Niteblade

Archive for the ‘Art’ Category

Descend into a nightmare world where death soars on ebon wings and hellish beasts torment the damned. Roam the lands of the fantastic and the macabre through the diabolic visions of Craig General, the Merchant of Venom.

Hailing from Ontario, Canada, Craig has been drawing semi-professionally for a decade. He likes to work on big projects, but is willing to work on smaller projects as well. One of his past projects involved the creation of cover artwork for small music labels. He also sells prints and t-shirts on his web site Merchant of Venom.

Craig finds his inspiration from nature (oddly enough, from such things as dead trees) and horror movies. His list of favourite artists includes John Byrne, Bernie Wrightson, Neal Adams, and Richard Kind. In terms of style, Craig says he is trying for something between horror comic-book art and seventeenth-century woodcuts.

Espy bizarre beauties both alluring and deadly. Encounter a variety of supernatural femmes fatales lusting for human blood. Become seduced by their dangerous charms as you view the world of horror through the lens of Draken Photography.

David Watkins, the man behind the lens at Draken Photography, resides a stone’s throw from the sea in Kent. A photographer for nearly twenty-five years, and a lover of fantasy and horror, David has melded his experience and passion to produce his alternative photography.

Not just a photographer, David also creates a lot of the props and costumes seen in his pics. He does make up as well. David has three books in print and is currently working on a fourth entitled Mythicus Femella: Creatures From Beyond Imagination.

David worked with the model Gabrielle Gothe (her real name) for five years before Gabrielle decided to move on to other things. David’s collaboration with Thorn, a movie actress as well as a model, has lasted nearly as long. He has worked with Maria (MariaUK), a widely published model and calendar girl, for three years. He and Sophie, a visual designer and model, have worked together only once so far, with future shoots planned.

More of David’s photography can be seen at his web site Draken Photography.

***

With bloodied sword before her, a mistress of battle stands proud at the head of her army. Perched atop a craggy islet rising from a tentacle-churned sea, a mysterious sorceress prepares to cast arcane spells. Amidst the metal gears and towers of a strange futuristic world, three young guardians appear ready for action. All these fantastic images, and more, can be seen in the artwork of Garret Dechellis.

A graduate of Ringling College of Art and Design, Garret is addicted to all forms of illustration, from science fiction to the bizarre. He finds inspiration in everything around him, as well as in the works of other fantastic artists such as Donato Giancola, Greg Manchess, Michael Whelan, Syd Mead and Jeff Jones. A versatile artist, Garret switches back and forth between traditional and digital media. Lately, he has been mixing the two forms together to create his works of fantasy and wonder.

A children’s book featuring Garret’s art will be released in the near future. Garret’s art will also be featured in a forthcoming graphic novel. More examples of Garret’s work can be seen at his web site:  http://gdillustration.com/

***

Here’s a special Halloween treat for all those that love pen and ink or charcoal artwork, with a little bit extra. No tricks here; within the House of Chamberlin dwell lusty vampires, hungry werewolves, macabre musicians, and deadly dragons. Therein you may find creatures of darkness rendered in black and white, perhaps with just touches of added colour to better bring out their eerie and often bloodthirsty natures. As you stumble further down its halls, this strange artistic abode of the fantastic and horrific might  even surprise you with a flash of full-colour brilliance.

And who is master of this weird and wild house? An Alaskan with an interest in comic books and cartooning, Ric Chamberlin is the creative soul residing at the heart of the House of Chamberlin. Ric utilizes pen and ink, pastels, and charcoal to create his marvellous works of fantasy, horror, and whimsy.

Now, enter through those doors and enjoy!

More of Ric’s art can be seen on his DeviantART Site:
Ricky-Roo302.

***

Mingle with folk from the realms of faerie and fantasy. Meet fantastical beings invoking the mystical powers of ancient gods, inhuman craftsmen wielding mighty tools of the trade, seductive assassins waiting to draw blood once again, and enchanting fays fluttering gossamer wings. Catch a stolen glimpse of the secret places where magic things dwell. Discover Amber Alexander’s fantasy art.

Prior to pursuing a career in art, Amber served as an active duty soldier deployed in Kuwait. After doing a bit of soul-searching to determine her true path, she decided to acquire a training in traditional art from the University of California at Berkeley. However, a few months before graduation, Amber discovered digital art. Once she taught herself the ins and outs of digital painting and became adept at the use of the computer to produce artwork, she realised that this was the medium for her.

Amber states that she has an interest in artists with a strong personal style, something she says she tries to capture in her own work. She includes John Singer Sargent, Peter Chung and Amy Brown among her list of favourites.

As a recent graduate, Amber now takes freelance illustration commissions. She currently has several projects-in-progress, including an illustration for the official web site opening of the R. & R. Barrs book Javen, the Curse and the Apogee’s Sign. She is also in the process of designing a series of angelic figurines for AngelStar.

More of Amber’s work can be seen on her web site Amber Alexander: Character Concept Artist & Illustrator.

***

Meet a master at depicting dreadful demise, crimson-tinged terror, creatures thirsting for human blood, and classic characters of horror. Discover the deliciously dark and expertly rendered paintings of horror artist Jerrod Brown, if you dare.

A traditional artist and a southpaw who has been painting and drawing for nearly forty years, Jerrod produces everything from murals to illustrations, from monstrous portraiture to genre book covers. Currently residing with his wife and daughter in Jacksonville, Florida, Jerrod works out of his home studio. In addition to selling works straight out of his studio, Jerrod also sells originals and prints at various galleries and conventions. He also received honorable mention in the 2008 Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards Artist of the Year.

Inspired by a multitude of horror movies and the artwork found in the classic genre magazine Famous Monsters of Filmland, Jerrod’s love of all things horror simply screams from the canvases of his darkly wonderful works. Being strictly a traditional artist, Jerrod strongly advocates the use of brush and palette over the use of keyboard and mouse. And his artistic creations contain a unique spirit not found in “cookie-cutter” digital work.

More examples of Jerrod’s art, along with purchasing information, can be found here:
http://www.myspace.com/jerrodbrown

***

Enter a twilight realm where deepening gloom stirs dark emotions, where
sinister forces lurk within every shadow, where the Grim Reaper awaits
around every corner. Encounter scenes where glimmers of light hold no hope
of salvation, serving instead as stark illumination of a diabolic fate.
Become hopelessly enthralled by the dark art of Daniele Serra.

A professional illustrator residing on the Mediterranean isle of Sardinia,
Daniele Serra's work has seen international success. His art has appeared
in various European, Australian, and American publications. He has
illustrated the works of authors such as Brian Stableford, Rain Graves,
and Steven Savile. He has also created images for DC comics, and his art
has been displayed in various Italian exhibits. A book of Daniele's darkly
sensuous artwork, entitled Illusions, is available through Black Coat
Press.

Daniele uses pencils and watercolours to create his scenes, then blends
these macabre visions digitally. He masterfully combines and contrasts
light and shade in provocative ways, instilling a disturbingly seductive
quality into his art. He deftly drags the viewer into a world of horror
and dread, a place ruled by darkness and death.

More examples of Daniele Serra's work, as well as purchase information for
Illusions, can be found on his web site:
http://www.multigrade.it/

***

Once before, I featured the pencil creations of Shane Lees in the Niteblade art blog. Well, Shane is back, and his art is wilder than ever! Whether it be jellyfish floating in space, a Roman fort sitting beneath a triad of moons, whales soaring through the sky, or a spider web eye, Shane’s fantastic visions sweep the viewer away to surreal locales and strange realities.

An overwhelming desire to draw overcame Shane when he was but a young lad growing up in Tacoma, Washington. He earned a  B.F.A. in Graphic Illustration from the Art Institute of Tacoma, and has won several art competitions. Among his various credits, he has been commissioned to illustrate gaming cards for the on-line roll playing game Dark Confrontation by Hand Made Games, and book covers for Dreamspinner Press. More recently, Shane has been commissioned to illustrate Dave Hitt’s podiobook Blood Witness.

Being a sketcher at heart, Shane’s artistic weapon of choice is a regular number two pencil. Occasionally, he resorts to wielding a 9B or charcoal. His art betrays his love for the fantasy and science-fiction genres, and his style often mixes realism with the fantastical.

Let Shane’s weird and wonderful works carry you off to somewhere else, somewhere strange, somewhere out of this world.

Shane’s bio, full list of credits and achievements, and on-line portfolio containing more examples of his artwork, can be found here.

***

In this installment of the Niteblade art blog, I’m pleased to present a few samples of the mythical and magickal art of Lori Baratta. Hailing from the mystical Catskill Mountains,  Lori is a full-time professional artist and illustrator. Her works have graced the covers and interior pages of tomes such as The Wicca Handbook and A Witches Book of Answers, as well as various magazines and catalogs. Her art also appears on various products, including stained glass items, reference charts, decorative and spell candles, tarot bags, and note cards.

Interested in myth and fantasy since she was a wee lass, Lori delves deeply into the historical, religious, and cultural importance of any symbols used in her metaphysical artworks. Possessing a great love of colour, Lori utilizes various media to create vibrant compositions. In addition to her mythical and New Age designs, she also produces commissioned portraits and contemporary fine art. Examples of her work can be found hanging in various public and private collections.

Products featuring Lori’s designs can be found at Lori Baratta Artworks.

***