Baltimore, I highly suggest visiting. It was great to see some familiar faces from other conventions (like my friend Charlie Harper) and also to meet some new friends. We sat next to Mike Maihack, the creator of Cow and Buffalo, as well as R. M. Rhodes from Oletheros Publishing, both of whom were very nice guys and had some interesting products. Be sure to check them out.

It was also nice to have some sketching time, and I indulged in drawing one of my favorite creatures - giant monster spiders with freakishly large fangs:

DragonCon Day 4

2009-09-08T11:19:00.004-04:00

DragonCon this year was the best yet. Even though I had some work up in the art show and print shop, I chose to put business aside and just have fun.

It was a real treat to see some of the props and costumes that some friends made for the convention. Check out the Volpin props Flickr photostream for pictures and the Volpin Props blog for more info. He and his fiance make some awesome stuff. Here they are in costume at the con:

Big Daddy, Little Sister, and a Splicer from the game Bioshock

DragonCon Day3

2009-09-06T18:40:00.002-04:00

Too tired...to write.....anything....else........

Watercolor, Ink, Colored Pencil

DragonCon Day 2

2009-09-05T13:01:00.002-04:00

Saturday is the busiest day. There are tons of great costumes. Here's another piece from the show:

Graphite, Watercolor

DragonCon Day 1

2009-09-04T23:07:00.004-04:00

Here is a new piece that is on display this weekend at the DragonCon art show.

Watercolor, Ink, Colored Pencil

Kingdoms of Legend Preview

2009-08-20T22:20:00.005-04:00

I recently created an illustration for the upcoming game Kingdoms of Legend by Interaction Point Games and have been given permission to show a preview:

Here's some info on this guy from Interaction's website:

"Kingdoms of Legend is the name for the upcoming line of fantasy roleplaying game products from IPG. KoL is an alternate past Earth of ~1415 AD. This little guy is a cross between a maggot and a tunnel boring machine. That spits acid. Look for him in the upcoming first adventure in the new Kingdoms of Legend line of Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Compatible products. "

To find out more about the game visit www.interactionpoint.com

Tube Girl

2009-08-12T03:06:00.002-04:00

I've been interested in bio-mechanical stuff lately.

Graphite

Experiment

2009-08-10T01:27:00.003-04:00

This is something I've been working on for the past few days. I don't think I'm done with it, yet. I've been playing around with mixing inks (both pen and brush), watercolor, graphite and gouache.

Mixed Media

Dragon Sketch

2009-07-29T10:46:00.004-04:00

A sample from the sketchbook.

Catastrophic Dragon

2009-07-13T16:52:00.004-04:00

Time has been quite slippery lately, and as such I have neglected the blog. Here's a dragon:

This guy is my entry for the Catastrophic Earthquake Dragon challenge on Art Order. Check out what's happening on the blog here.

B&W Vampires

2009-06-28T02:44:00.005-04:00

Here is my latest entry for the Art Order blog. We were to illustrate two vampires in black and white according to a short description. View more about this challenge here. To make this contest even better, the pieces will be sent to various art directors of several well known publishers for judging. Be sure to check Art Order on Tuesday to see all of the entries.

Also, there are a lot of really exciting Art Order events ahead and I've already begun sketching for the highly anticipated Dragon Challenge. Jon has pulled together a stellar panel of judges, including Todd Lockwood! Check back frequently, I'll be documenting my progress.

ink and photoshop

After the Convention...

2009-06-27T00:48:00.005-04:00

I've finally caught up on sleep after attending Heroes Con last weekend. I had a great time and made some money, too. It was a pleasure meeting up with some old friends. My friend from ConceptArt.org, Charlie Harper, was there and he introduced me to Bobby Chiu from Imaginism Studios. Although we only got the chance to hang out one night, I had a lot of fun and Bobby is really good at storytelling. He also offered some very sage-like advice regarding our portfolios and the presentaiton of our art.

Several people asked for commissions over the weekend and I only have a picture of one of them (one of these days I will be able to afford a digital camera).

Namor Convention Sketch

I also had the pleasure of meeting Scott Adsit who plays Pete Hornberger on "30 Rock" which is one of my favorite shows. I have to admit, I geeked out a little and my friends at the table will probably never stop making fun of me for it. He was a really cool guy though, and he seemed to enjoy speaking with the various artists at the con.

Next up is Dragon Con!

Dragon Mountain

2009-06-18T00:37:00.004-04:00

I just finished up this dragon piece that I have been working on to show at Heroes con in Charlotte, NC this weekend. I've been wanting to do a piece with a dragon rider and harness for a while, so this was a great opportunity. Prints of this guy will be available and I'm hoping to get my hands on a friend's large format printer. Otherwise, they will be 8"x10" on 8.5"x11" paper.

If you plan on attending the con, stop by and say hello (small press table 340). I'll have a variety of prints for sale (including a self-published book of my sketches), and I will also be taking commissions. My friends Billy and Adam will be there, there art is kewl.

Watercolor, Gouache, Colored Pencil

Ink!

2009-06-07T00:07:00.006-04:00

Ink is one of my favorite mediums to work in. I love how it lends itself to a more free flowing style and I also like the fact that you have to commit to a stroke before you paint it. It's sort of a mixture between painting and drawing.

Ink on Bristol

Character Concpet

2009-06-03T22:22:00.004-04:00

A result of a bit of brainstorming and experimentation the other day:

Mixed media and Photoshop

16 Minute Monster

2009-05-27T00:43:00.005-04:00

I did this sketch a while ago to practice for a quick sketch contest. As the title states, it took 16 minutes for this guy.

And, just for MuYoung, the yellow-faced wizard pirate:

Below is the progress so far. I still need to punch up the highlights a bit and define some areas. His hair and eyebrow are not completed, yet. I've been contemplating taking this into Photoshop and combining some digital elements. Using digital and traditional media together is very interesting and I haven't quite been able to mesh the two in a satisfactory manner. Perhaps it will work well for him.

Wizard Pirate Line Sketch

2009-05-14T23:21:00.007-04:00

What would be better than a pirate? A wizard pirate. Yes, that's right. Here's the line work:

I got a bit ahead of myself and started coloring it before I scanned the line work. My under paintings are usually really bight and obnoxious colors, so I figured I would spare the wizard pirate the embarrassment of having a bright neon yellow head in public. His face has been grayed out to preserve some dignity.

Here's a close-up:

p.s. I'm trying to win a contest! Please vote for the Chimera Familiar on the Art Order blog! Leave your vote with my name (Kim Feigenbaum) in the comments section of the blog. I could use the publicity. Even more importantly, I could use any jobs that would come from that publicity :)

Here is the link to visit: http://artorder.blogspot.com/2009/05/concept-tuesday-unfamiliar-familiars.html

Chimera Familiar

2009-05-10T13:47:00.008-04:00

Art Order had us illustrating an "Unfamiliar Familiar" this week. Of course, I couldn't decide on just one animal and why should I when I can combine several different ones into one awesome Chimera Familiar? Well, that's exactly what I did and I think he could be quite useful in many situations. He has all the attributes of the normal familiars (cat, raven, snake, etc.) but with their powers combined (just like Captain Planet) he becomes a creature capable of much greater power than that of the individual familiars (but without a mullet).

Cloak of the Leech

2009-05-05T15:51:00.004-04:00

Here is another card from Crimson Coast:

Also, summer is fast approaching and that means convention time! I'll be listing any conventions that I will be attending on the right side bar of this blog. The first one is Heroes Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina from June 19 - 21.

Boll Deevil Concept

2009-05-03T14:21:00.006-04:00

I'm having fun over at Art Order again. We were to use the tiny, yet highly destructive Boll Weevil as inspiration:

The concept behind this critter is that he is a weapon and armor eating beast. These guys roam around searching for unsuspecting humans that just happen to carry their favorite food - metal. They use their long frontal dexterous appendages to seek out and procure edible material. Because of their size and strength, fighting back proves futile and the unfortunate humans are robbed of all armor and weapons. The beasts eat the objects, metabolizing the metal, which is then secreted as alloys to form a nearly impenetrable exoskeleton.

Watercolor, Gouache, Colored Pencil, Graphite

Really Big Weapons are Neat

2009-04-25T22:52:00.005-04:00

This is yet another concept for the Art Order blog. This time, Jon had us designing a huge weapon that would strike fear into the hearts of any advancing enemies. Well, I had a lot of fun with this one. Of course, my initial inclination was to make a weapon so massive it would have been downright ridiculous. Instead, I settled for a size that was only slightly ridiculous.

Putrescence...What a Great Word

2009-04-16T21:45:00.004-04:00

Here is another preview from Crimson Coast that was spoiled on The Price of Defiance Warlord fan site. In case you missed it, here is the Warlord link: www.warlordccg.de

Urvogel Dinogloth

2009-04-15T00:41:00.006-04:00

This sketch was originally intended for this week's "Art Order" concept sketch, but I just didn't have enough time between projects to finish it before the deadline. Anyway, the idea was to create an undead demon dinosaur, which quite frankly is the best concept idea ever.

My favorite dinosaur is Archaeopteryx, so naturally I chose to model my idea around it. In the end I think it looks more like a cross between a phoenix and a dragon, but it was fun.

On a side note, zombie demon dinosaurs would be the most disappointed among the undead. It would take an incredible amount of energy to bring down a living dinosaur and they would only be rewarded with walnut-sized brains. What a pity.

Crimson Coast Preview

2009-04-14T13:16:00.005-04:00

One of the cards that I created for Warlord: Crimson Coast has been previewed. She is a Selkie of the Free Kingdoms - a creature that is half human, half seal. The newest expansion pack is due for release on April 30th. For more info, visit the Warlord blog at www.warlordccg.de

Watercolor, Gouache, Colored Pencil

"Bromide" Concept

2009-04-05T01:59:00.005-04:00

This another sketch for the "Art Order" blog based upon the concept of the "Bromide Race". Basically, the idea was to create a plant-based humanoid character. Since I love gardening and have many different strange plants at home, it was quite fun to combine several influences to create this guy - or girl. Actually, I think they would be asexual.

Construct Concept

2009-03-29T22:07:00.005-04:00

Well, after some major computer problems that took most of a month to sort out, I am back on the internet and able to post! I have a bunch of new stuff in the works that I won't be able to show until the end of April, but in the meantime I've been doing some sketching:

I like the idea of mechanical creatures, especially ones inspired by crustaceans or insects. This guy reminds me of a mecha nautilus mixed with a bit of giant squid and some crab. It was created for a weekly activity on Jon Schindehette's blog "Art Order".

Fairy Concept

2009-02-09T00:13:00.006-05:00

I've been practicing with Photoshop lately. This new piece is a character concept based upon Queen Titania.

It's Whistle Pig Day!

2009-02-02T17:17:00.005-05:00

Happy Whistle Pig Day to everyone emerging from their winter hibernation. Here's some new art to celebrate:

"Two Roads"
Photoshop

Warlord Prints Now On Sale

2009-01-27T21:51:00.010-05:00

The three pieces that were created for the collectible card game "Warlord" are now available for purchase on Etsy. Purchasing from Etsy is secure and easy, but you must sign up for an account. If you do not wish to sign up for an Etsy account, please contact me at darktreestudios@yahoo.com and let me know what print you would like - include "Warlord Print Order" in the subject. Each print costs $10 plus $2 for shipping/handling via USPS for US orders. If you live outside the US, you will have to contact me for a quote. At this time, I only take payments through PayPal.

I print all of my own prints on premium glossy photo paper with HP Vivera ink. Each images is signed and titled with archival black ink. All prints are shipped flat and are enclosed in an acetate envelope with cardboard backing.

Fire Seeds, Incessant Waves, Flying Carpet

Horse

2009-01-27T01:37:00.000-05:00

Here's a horse in the woods.

Serpentine

2009-01-21T17:19:00.002-05:00

This is one of the images that was removed from the website during the recent renovation.

ink on bristol board

New Website Design

2009-01-20T01:09:00.005-05:00

I just completed re-designing my website. The new design is a bit more stylish and makes use of pattern and texture (which was lacking in the previous version). The color scheme is similar but more dramatic.

I separated my work into "illustration" and "concept art" and removed the sketchbook section. The sketches will be posted here from now on and the website will only feature my professional work. This should keep things organized a little better. It will also give me lots of material to publish here on the blog in the next few weeks.

Attached is the photoshop template I made while deciding color, pattern, and layout.

Happy New Year (with doodles and varnishing technique)

2008-12-31T15:07:00.005-05:00

Here are a few doodles that were made with the intention of testing out some new varnishing methods. I have been working with mixed media for a while now and I was investigating some alternatives to framing under glass. While the presentation of a matted and framed piece is very traditional and protects the image very well, it is very expensive and in some instances can be down right boring.

So in order to explore other possibilities, I made these little mixed media bird doodles and varnished them with varying techniques. The watercolor paper is mounted to a piece of professional quality hardbord (I like Ampersand's products). I like to use a cradled hardbord for mounting the paper. This way, a wire is easily attached to the back for framing purposes.

I found that the best method proceeds as follows: Since I work on watercolor paper with water-based media and drawing materials, I needed to seal the drawing in order to prevent the varnish and isolation coat from smearing the watercolor. The best method for this was using a resin-based artist grade fixative. Several light layers were applied. After the fixative dried, an isolation coat of acrylic gloss soft gel mixed 2 to 1 with water was applied. This permanently seals the image against moisture and creates a barrier between the final layer of varnish and the artwork itself. A UV blocking archival spray varnish is then applied for the final protective coat. The varnish is removable for conservation purposes.

In essence, the piece becomes a mixed media acrylic painting due to the application of the soft gel. The watercolor paper is sealed to prevent buckling or molding due to moisture and the watercolor/drawing materials are fixed in place. The piece can then be displayed without glass, just like a traditional oil or acrylic painting.

I'll be making several small paintings using this method. Check back for more info!

Happy New Year

Etsy FAE Team

2008-12-23T22:45:00.004-05:00

I've just joined the Fantasy Artists of Etsy Team or "FAE Team" over at Etsy. This is a collection of artists, artisans, and craftspeople who create works with a fantasy theme. Check out the various shops at the Team's website: http://fantasyartofetsy.webng.com/ or visit our blog at http://fantasyartofetsy.blogspot.com/ .

If you see any items here or on my website that you would like to purchase, you may request to do so at my Etsy shop: www.darktreestudios.etsy.com Click on "Request Custom Item" and leave a message with the title of the piece.

Goblin Garm

2008-12-17T12:11:00.006-05:00

Here is another piece in the Goblin series. This little guy is an eccentric aristocrat that likes to squawk and sing in an unnaturally loud irritating voice. See him on display at the Beep Beep gallery in Atlanta, GA until December 20.

Ink, watercolor, graphite

Warlord Preview #3

2008-12-09T20:06:00.005-05:00

I just got permission from Phoenix Interactive to post the next preview from the Warlord CCG. The game will be arriving in the US soon. Visit www.warlordccg.de to order.

Warlord Preview #2

2008-12-08T22:23:00.006-05:00

Here is another preview from the collectible card game "Warlord: Saga of the Storm" originally released on the Warlord weblog. This one is watercolor, gouache, colored pencil, and I think I threw some ink in there as well.

Bitesized Show

2008-11-30T01:43:00.008-05:00

"Bitesized" opens next Friday, December 5 at the Beep Beep Gallery in Atlanta, GA. The reception will be from 8pm - 11pm. The show will feature small works from a variety of local artists. This piece, in addition to a few others I've been working on, will be on display. "Bitesized" will run through December 21. Visit the Beep Beep Gallery's website for more details: www.beepbeepgallery.com

Ink, Graphite, and Watercolor

Warlord CCG

2008-11-29T19:12:00.006-05:00

The publishers of Warlord: Saga of the Storm collectible card game are releasing an expansion pack in December. I had the privilege to work on a few cards that will be included. This was a very fun project and I enjoyed working in this format. For more information, please visit the Warlord weblog at www.warlordccg.de

Etsy Shop Now Open!

2008-11-20T20:37:00.002-05:00

I have just opened a shop on the online handmade marketplace, Etsy. Currently, I have several digital reproductions of my original illustrations for sale. If you missed your chance to purchase some prints at a convention, or if you would like prints of some of my new work, be sure to check in frequently for inventory updates. I only have a small sampling at the moment, but I plan to add additional items in the near fututre.

In addition to prints, I am working on a new line of small, affordable, original art pieces. I hope to have these completed by mid December - just in time for the holidays. They will be offered for sale through the Etsy shop and will cost around $100. I'll have more details and pictures as they are completed.

Pirate!

2008-10-23T14:46:00.004-04:00

Just in time for Halloween! I've been wanting to play around with marker and ink for a while, so this was a great chance to experiment. Basically, I had fun with the clothing and tried to make a more dynamic pose. The one thing about using markers is that you have a limited palette. While I could blend and layer to some extent, there really was not as much of a range as you would get with paint. This was fun it itself though, and presented a stimulating challenge. Another problem was that I made it too large for my scanner and I don't have a digital camera. So, his foot will be left to the imagination until I can piece the whole image together. I'm also going to put in a simple background to finish it off.

Copic Markers, Pitt Pens, and Chart Pak Markers on bristol board

Steamworks

2008-09-15T18:26:00.003-04:00

This is a cover for the RPG game "Steamworks" that was commissioned by 12 to midnight games. If you're into gaming and would like to try something new, stop by their website for more info.

Art Show Award

2008-09-03T23:17:00.003-04:00

Well, Dragon con is over and now it's time to recover and get some sleep. It was great to catch up with some friends that I haven't seen since last year, and it's always fun meeting new people. I had a great time and I am especially excited and honored to have won an award from the Art Show. "Underneath It All" won the Juried Award for Best Color Piece. There was a great showing of some very impressive art, I'm glad to have had the chance to exhibit with so many talented artists. I'm very much looking forward to participating in next year's show.

Dragon Con Art

2008-08-31T22:22:00.004-04:00

These are three new pieces created for the Dragon Con Art show in Atlanta, GA. Artists exhibit and sell their work at a gallery style space within the convention. The convention is still in progress, and the attendance has been phenomenal this year. Spending time at the art show is always enjoyable. Several different styles and genres are represented so there is something for everyone. For more information about Dragon Con, visit their website.

The theme for these three pieces is derived from Norse mythology. The children of the god Loki and the giantess Angrboda are three monstrous creatures. The oldest, Fenrir, is a giant wolf. The other two siblings are Jormungand, the sea serpent or Midgard serpent, and Hel the ruler of Helheim otherwise known as the realm of the dead. Materials used are ink and graphite on bristol board.

Fenrir

Hel

Jormungand

RPG Illustrations

2008-08-25T17:39:00.003-04:00

These are some of the gray scale concepts created for 12 to Midnight Games and Morbid Games. The images were used as interior illustrations for RPG manuals.

"Inventor" Graphite: 12 to Midnight Games

"Technologist" Graphite: 12 to Midnight Games

"Blood Hound" Graphite: Morbid Games

Aves Avelia

2008-08-24T20:44:00.002-04:00

Here is the newest piece I've been working on. She's called Aves Avelia. In addition to many others, this piece will be on display at the Dragon Con art show in Atlanta, Georgia this coming weekend.

watercolor, gouache, colored pencil

Art for the Circus Show

2008-08-20T18:08:00.005-04:00

I just finished my piece for "The Circus Show" at A Bitchin' Space Gallery in Sacramento, CA. The show will open Sept. 13. Read more about the show here.

Watercolor, Gouache, Colored Pencil, and Ink on 140 lb hot pressed watercolor paper

Chesley Awards

2008-08-04T22:43:00.003-04:00

I recently received word that my graphite drawing, "Sliopterom", has been nominated in the "unpublished monochrome" category for the Chesley Awards. This is an incredible honor and I am so excited to be included with so many talented professional artists. A full list of all of the nominees is at the ASFA's website, here. Yay!!

Warrior

2008-07-30T23:15:00.007-04:00

Recently I completed a piece for an activity over on ConceptArt.org. Below are the preliminary graphite sketch and a detail of the final rendering. Materials used for this piece include: watercolor, gouache, colored pencil, watercolor pencil, and ink. The full image may be viewed at my website.

The concept is based on the "Tiefling" which is a character from the Dungeons and Dragons rpg game.

Ink Tree 3

2008-07-21T14:20:00.002-04:00

Another "Ink Tree" in the moleskine watercolor sketchbook.

Sketches from the Week

2008-07-10T11:18:00.003-04:00

Here are a few sketches from this week's CA sketch meet. I need to practice more with ink, so I busted out the good ol' ink brush pen and had some fun.

watercolor and ink, moleskine watercolor sketchbook

Ink, moleskine watercolor sketchbook

The Circus Show

2008-07-08T11:46:00.003-04:00

I'll be participating in the second annual "Circus Show" at A Bitchin' Space Gallery in Sacramento, California this September. The show will raise awareness about the inhumane treatment of performing animals and proceeds of the sale of works will be donated to several non-profit organizations.

There will also be performances, rides, and much more. Here is a quote from the gallery's website:

"The invitation-only gallery show has over 100 national
and international artists participating. The performance
line-up starts with Dan Piraro, creator of Bizarro, who will
be joined by comedian and MC, Keith Lowell Jensen, singer Larisa Bryski, plus the Kings of Drag,
jugglers, belly dancers and other performers, freaks, artist-made midway games and rides, as well
as raffle prizes including original artwork and so much more."