Artwork

Felipe Escobar

May 15, 2015 by Benjamin Descovich Leave a Comment

Felipe is an artist and a professional industrial designer who freelances for the games and entertainment industry. His imaginative artworks are built with inspiration from music and nature. I really enjoyed going through his portfolio, but found it hard limiting the number of images for this post. He has so many fantastic pieces. Below are my favourites and I think they really highlight his versatility and creativity. Felipe is such a gentleman, he also offered to provide a commentary for them. Enjoy his guided tour!

Now, this is an old one, but I still like it, not because of the quality of image but for the colour. I tried to go for something more dynamic with colour and shades. I kinda see Bob Ross videos now and I can remember I had the same feeling he said to have painting his stuff. Like…it didn’t matter what it was, just enjoy the painting. I got inspiration by the art of Thomas Scholes, an amazing artist and great influence.

This piece was part of a series of challenges in Facebook for a illustrators group. I’d like to think this was my first storytelling illustration. Because it was the first time I kinda succeeded in creating a good action scene that had some story to it. It was really fun to work on.

This was a test I did for myself. I wanted to expand and renew my catalog of creatures in my portfolio. I created each new creatures in two days. The first day was for sketching and planning and the second was for finishing. Some of them only took me a single day. Like the Battered Wife Spider. The gryphon came up as a design of a classical creature that we all know but in a different manner. It’s cool to create new creatures and stuff nobody as seen, but I guess what matters most in the industry is to make people immediately relate to a subject they know and give it a little twist so it has this fresh look.

I love doing props. I’m an industrial designer by education and I spent a little bit more than 5 years studying that career. Now it’s in my blood. I can’t avoid getting way too committed to create objects and new design ideas on weapons and armor. It’s funny because all I really wanted was to work as a concept artist for these link of little things, but I mainly get asked for illustration commissions. I’m happy with that though. I’ve learned to love both disciplines the same.

Weapon designs for Paizo by Felipe Escobar

This is a speedpainting that I created during a 365 challenge on DeviantArt, the topic that day was snowmen…so they came up like that. I did that challenge some time ago when I was just out of Uni. It helped to get in shape in terms of a painting habit, because the challenge consisted on creating anything everyday for a year. I tried to do it again and I found out early that I already had that constant need of painting every day. By that time it was getting a little bit tiresome to work on a different piece everyday. What I actually needed was to spend more time in my images, not less. So I quit doing it and started spending more time in my stuff.

This is fanart of Star Wars. It didn’t start like that though. I just wanted to create a good portrait with wrinkles and lot of texture. I guess one thing led to another. What really inspired this was a dark feeling that I usually get out of the music genre of Black Metal.

This is one of my newest pieces. I started it right after I resigned my job with a company I was working for. I realized that I’m better at what I love. I think that inspiration and emotion with certain topics is what really move artists to create. To get that feeling of being in your element with a certain topic you like. For me it’s dark scenery and mystery. I like to keep things in under a veil and make the viewer go further with their own imagination. I got to say that this one piece is my starting point into my true career as an illustrator.

Thanks for the tour of your works, Felipe!

Get over to Felipe’s website and check out his portfolio. www.fesbra.carbonmade.com

You can also find him here at Artstation.

While you are at it like his facebook page too and keep up to date with his work.

Christophe Vacher

May 11, 2015 by Benjamin Descovich Leave a Comment

Christophe has the credit of managing concept art and art direction for Disney, Dreamworks, Universal Studios and many other animation studios. He’s worked on major films including The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Dinosaur, Hercules, Tarzan, Shark Tale and Treasure Planet (one of my favourite Disney sci-fi animations).

Remember the animated beginnings of Disney’s Enchanted starring Amy Adams? Christophe was Art Director on the animation and produced memorable moments like this. Check out the video here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Vr8wU4aUsM

Colour script & art direction for Enchanted by Christophe Vacher

Christophe received an Annie Awards nomination (equivalent of an Academy Award for Animation) for his work on Tim Burton’s CG feature film 9. 9 has to be one of the best original animation features ever made and is one of my all time favourite dystopian movies. Check out the trailer and you’ll see why.

He worked as a visual development artist for Despicable Me before moving to Hasbro studios where he has won two Emmy Awards for Transformers Prime, the latest CG animated TV show from one of the most famous sci-fi franchises on the planet.

Colour and lighting design for a Visual Effects sequence in episode 19 by Christophe Vacher

All of these major achievements are a testament to Christophe’s professionalism and skill with his art. He is a legend in my book and I feel honoured to feature his work. While his career working for the biggest names in animation is mind blowing, his personal works of art are sublime. Below are my favourites.

Having laid your eyes on the images above you will be hungry for more.

Light up your coffee table with a copy of Christophe’s book of art here.

Check out his website at www.vacher.com

There are more samples of his fantastic work on his Deviant Art page too.

Sally Gottschalk

May 6, 2015 by Benjamin Descovich Leave a Comment

Sally Gottschalk (also known as Nigreda) is an artist who is opening up all avenues to succeed for the long term. Not only is her art spectacular, she is creating multiple channels for art lovers to engage with her work.

An artist lives or dies by the exposure the get, or in most cases, do not get.

Engaging with the world in as many ways as one can whilst producing new quality art is a tough task and I think Sally has the balance right. She is a freelance artist and also has her works for sale in many forms for a reasonable price. If you like an image, get it on your phone case or a throw pillow or a poster. Why let it shy away in a digital folder somewhere.

Show off the art you love.

Art lovers connecting with a piece is a sacred bond that is not easily found and seldom broken. I feel it’s like finding a friend who gets me. One that resonates with a secret part inside that I would not have recognised, if it weren’t for that special work of art. It’s like that rare bird I can really, truly and deeply relate to. Like this one.

Fire Bird - Sketch by Sally Gottschalk — Fire Bird – Sketch by Sally Gottschalk

There is a griffin in Dragon Choir that will make another appearance in forthcoming books. The fierce lady below reminds me of her. Just fantastic!

The river is calm for sailing on the surface, but in the deep there lurks a force to be reckoned with. Anyone relate to that?

The River's Heart by Sally Gottschalk — The River’s Heart by Sally Gottschalk

Present for the Birds by Sally Gottschalk

If you’ve enjoyed Sally’s artwork, get in touch with her and let her know like I did.

Follow her on Facebook or Deviant Art or buy her stuff at Society 6.

If you are looking for a solid artist for your next project, check out Sally’s website. She has worked on award winning games and with many different companies in multiple media.

If you’d like to become a patron of the arts check out Sally’s Patreon page.

Nikolai Ostertag

May 6, 2015 by Benjamin Descovich Leave a Comment

There is something about Niko’s art that captures the spirit of a fantasy adventure for me. His images ooze with the atmosphere of a swashbuckling romp. Makes me want to read an epic fantasy or get lost in an RPG. With a talent for capturing that spark of fate, that moment where all the bets are down and the die is cast, he is a talent worth having.

Check out these character concepts. Common Sellsword Concept is how I picture the main character in my upcoming novel. Kettna is a disgruntled mage who is sent to join the city guard. The fighter in this piece looks more confident with a spear than my Kettna would!

Common Sellsword Concept by Nikolai Ostertag

I just love animals and these anthropomorphised character creations really inspire me. I incorporate beast races in my fantasy world, Oranica, and these guys would fit right in.

Niko has so many more amazing images.

You have to check them out at Deviant Art.

Niko is a freelancer, so contact with him for your next commission.

His website is www.nikolai-ostertag.com

Musane

May 6, 2015 by Benjamin Descovich Leave a Comment

I’ve been lost in a dream of magic with Musane. Also known as Musa or Chimaera, Musane is a cryptic character who describes himself as a solitary illustrator. I am fortunate to have been given his attention, as he has been neck deep in illustration work for several French RPG projects.

The first is called Tiamat and the first two complete books are free to download. Follow their Facebook page here. Fantasy fans will love the mythological origins of the title here.

The next is called Soleil Noir (Black Sun), an RPG set in World War 2. It will be ready for release at the end of 2015. In the meantime Follow the Facebook page for updates.

Musane's Concept art for Kentaurus. — Musane’s Concept art sample for Kentaurus.

As if managing the artwork for two RPGs wasn’t enough, Musane is working on a third one in development called Kentaurus. It’s packing a solid intergalactic theme that sci-fi fiends will love.

Below are my favourites from his extensive portfolio. Would you believe this talent is self taught?

Samurai duel prepare to fight!!! by musa — Samurai duel prepare to fight!!! by Musa

Check out the creative world of Musa at Deviant Art

Oogle at his art on Instagram

Find out what he is up to and friend him on Facebook

Jan Spicka

May 2, 2015 by Benjamin Descovich Leave a Comment

Sometimes there is a call for my stories to dig in the dirt a little, get a little bloody and face the blemishes of a culture or a character. Jan Spicka’s art resonates with me for these moments of writing. I found it a visceral experience to look upon them, to investigate the lines and the meanings. His style reminds me of Matthias Grunewald and Hieronymus Bosch. It has that raw, mythic, totemic quality that punches with symbolism.

These are my favourites form a much larger body of work.

Forevermore I will be waiting on the shore by Jan Spicka

Felipe Escobar

Get over to Felipe’s website and check out his portfolio. www.fesbra.carbonmade.com

You can also find him here at Artstation.

While you are at it like his facebook page too and keep up to date with his work.