6 Pieces for the Shadowfist Game

Back in April, I signed a contract with Inner Kingdom Games, Inc., to create 6 pieces for an expansion of the Shadowfist card game. They were completed by mid day on June 1st, and it is a glorious accomplishment. I was given parameters to meet for each card. These were all painted in watercolor, with white gouache for highlights, as per usual for my paintings.
I marathoned the new Doctor Who series (what is available on Netflix: Beefcake Eccleston through the end of Amy Pond), Supernatural, the Catherine Tate Show, and varying martial arts films to get me through this. I like to have something going on tv in the background. Especially with series, they keep me hooked enough when I need to put in long hours when I get home from the day job, and the creepy episodes keep me awake at night to continue working to 2 am, sometimes 4 or 6 am. Maybe that is a silly method, but it works for me!

Thunder Valkyrie

The first one I drew, and the first one I painted. 

Shield Bearer

They asked for a young man in light mail, helm and kite shield with this specific emblem. As they asked for a kite shield, I decided to throw a little Norman into this young man's attire.

Spirit Guide

The concept was changed halfway through drawing. The details were so much fun!

Butterfly Armour

I was asked to depict a knight in full armour, with armoured butterfly wings. I went with monarch wing design and colors where I could.

Estate of the Oncoming Storm

A cathedral in a cavern.

Thunder Champion

I was asked to depict an armoured man with sword and shield fending off two foes armed with guns. The layout and background were chosen by the customer.

Now, on to the next project!! I have quite a few commissions that have been waiting to begin!

Inspirations from MFAH

My, it has been a while, and I do apologize. Despite my absence, I have been insanely busy with my artwork. I have a project of 6 paintings due June 1 for a company, and unfortunately I can't share much information until then. Do not fret, that is only 3 weeks away! Well, I fret that small time frame...

I took a break from working on Mother's Day to go to the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston with my parents, sister and grandmother to view the Picasso Black and White exhibit. I'm not a Picasso fan, and I was ecstatic when I exited the exhibit to find myself in a room of fabulous Bronze Age relics of Etruscan, Syrian, Greek and Roman make. Aaaah I love those ancient peoples so! After that, I went into the Jacques Callot exhibit, Princes & Paupers, and it was all I could do to contain myself. I couldn't take photos in there, and the book was sold out in the gift shop, so I just purchased it on Amazon.com. I can't wait to receive it. His work appeals to both the costumer in me, and the artist. If you're ever looking for references for 17th century wealthy and peasant costume, look for his art. There are a few series of pieces I have been wanting to create, and Jacques Callot's work has helped me immensely with inspiration.

Now, on to the images!!

I forget the title for this bowl...but I believe it was Etruscan in origin. I am absolutely in love with the patterning, and hopefully it will serve as a good guide in future:

 

 (Greek/Hellenistic) Head of Poseidon/Antigonos Doson 227-221 BC. Bronze. : I love his face, and the lines in his hair. 

 Imperial Portrait of the Emperor Caligula, God and Ruler 37-41 AD. Gilt Bronze: faces such as this are certainly a huge inspiration to me as I draw. Aside from the beautiful sculpting, I adore the color variation in the bronze. This is not only a good reference to me for facial structure, but also for coloring purposes.

 I forgot to photograph the information placque for this one. But I mainly took this picture because the woman looks like she's showing off her guns, which happen to be rams. And the coloring in the bronze is fabulous.

 Assyrian. Guardian Figure. 883-859 BC. Gypsum.: I love the lines in this piece.

 Greek Krater. 6th Century BC. Cast and Hammered bronze. I absolutely love the details of this Krater, and how happy the figures appear. Of course, they are happy because this is a vessel for mixing wine and water.

The Morrigan

She is finally finished. Took me a while, but I at least finished her in time to get her framed and prints made for the Celtic Festival at Sherwood Forest Faire this weekend.

The Nights Watch Commission

I have been working on this commission on-and-off since late April. The ending of my first season at Sherwood Forest Faire, moving the 3600 sq. ft. costume warehouse that is my fulltime "real job" to a new location, and then a month later moving myself to a new home were definitely large factors standing in the way of my motivation on this piece. This was commissioned by a dear friend, and it is her boyfriend as a member of the Nights Watch from the book series A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin. The face and expression are based entirely off of a photo of her boyfriend, and the costuming for this member is my interpretation of how the costumes looked when I read the books. Though more time than I expected was spent on this piece, I think the amount of time I spent--including the long spaces of not-painting in-between--have produced the best results. I don't think it would have turned out any better under any other circumstances. This is all painted in watercolor.

Aaaand some sexy details:

Shades of Blue

My submission for the "Shades of Blue" theme on Enchanted Visions. This took up some of my spare time during the week. I needed to get back into the swing of things :D Prints for sale here .

The Morrigan Work-in-Progress

2012 Men in Kilts Calendars!!!

They have arrived! Limited quantity of 100. 50 are going to be (hopefully) sold at the Irish Festival in Dallas this weekend, and I will be taking the rest out to Sherwood Forest Faire with me (those that haven't been pre-ordered, at least!) I am so happy with the printing, and I can't wait to make all of my customers happy with this delicious collection. If you pre-ordered with me, and haven't contacted me about mailing it,  I'll have a calendar with your name on it (or e-mail address) out at the faire on weekends.

 12-month calendar for January-December 2012. $15 plus tax & $5 shipping if you would like one shipped to you.