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Darth Vader

Darth Vader

Darth Vader, Empire tiles

I have been working in Adobe Illustrator for a lot more of my recent work. Typically, I will block out most of the illustration in Illustrator and then move to a bitmap program to do much of the detail work. 

Recently, however, I have been focused on creating illustrations based around the concept of fauxsaics – tile-based patterns replicating the look of intricate mosaics. 

Empire tile pattern vector

To create this effect, I created some custom brushes in Adobe Illustrator that looked like a simple tile. Using that brush as the stroke of the line allows the “tiles” to flow along the long and create these intricate patters, as above.

Empire tile pattern vector, detailed view

Once the tiles “layout” in the pattern they are then turned to outlines so they can be distorted a bit to add more realism to the fauxsaic. This distortion combined with a few layers of grime, reflection, and shadows finishes the details to the illustration.

Original layout of Darth Vader, Empire tiles

The original layout of the piece, above, was inverted, with Vader entering the chamber from above, as if he was walking towards you in the frame. However, the strength of his silhouette seems more impactful when rotated 180-degrees. I like this version better for its subtley and it aligns with the original concept I had initially envisioned.

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Captain Jack

Captain Jack

Portrait of Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow

I grew up in an golden age of illustration with contemporary idols like Frank Frazetta, John Buscema, and Keith Haring. However, as I attended university, I discovered more historic American illustrators to admire with N.C. Wyeth high on that list of gifted painters with ties to the city of brotherly love. 

"Scribners" style book mockup of Pirates of the Caribbean

The works he created for Scribners had a lasting impression on my younger self. The manner in which he composed his paintings was incredibly cinematic – so much so that “The Last of the Mohicans” seems to be an ode to his wonderful use of light and shade.

This portrait of Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow, and the mockup book cover of “Pirates of the Caribbean” are an homage to those books, and masterful illustrations.

These were created using Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, and Corel Painter.

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Joker, revisited

Joker, revisited

Portrait of Heath Ledger as The Joker

I watched Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight recently and was again captivated by Heath Ledger’s performance as The Joker. His total committment to the role was evident in every scene – and not that he stole the scene, but merely inhabited them as a reality he shared with the other actors as a gift to the viewer.

This role and the one as Skip in The Lords of Dogtown are my favorite characters Heath shared with us before his untimely death. I have painted a portrait of Heath as The Joker previously, but felt the need to revisit this character and this talented artist’s portrayal.

Alternative movie poster for "The Dark Knight" featuring Heath Ledger as the Joker

I also used the illustration as the basis for an alternative movie poster for Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight film for my profile at the PosterSpy community. 

The illustration was created in Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, and Corel Painter.

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Revenge of the Fifth, 2021

Revenge of the Fifth, 2021

Gold-leaf portrait of Adam Driver as Kylo Ren (Ben Solo)
Detail of gold-leaf portrait of Kylo Ren

To celebrate Star Wars Sith Day, Revenge of the Fifth, I have a companion piece to yesteday’s Princess Leia portrait; a gold-leafed portrait of Adam Driver as Kylo Ren (Ben Solo). 

This was one of the early pieces I created using gold leaf and is markedly smaller than Carrie Fisher’s portrait. There are unique imperfections in both that give the portraits a personality of their own. I made three versions of this portrait and each one has its own presence as they sit in the studio, catching the light throughout the day.

The portrait was painted using Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, and Corel Painter is printed on Red Rever Paper 8lb. Polar Matte. 

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May The Fourth, 2021

May The Fourth, 2021

Laying down gold-leaf on portrait

May The Fourth be with you!

To celebrate this year’s Star Wars Day, I have been working on a portrait, icon really, of Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia Organa (Skywalker) to commemorate this year’s #MayTheFourth.

Aftermath of brushing up loose gold leaf on portrait.

The portrait I began painting earlier this year and have spent months practicing my gold-leaf technique. Gold-leaf is the application of thin sheets of hammered gold, or any metal, to a substrate of some sort; could be anything from furniture to fresoes but in this case it is a portrait of Carrie fisher. 

You lay down a layer of sizing, or glue, to the image and allow it to dry and become tacky. Once the moisture has been absorbed/evaporated you can lay down the sheets of gold onto the image. Afterwards, you use a brush to gently remove the gold-leaf from the paper except the areas treated with the sizing. 

View of work in progress of portrait of Princess Leia

This technique is ages-old and I have been experimenting all year with it to create this image. I believe the concept stolen from icons of ages past is appropriate for commemorating Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia and her place in the mythology of the Star Wars Universe that George Lucas created for us in 1977. 

Gold-leafed portrait of Princess Leia

I have spent much of my career merging and transposing my traditional skills I was taught at university to the digital world. Combining my love of portraiture, my digital toolkit, and the techniques of masters from long ago seemed an appropriate way to celebrate #MayTheFourth this year. 

The portrait of Carrie was created using Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, and Corel Painter. The image was printed on Red River Papers 13″x19″ (A3+) 88lb Polar Matte paper.

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Happy Alien Day 2021

Happy Alien Day 2021

Portrait of Bill Paxton as Hudson from aliens

Let’s celebrate Alien Day with the latest round of rejections for an upcoming project. Printed in Blood is producing a new art book to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the release of Aliens.  

Since this is one of my favorite franchises, I submitted several new illustrations for the book – these three did not make the cut so I thought I would share them here to celebrate #AlienDay.

Portrait of Ellen Ripley, from Aliens

The fact that I was able to get two new pieces into the upcoming release softens the blow of these rejections. And honestly, there are so many talented folks in these books I am quite appreciative to have my art work included. 

Illustration of the Alien Queen from Aliens

The book is set to be released later this year, sometime after the Halloween art book and I will have prints available of the pieces that made it into the books. 

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