deviantART: balaa's

Apophis

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 14:51:37 PDT

"I say there is no darkness but ignorance."
~William Shakespeare
------
A personal painting that started as a speedpainting and became something of a companion to Aeturno: [link] . When I was little, I was infatuated with black holes. The event horizon always stole me away and I think in part, that small me is still standing there tirelessly wrapped in awe. The darkness instilled in me both fear and curiosity, the oldest fear, the one our bones know before we are even aware it is there . But the curiosity too, always to tempt it, to take one more step into the dark, to linger one more second. I raced the darkness and it wrought in me a self imposed exhilaration, an awareness of being alive. And then knowledge filled in the gaps and I understood better, only marginally, how truly encompassing the dark is and how little we know of its nature. We persist in our fear, standing before this dark precipice, wondering what demons plague that deep abyss. But I think it is not as wicked as our oldest nightmares, and likely as indifferent to our passing joys and sorrows as is the light.

Samiel is the personification of the night, the dark aspect of the universe that we are only beginning to learn to see with open eyes. Here, he emerges only for the briefest of moments, weaving his shadow through the light so we may see.

Tools: Photoshop, Wacom intuos tablet
Time: Haven't the foggiest (picked at it over the course of several months.)
Prints: Sure C:

Other places you can find me:
[link] : Tumblr for sketches and wip’s!
[link] : Twitter
[link] : Facebook: Works in progress, commercial, sketches, and more!
[link] : Online Store: Prints, originals, and more

Pyrite Sun

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 15:51:32 PDT

Life is an unfoldment, and the further we travel the more truth we can comprehend. To understand the things that are at our door is the best preparation for understanding those that lie beyond.

-Hypatia of Alexandria, circa AD 350-415

~~~~~~~~~
We have stood here once before, beneath the rising pyrite sun. Idled once we looked upon the light with awe but faltered we and failed ‘til darkness claimed our hearts for eons nigh. Yet hope remained, intrepid minds seeking through for light's salvation. Where ever the fool may not go, we stand here anew older and perchance wiser. The light is bold and cracks are worn in coats of moss. And we recall what once was lost, with weeping grace we brave her clandestine gaze to behold the starlight and beyond.
~~~~~~~~~

A larger personal painting whose idea was seeded by a startling and random inspiration. shared with me pictures of pyrite discs and I am not sure why in particular my fancy was so smitten by them but I decided to follow and see what story it would tell. It is interesting to tell that not all concepts start with a story as such, but as you create, the story seems to unravel before you. I think it is more exciting that way.

This painting was also a bit of a personal challenge in that I did not use any textures to help detail the rock surface. I guess I just wanted to see if I could do it and how long it would take. Well it took long enough but I am happy with the result!

Size: 5000x8000 at 300ppi
Time taken: Done over the course of a week
Prints: yes C: over yonder: [link] : Spira Mirabilis Store

Other places you can find me:
[link] : Tumblr for sketches and wip’s!
[link] : Twitter
[link] : Facebook: Works in progress, commercial, sketches, and more!
[link] : Online Store: Prints, originals, and more

Aeterno

Sun, 16 Sep 2012 13:00:38 PDT

Eadem mutata resurgo -"Changed and yet the same, I rise again." ~ Jakob Bernoulli (1654-1705)

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An old unfinished piece revisited. It is time to call it done so I can move on C:. A first color visit of a familiar yet eternally nebulous face. I hope in years to come to catch fragmented and precious glimpses of this divine.

Details:
size:12x18" at 300ppi
tools: Photoshop/wacom intuos 3
Prints: Of course! setting up an online storefront where folks can get affordable prints directly through me!

Morning Vale

Sun, 26 Aug 2012 14:06:03 PDT

My submission for the 2013 Werewolf Calendar. Pre-orders open on Sept 1st at 12 midnight CST, and the first 150 orders get a free sticker and bookmark too! You can also sign up for our mailing list and get wallpapers for your computer and phone, as well as updates and sneak peaks.

Visit The Official Website for Details!
Additionally you can follow the calendar on:
Twitter
Facebook

~~
Surprisingly I don't think I have ever painted wolf pups. Well it was a fun challenge. I'm not sure I quite caught the essence of childhood innocence and enthusiasm I wanted to convey, but it sure did take me back to when I was a wee one <:. I think I still approach the simple things in life with this same sense of unabashed wonder that I had when I was little. It is not unusual to find me staring transfixed at what to anyone else is not worth sparing a glance at..be it animal or mineral or otherwise .

Please check out the website and have a gander at the other magnificent submissions the calendar has gotten this year. It's so exciting and inspiring to see the new artworks flooding in for each new calendar year and reminds me to be grateful to continue to be a part of such an excellent project!

Details~~
Tools: Photoshop, Wacom Intuos 3
Size: 6000x4200 at 300ppi
_____________________________
Curious about seeing works in progress or random doodles or other silly artsy stuff I don't think to post elsewhere?

Welllpp follow me on my Tumblr for just that!

Frailty of Memory

Sun, 15 Jul 2012 18:55:08 PDT

~~~
"Frail is memory that once shone bright. The earthly body that faded then, has left her spirit from within to seek her place in hearts beyond. Recall the wind that blew her fore and held her aft. The sands collide and steal her breath so she may drown in lonliness.

But one persists when others cannot and lights her torch in memory, until the dawn and there still beyond. Persist frail memory when we cannot.
~~~

A personal piece and companion to: Persistence of Memory. Originally i created two concepts for the painting done for the magazine and though I chose one, the other still lingered and held me close. So between other projects I have been shaping this one, hoping to tease it's enigmatic visage to completion.

The story for both images is that of a spirit that shepherds memory, a white cheetah that lives in the heart of the Sahara. She wanders the lonely sloping dunes leaving the light of memory as her only tracks. But in the secret places where memory is being kindled into a flame that may last for eternity she transforms into a fragile lantern that fills the night with dappled dreams. And with the coming of the dawn she fades into the sand, her light lingering where she has walked.

I decided to slightly exaggerate some of her features for this painting, chiefly the long neck which is meant to cast her in a more supernatural light. The composition was deliberately more disconcerting than the open resolved composition in Persistence of Memory. Here her ritual has been interrupted by the viewer and she turns to look upon him. The viewer,with a mounting sense claustrophobia looks upon her with uncertainty, uncertain of her intent of the reason she shines.

Well anyway..that's what I was hoping to portray .

~~~
Tools: Photoshop
Size: 6200x3600 at 300dpi
PrintsL Sure, if there is interest <:
_____________________________
Curious about seeing works in progress or random doodles or other silly artsy stuff I don't think to post elsewhere?

Welllpp follow me on my Tumblr for just that!

In Dreams We Belong

Sun, 08 Jul 2012 16:22:13 PDT

In Dreams I heard a whisper of how the stars would come to be, that from the slumber of the deep dark they would come, rising from the sea. Alone you fell where the light forgot you, where the gull cry could not reach. In the bed of sea-grass you came home to me, the last shimmer of your light to rise as starlight through the sea's long night.

Dream beloved and let the dark be filled with light and in the nebula's languishing weave, we belong.

~ ∞ ~
I'll follow you through the fields
through the cities across the lands
through mountains and valleys
down to the beaches and sands
Into the ocean we will go
a mighty crescendo of cold
down and down...
but I have my prize
my prize of gold
my circlet of stone
down and down...
our path an endless song
as the stars come to take us...
to where we belong.
~ ∞ ~

First and foremost this is my first true collaboration with the amazingly talented Foxamoore whose patience and tireless inspiration has helped this piece find it's way to completion. It has been an astounding experience to work with him and has taken the creative process to a whole new level for me. Music has always fueled my work..and to have a piece created taylored to the artwork being created has been a profound experience that I hope to repeat again and again *nudges Fox!*. Fox Actually wrote two compositions for this piece and did several revisions of the final version. I was amazed at his speed and his energy in creating his work.

Please listen to his composition in tandem while viewing this piece:
♫~~~~ In Dreams We Belong Music ~~~~♫

A bit on the personal story of this piece. It was actually started late last year and was mired with indecision until I shared my progress with Fox and he suggested a collab. The piece, as with the music, evolved in meaning and direction as it came together.

The idea originally started with the story of a woman who lost her beloved to the sea and would wander the shores making circlets of stone and driftwood in homage to her lost beloved until one day she came no more. In the story she fell to the bottom of the sea where the sea-grass held her close and she was reunited with her lost love at last. Another idea diverged from here stemming from my fascination with both the ocean and the stars. In it I likened the sea with the sky and imagined that the stars were born in the lonely dark of the ocean and rose from it's cold depths to populate the sky. The final iteration rests somewhere between these two stories...but really it is just a lucid dream of the spirit.

I hope you all enjoy the journey painted by our collaborative effort..

Tools: Photoshop, wacom intuos
Size: 9000x4288 at 300dpi
Prints: yes

_____________________________
Curious about seeing works in progress or random doodles or other silly artsy stuff I don't think to post elsewhere?

Welllpp follow me on my Tumblr for just that!

Persistence of Memory

Fri, 18 May 2012 17:37:33 PDT

"The sand comes in undulating whispers, serpentine lines consuming memory and becoming a single sweeping timeless thought. But she too comes with the sand, a lingering persistent memory marking this place in time. And then she departs as silent as she came with only the light to mark her passage; A mirage, a feeling, folded into the cavalcade of sand."

*~~~~*

This piece was done on commission for the lovely Digital Artist Magazine who gave me the fantastic opportunity to write an article for the magazine detailing my process. The editor was simply outstanding and really welcoming of my ideas. And by heck I learned a lot myself doing this!

This was an idea that had been bobbling about in my head for a long time, though it's various forms all vague and nebulous until this opportunity presented itself. I truly hope someone walks away from the article learning something or even moreso..feeling inspired to create something!

The idea is inspired, in part, by imagery of a town in the Namib desert called Kolmanskop that is slowly being devoured by the surrounding desert. For me it presents an eerie and unsettling feeling because I am so used to seeing more ancient looking buildings in such scenarios, but the buildings in the town are fairly modern thus leading to the haunting feeling. The second idea is images I have come across to what is, at least from the reading I have found, a new subspecies of cheetah that is thought to live in the Sahara desert (The Saharan cheetah). Images of the elusive cat are sparse and most are blurry grayscale captures by a night camera depicting a thin long legged cat that looks almost like a ghostlike apparition. So in the end the two inspirations joined together to form the above imagery. The cheetah is not quite thin enough to be a Saharan cheetah, and it's spots are too pronounced..but I sprinkled a little bit of personal fantasy into the mix.

I hope you folks enjoy it as much as I enjoyed painting it! There is a sister piece I am hoping to do that will accompany this image C=.

If you want to read the article, it is in issue 33 of Digital Artist Magazine, the May issue in the UK and I believe it is released a month later here in the US. Included with the article are the brushes I used C:. You can find the magazine at: Digital Artist Magazine Website. The magazine also features fantastic articles from other artists you may be familiar with, specifically (for those of you as confused by the mystery that is Corel painter!)

Also ps, the image title is actually inspired by the title of an episode of Cosmos, which may have been inspired by the Dali painting (I couldn't say!)
~~~~~~~~~
tools: Photoshop and Wacom Intuos 3
Size:5500x3600 at 300 dpi
Refs: [link] cheetah pose courtesy of Victoria Hughes of Deadwood Digital. Many many photos for Kolmanskop([link] & [link] & [link] & [link] & [link] & [link] & [link] & [link] & [link] & [link] ), more for the sand, sky, and everything else C:!

Intent

Fri, 09 Mar 2012 17:26:23 PST

A long overdue badge commission, so added a little extra elbow grease to make up for the wait (I hope!). Been trying to approach commissions with a different mindset so tried a lot of random fun things on this piece and in the end had a good time of it!

_____________________________
Curious about seeing works in progress or random doodles or other silly artsy stuff I don't think to post elsewhere?

Welllpp follow me on my Tumblr for just that!

Grace of Undomiel

Fri, 02 Mar 2012 11:45:25 PST

The Grace of Undómiel
Howard Shore
* ~~~ *
Ngîl cennin eriel vi
Menel aduial,
Glingant sui mîr
Síliel mae.

Ngîl cennin firiel vi
Menel aduial,
Dúr, dúr i fuin
Naenol mae.

An i ú nathant
An i naun ului
A chuil, anann cuiannen
A meleth, perónen

I saw a star rise high in the
Evening sky,
It hung like a jewel,
Softly shining.

I saw a star fade in the
Evening sky,
The dark was too deep and so light died,
Softly pining.

For what might have been,
For what never was.
For a life, long lived
For a love half given

* ~~~ *

In actuality this is an older piece that of late caught up with me and the urge to finish it could not be quelled. There was always a persistence of melancholy about this image, but it never felt guided or 'right' until now. I had a daydream and saw his eyes and knew I had to revisit him and let him know life, if even in the single moment captured in this image...though pale, hope yet lingers.

original: [link]

tools: photoshop cs5, wacom intuos 3
size: 9000x5333 at 300 dpi
prints: small and large format will be available

_____________________________
Curious about seeing works in progress or random doodles or other silly artsy stuff I don't think to post elsewhere?

Welllpp follow me on my Tumblr for just that!

Prydwen: Gods and Monsters cover

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 13:10:02 PST

This is a cover I was privileged enough to get a chance to design for the lovely, aweeesome and super sweet for her comic story Prydwen. I love designing things in general, the process is far different from painting and a lot of it is just playing with all the elements until they start to click in place. So it always feels more like play than work. Thanks for the chance hon, hope the comic is a huge success, you deserve it! She did the sketches for the front and back art and I designed/illustrated the rest. This is not the final final design that went to press, the editor did some final tweaks C=.

~~~

If you are interested in finding out more about the epic story and maybe snagging your own copy please visit sofawolf's website to find out more and pre-order either a hardcover or softcover copy to own! I can't wait to get mine C=!

Hardcover: [link]

Softcover: [link]

And if you want to follow the comic, which is still being written, please visit: Read Prydwen Online!

Savuti: An Introduction

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 12:59:01 PST

(ooop, forgot to post this here! A sort of introduction to something I have been working on in my free time. I don't want to say more than that since talk, as they say, is cheap! )

An introduction.

~
As the coils of the snake are written into the folding and crossing lines of sand, their end and their beginning neither to be known, as are our lives. And as the wind blows and sweeps the snake's path clean, the story is forgotten and at last told anew.

..though, never the same way again.
~

Sands of Creation

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 13:15:42 PST

She was white like the sands, tawny like the sands, solitary and burning like the sands.--Honore de Balzac, Passion in the Desert

This is a piece that breathed it's own unequivocal meaning as it came to be; With this sentience it became a demanding mistress, unrelenting and even cruel. But such is the way with some paintings. I cannot say it is my best, the problem with painting certain recurring ideas that exist in our conscious mind is the subconscious is always rewriting them even as we paint them, editing away ideas deemed superfluous and embellishing upon ideas left understated in earlier ruminations. In honesty I could probably spend eternity revisiting this piece, but it is time to move on to the new ideas that breath with molten breath against my muse. I promise to one whose name I dare not utter, next time I will do better <:.
~~~~
Tools: Photoshop CS5, Wacom Intuos 3
Size: 7773x4371 px at 300dpi
Prints: yes C:!

Dive

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 12:00:36 PST

Something that started as something more humble but decided to grow a bit in scale C:. This is my half of a trade with the very patient and lovely hawaiianstile who made me a beautiful and extremely dangerous sharktooth pendant (and there's really no safe way of storing it, I discovered !). Since Keone loves to dive, I knew I wanted to depict his character under water from the start but I just never knew what I wanted to do. As always this started with a bunch of waffling about in photoshop..I got a bit carried away with this piece, but I hope you enjoy it ^_^. I am habitually slow with art trades and hence why I usually don't take them, or if I do, request that the other party finish their half after I finish mine ;D!. The fish are Teardrop Butterflyfish which can be found in the waters around Hawaii.

Details:
size:4320x2700 at 300dpi
tools:Photoshop and wacom intuos 3
time taken:? broken up over a few days between other things
Recommended Listening: DJ Encore
_____________________________
Curious about seeing works in progress or random doodles or other silly artsy stuff I don't think to post elsewhere?

Welllpp follow me on my Tumblr for just that!

Lumen Spiritus

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 16:20:27 PST

This was actually something for work that got rejected a long time ago but I felt bad throwing out because I kinda liked. Came across it a few weeks ago and tweaked it a bit, figured I'd toss it up here c:. Horse anatomy will always confuse me, so for all you equine fans, please forgive me eeep!

Divine Cradle

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 16:41:31 PST

Drifting into the realm of being, the Egyptian God Duamutef, son of Horus, is born into life within the cradle of a Lotus.

~~~~

A long overdue collaborative commission between myself and Lorien for the excellent and supremely patient Duamutef.

I rarely take commissions these days as my everyday work has me fairly backlogged and I still owe a few older pieces(eep), but sometimes a piece comes along that just begs you to answer the call. So was the case with this one. Even from conception, after hearing the idea, I immediately felt the ache to color the vision. Lorien provided the beautiful sketch upon which we could realize this vision fully. I sometimes struggle with the sketch stage and just want to paint, so thankfully I was spared that and could just release myself into the embrace of color and light.

This is one piece I could tinker on forever and it finally took being shaken and verbally scolded(many times) into calling it done .

Size: 6000x3750pixels at 300dpi
Tools: Photoshop & Wacom Intuos 3
Time Taken: errrr?
Close Up: [link]
Recommended Listening: The Fountain Soundtrack

Beautiful Death

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 18:13:21 PDT

Something of a Speedpaint I started following soon after the BP/Deep Water Horizon Oil Spill last year ([link]). I managed to reach a stalemate in the painting process and it managed to get buried under a mountain of files. I felt bad leaving this one unfinished, so decided to finish it up recently in an effort to try and get back into my painting groove.

The idea is simple, the worst of the damage done will not always be immediately visible..

Precipice

Sun, 23 Oct 2011 15:22:17 PDT

"Though rare, some werewolves have resorted to living in high altitudes to avoid human encroachment. These Werewolves, often several generations old, have become well adept to the freezing and dangerous living conditions experienced on rocky mountain terrains. Adept climbers, these werewolves can easily bound after mountain goats and other mountain dwelling prey, with the ease of agility that does not often come naturally to species of canids. Using their strong upper body arms and opposable thumbs, werewolves pose as great a threat to large mountain ungulates as the keenly graceful snow leopards of the Himalayas. Expanded lung capacity needed to process and ingest the low levels of oxygen at high altitudes make mountain dwelling werewolves formidably strong. This combined with the incredibly athletic build as a result of the constant physical exertion of balancing and leaping from rocky face to rocky face make this werewolf among the strongest of his ilk. Thick coats insulate these graceful hunters from the sapping cold and attack of fellow predators. "

My contribution to the Werewolf Calendar

The Calendar is currently available for pre-order until November 18th after which time a limited supply will be available for direct purchase. So if you would like one, it is always best to pre-order your copy now! You may order it here: Purchase!.

Thank you to all that have bought a copy, this year and in previous years. This is now the 5th anniversary of the calendar and we are eager to see it into it's 10th! Thank you all for making it what it is and bringing into it your enthusiasm and sharing your love of the werewolf with us. You make this calendar what it is and what it will become!

Personal Note:
Recently I have been fascinated with the Tibetan culture and history. A great deal of beauty and pain is evident in the people and though their struggle persists there is a resilient hopefulness in them. The use of vibrant colors in their artistic heritage seems almost at odds with the reality of their world. With this piece I wanted to depict my werewolves living high in the Himalayas in the plunging cold and upon the precipice. The lighting was struck upon accidentally but it seemed to click. I hope you folks enjoy.

Lastly, It has been sometime since my last upload, and that seems to be what I say every time I upload these days! Thank you again to all you patient folks and all the lovely comments asking when I would update again. Truth be told I have a lot of things in the works behind the scenes but my day job and a recent trip has eaten into my time quite a fair amount as tends to happen and it has just kept me from being active online. I hope I will find a balance again soon as I used to get so much from sharing my work and it was a great motivator in and of itself! Thank you all C:

Latent Bloom

Sun, 03 Apr 2011 17:00:57 PDT

EDIT: Sorry for the update! I finally got a decent monitor and realize this looked NOTHING like I originally intended it to look! I can't believe how awful it looked! This is a more accurate representation of what I was going for when I painted this.

Let me know how this looks on your screens folks..over contrasted, too bright, too dark, not enough exposure etc? Still getting used to this new monitor!

before

'A wash of satin petals wake her into her dream, wearing her hope upon their fragile lifted sails as they guide her deeper into her waiting heart. What does she wonder at as she slumbers beneath the cascading blooms? Does she know how sublimely she does bloom? Or how bold her light lifts up the cloak of night to peer into the sanguine dawn beyond? May she then know that the blooms are merely harbingers of what she may be, that she may dare to wake to them; To see her resplendent dreams woven upon her in satin petals of a secret heart.'

~~~~

This is a more loose piece than most for me. In truth, this is actually a quite old sketch. I was sifting through unfinished loose sketches, trying to clear out some clutter, and came across one I instantly recalled with a vivid flash. The original sketch was actually quite inspired by Alector Fencer . Her work is a constant source of inspiration to me and a reminder to stay on course and stay true to my heart in my art. This is something she never seems to falter with, her vision is consistently bold and blazing with soul and life. Thank you! This is the way I see your heart, someone ever blooming and if I may hope for one thing is that you wake to see your own blooms.

I do not think it would be entirely fair to call this gift art as it came to be driven by selfish motivation as well, but as I painted it, it came to mean something more intimate to me and if I may, I would like to dedicate it to you Alector and to my beloved Bagheera whom, with each new day, in turn, teaches me to bloom and nurtures that bloom so it may never wither. Thank you both for your guiding inspiration in the driving parts of my life.

Ceremonial Repose

Mon, 11 Oct 2010 11:58:42 PDT

'Ceremonial Repose' for the 2011 Werewolf Calendar

"Werewolf courtship and mating can be a beautifully elaborate and dangerous time of werewolf's life. Wild werewolf males will compete for female attention through extensively elaborate displays of body painting and hand crafted jewelry as well as tiresome marathons of dancing displays meant to lure the attention of individual females. Werewolves will braid their pelts and adorn them with multicolor ribbons of beads made from different materials. When dancing, beads of glass, wood, and stone will rub and hit against each other eliciting a rhythmic sound meant to accompany their individual courtship dance. Feathers of birds native to the region, often dyed with naturally found pigments, will also be braided into and attached to their pelt. As wild werewolves require camouflage to hunt, they will rarely adorn themselves with wildly colorful displays of jewelry and feathers thus making courtship all the more a special event in werewolf life; a chance for each werewolf to stand out as an individual."

Orders are now open for this unique project, now in it's 4th year of publication thanks to folks like you! If you want to find out more about the project, purchase, or just see the other artwork's in this year's calendar, please visit us at: The Official Werewolf Calendar website

Orders are open until November 12th of this year, after which only a very limited number of calendars may be available.

~~~~~~
Having always avoided the 'Native American' flavor of werewolves, for fear of trespassing on other's foundations of the idea, I have decided to give it a go this time around as the idea presented itself very strongly. Hope you folks enjoy. This has been sitting around more or less finished for sometime, but I wasn't happy with some of the minor details until now C:.

Technical Details:
Size: 6300 x 4500 pixels at 300 dpi
Tools: Photoshop and wacom intuos 3
Prints: At a later date

Thank you for stopping by to have a look!

Upon the Shores of an Epoch

Sat, 28 Aug 2010 00:44:06 PDT

My contribution to the fantastic RARE Anthro Calendar, currently in it's second year! This year's calendar highlights both some of the more well known and some of the less known about species that have gone extinct.

I managed to luck out and actually got a chance to illustrate a Homotherium, which is one of my very favorite of the sabertoothed cats. I'm not sure I managed to capture the anatomy as elegantly as I would have liked, but I was ecstatic to be able to work on something, more or less, for myself and be able to submit it to such a great project! I wish I had more time to work on this, but alas been plowed by deadlines left and right along with a lot of goings on in my life x]!

This calendar IS available for pre-sale RIGHT now, but the presales close August 31st, after which only a limited number of calendars will be available as private sales through artists. The number available after pre-sales is undetermined, so if you want to ensure owning one, please do purchase one now! Thank you to all of you in advance, ordering information is at: Order Here before Sept 1st

Details:
size: 5000x3500pixels at 300 dpi
tools: Photoshop and Intuos 3
prints: will announce at a future date!

Thanks all! Im sorry my uploads seem to be more and more spaced apart! Ive been staying incredibly busy and haven't had much time for personal art between projects! I still haunt DA whenever I can, just don't have the chance to share as much as I'd like to. In anycase, miss ya all!

Black Porcelain

Mon, 31 May 2010 15:47:29 PDT

I feel terrible posting anything Ive done for myself as Im behind with other art atm, but this was such a quick painting and I wanted to share. the last few months have been busy doing company projects..and as always I walked into them thinking they would be less time consuming than they turned out to be! So I haven't done anything I can share in the longest time. I have a tiny break between projects and hopefully I can use it to catchup a bit.

The past weekend I was also stuck tending to my folks mastiff kennel and between the manic chores for whatever reason the mood for something black and purple began to tail me so starting with a blank black canvas, this emerged. No under sketches, just straight to color. This reaffirmed in me that I am a lousy sketcher. I have a hard time grasping form when working with lineart, ie sketches, but blocking in forms with solid color and chiseling away at the detail from there, that I understand. The original was an hour speedpaint, but I went in and refined the concept a bit, spending an additional few hours on it. Still a quickie by my standards! Wasn't sure whether I even liked it, but a few friends said (WAY TO) lovely things..so I figured I'd share.

size: Original was about 1000 pixels across, doubled that for the final
time: 3-4 hrs
tool: PS and intuous3

Gloaming

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:20:34 PDT

This was a piece done for The Werewolf Calendar which is now available for pre-order which just over a month to go before orders close. The calendar features some simply exquisite artwork created specifically for the calendar. The vision of this project is to portray werewolves more as 'real' animals in a manner meant to mimic traditional wildlife calendars. Our only hope is that this calendar can bring a little bit of joy and imagination to anyone that hangs it on their walls C:. We are not looking to compete with or best other visions of werewolves as they all have equal value, but merely want to present this particular vision of the werewolf.

An accompanying info blurb: "Werewolves in west Asia and South America often leave the cities in favor of the dense and often unexplored jungles. Wild wolves in India have long been hunted to extinction, though alleged sightings of wolves in the jungle still persist to this day. It is believed that these sightings are not of wild wolves but more likely werewolves, though photo documentation has not yet surfaced. Werewolves residing in such regions often choose to make their home in ancient ruins of temples and shrines perhaps as a means to keep a link to their human side, or simply because such places offer good vantage points for hunting and shelter suitable for raising a family. Werewolves will abandon these homes if threatened, though in rare cases, such as if their pups are too young to safely move to a new location, they have been known to defend their dens against intruders."

~~~~~
It was technically finished sometime ago but for my own reasons was a piece I was just very unhappy with, despite the amount of time spent on it. There are things I like, but as the artist, I guess all we tend to see is our own shortcomings when it comes to anything create. But it is my hope that others can take away more from it than I can.. I think for me it is one of those pieces that, no matter how much i work it, I will never find satisfaction with it.

(Various photo textures from a variety of sources were used in the background to give the temple a deeper sense of texture)

Thank you for looking and if you go so far, buying the calendar!!

Serenity

Fri, 11 Sep 2009 13:37:25 PDT

'Serenity'

Something I needed to do for myself between other projects and my work desktop crashing twice in the last month.

What to say about the piece? A different kind of gryphon C:. Inspired by swans, snow leopards, snowy owls and the critter from Trico, the sequel to Shadow of the Colossus. This took longer than expected...though it's very minimalistic. Originally intended to have either flower blossoms, leaves or lilypads floating in the water but in the end decided it would just distract from the clean minimalistic look I originally intended.

Specs:
size: 30"x20" at 200dpi (computer couldn't handle more)
tools: Wacom Bamboo & PS CS3
Prints: yes!

Captivated Wilderness

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 11:08:18 PDT

This is a piece of promotional art done up for the Werewolf Calendar, an annual publication, dedicated to the beauty and diversity of Werewolf Lore. The calendar will be available for pre-sales as of Sept, 1st of this year. In the meantime you can sign up to receive e-mail updates on the calendar and exclusive sneak peeks of art before it's released publicly, as well as bonus material that will not be released anywhere else.

We are very excited about the artists on staff this year and the art we are seeing come in! Check out the list of artists and the WIP's at:

Visit the Werewolf Calendar Website Today!

See the bookmark here at: [link]

~~~~
Tools: Photoshop CS3, wacom Bamboo
Size: 4500x1950 at 300dpi
Prints: yes

Fearful Beauty

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 18:27:03 PDT

Dangerous Intimacy, fearful beauty.

This is actually an unfinished piece from...oooh looks like November of 2007. I have had various personal and health issues that have been keeping me fairly tied up and so there are a good few pieces sitting unfinished on my pc. This was one I suddenly felt the need to finish and I am happy I did so as I think it lit a well needed fire in me...or at least a flame anyway.

Thank you to all those that continue to follow this account and to give your valuable time to stop by and look at my work. You remind me why I should continue to share and create this work..

(The character depicted is my liger self/totem etc, though her features have shifted to become more Tigonish in nature.)

Details:
Size: 5700x3500 pixels at 300 dpi
Tools: Wacom Bamboo and PS CS3
Original sketch: [link]
detail shots: [link] , [link]
Prints: absolutely

Endangered Ark: Sanguine

Thu, 09 Apr 2009 11:01:46 PDT

Snow leopard: Uncia uncia or Panthera Uncia

My second contribution to the unique project entitled Endangered Ark, a fantastic playing card deck featuring a variety of the world's endangered animal species and for a wonderful cause as well! 10% of all proceeds raised from card deck sales will be contributed to the World Wildlife Fund and the World Parrot Trust. This collectors art deck features 52 endangered species from 20 different talented artists.

Presales are still occuring now but for how much longer presale decks will be available, I cannot say. So place your order today!

More information and a gallery of all the art in the deck can be found at: Endangered Ark Card Deck

Endangered Ark: Beacon

Thu, 09 Apr 2009 10:59:21 PDT

Blue Whale: Balaenoptera musculus

My first contribution to the unique project entitled Endangered Ark, a fantastic playing card deck featuring a variety of the world's endangered animal species and for a wonderful cause as well! 10% of all proceeds raised from card deck sales will be contributed to the World Wildlife Fund and the World Parrot Trust. This collectors art deck features 52 endangered species from 20 different talented artists.

Presales are still occuring now but for how much longer presale decks will be available, I cannot say. So place your order today!

More information and a gallery of all the art in the deck can be found at: Endangered Ark Card Deck

In the Burning Sky

Fri, 06 Feb 2009 13:16:52 PST

'In the Burning Sky'

A portrait commission for of his character Feuer. I hope this is angry enough for ya .

Finally catching up with past due stuff and trying to stay up to date from now on. In the past couple of years I have been consistently behind with everything and so have only taken a very small number of commissions. So this year's resolution has been to simply catch up and stay caught up! So far things are goin' well and I am feeling good about myself for a change.

The anatomy on the jaw is off, I know...canines are still not my strong suit x). But I had fun with the colors and lighting on this one.

~~~~
Prints: 8x10 available upon request.

Himalaya Sunset

Sun, 14 Dec 2008 11:32:26 PST

Another quick painting from last night but returning a bit to a more familiar subject, just with a fresh approach. The lighting isn't perfect I don't think but I wasn't aiming for perfection, just a more pronounced mood than is usual for my work. All done in ps, start to finish, no sketching for the snowy, just straight painting.

tools: PS cs2, wacom Bamboo
Size: 1300x2000 at 200dpi
time: 3-4 hours
Prints: same as with my other speedpaints, if requested C:

Erthestral

Sat, 13 Dec 2008 17:45:36 PST

Originally I started this as a speedpainting last night. Started with a solid soft pink background and just started spattering around colors until a mountain range took form and it all went from there.

I realize the composition isn't very dynamic, but then that is one thing I will be trying to better through my speedpaints.

I also know this isn't my typical subject but I hope that isn't a bad thing as I have so been enjoying these quick loose paintings. You know how sometimes you feel some part of your heart is locked away from your own eyes and once you discover it, you knew what you were missing all along? I think these series of paintings have given me that soothing sense of realization and elation.

Time taken: 4-5 hours
size: 2300x1500 at 200dpi
prints: ? I guess...if there is interest

Other speedpaints to be found in my scraps: [link]

I post a LOT to my scraps and I am sure many other artists do as well so it is a good idea to watch people's scraps..never know what you will discover [:

Deep Sky

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 03:49:08 PST

Since some folks asked why there wasn't a tiger in the last series . I actually intended to do a tiger in the exact same style but I deviated. I am not sure why, maybe something as silly as I wanted to paint hearts on a tiger again and a starry background. Who could tell!?!

I don't feel it fits in with the series in anycase, more refined in detailing, different use of light and all that jazz.

Medium: Acrylic, acrylic ink on hotpress watercolor paper
size: I believe it's about 4x7.5"...but it may be smaller or slightly bigger.
prints: not sure!

Consulting the heavens

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 18:21:25 PST

These were done sometime ago now, aside from the one on the far right which is a more recent private commission. I figured I ought to post them finally!

All done on hot press watercolor paper, acrylic and micron. Just fun little quick paintings, all roughly 4x6".

Will likely be moved to scraps later.

White Solitude

Sat, 01 Nov 2008 14:49:35 PDT

2009 Werewolf Calendar

~~~~~

Arctic werewolves live in significantly colder climates, often in the arctic circle. They spend more of their time in beast form than other werewolves, to make optimal use of their fur. They have thicker fur and bodies, and shorter ears. They can afford to be near or even in their homes this way because of the sparse population in the area.

Order your copy of this wonderful collection of unique art from a diverse body of artists. Ordering ends November 21st, so get your copy before they are gone forever!!!

~~~~~

December in the 2009 Werewolf Calendar. I was going for a heavily minimalistic and cold feeling with this piece but hopefully it isn't boring as is. I hemmed and hawed about adding body jewelry/paint etc but decided it would ruin the minimalistic setting. For that matter, IF werewolves existed, those living so far north with scarce populations of other werewolves would have little need for tattoos or body jewelry. Secondly, Werewolves would likely identify each other by scent not unlike wolves and body jewelry might also cause fur matting, which would leak precious heat from the body and/or break camouflage in hunts. But my primary goal was for the viewer to first think it was a regular arctic wolf, but upon closer inspection realize the limb proportions were not right for that.

Tools: Acrylic paint/ink on arches watercolor paper
Time taken: ? no idea!
Size: 12" x 18"
Digital mock-up: [link]

Stardust

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 20:41:49 PDT

"What do stars do? They shine."

~~~
The last year has been spent catching up with..myself mostly and all the things I have had sitting on the backburner. This piece is actually even older than that, probably closer to a year and a half old. I came across it today while resorting files and something struck me and I decided to finish it.

I chose to title it Stardust for several reasons, most of them being really fairly sentimental. But also, I do see eyes as being so grand and endless in their depth..so I suppose they are a bit like outer space..

Onto specs.
Tools: Photoshop cs3, tablet pen
Time Taken: ? I wouldn't even try to guess
Size: 6000x4400 pixels at 250 dpi
Prints: yes, sans watermark

~~~
Now off to catch up on the million other things I have sitting around me. Thanks for stopping by, I missed being a more frequent face on DA!

Walking on the Sky

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 11:24:28 PDT

Wanted to do something to cheer up whom is goin through a bit of a rough patch and she has always been such a good friend. Originally wanted to draw her anthro char Proudfoot but lately been in a more quad mood. I hope this cheers you up a tiny bit hon!! *hugs*

This idea popped into my head while working on my werewolf painting and I HAD to get it out on 'aper', if you will. The idea is a little fennec walking across a desert that's just had a bountiful rainfall.

Enjoy!

Tools: Open canvas, tablet, ps cs3
Size: 20"x9"
time taken: ? done yesterday between other projects
Prints: yes.

EDIT: download for larger view.

Simbelmyne

Tue, 06 May 2008 19:56:42 PDT

'Simbelmynë'

Been trying to convince myself to work more real media again. Before I ever touched digital I worked in acrylic..colored pencil and pastel. But that was looong long ago and I have since gotten very rusty.

The problem, for me, with real media is...space. I do not have the space to work real media. My living quarters are fairly cramped and sooo though I have an art desk..it is usually buried under my pile of art/framing supplies. and so usually my bed serves as my impromptu desk...which works..but I tend to get frustrated with the long setup/breakdown times :/...and it also prevents me from working big. I often lose motivation to paint once I start setting up. But I was determined to at least finish one real media piece to showcase at Califur..and so here she is.

"Simbelmynë"
size: 12x6"
medium: acrylic and acrylic ink on hot press watercolor paper.
Prints: 8x10 upon request (10$ US +s&h)

Lune's Lament

Sun, 04 May 2008 00:19:04 PDT

I could not post this until now . Cover art for I was privileged to do for a literary anthropomorphic themed magazine called Renard's Menagerie. You may visit the site to find out more about the magazine at: [link]

The cover imagery is meant to depict one of the stories from the issue.

Well this was a challenge in more ways than one. I don't typically paint people for one..and of course wolves aren't something often seen from me as well but overall I really enjoyed painting this piece and learning as I went along. Some stock photos were also used to mesh with the painted elements. I have been leery of using stock photos in combination with painted elements as I still have mixed feelings on the matter...but even that in itself turned out to be a learning experience. I also worked smaller than I usually do for such paintings.

Size: 10x6.5" at 300 dpi
Tools: photoshop & graphics tablet
Time: ? Can't really say
Prints: 8x10 available through my, 10$ plus S&H, pm or e-mail me if interested

Critique: I welcome constructive criticism but I am also fully aware of the flaws in this piece..as I have been sitting on it for over a year now!

Even in Places of Light

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 14:07:07 PDT

...there is darkness.

'Ascending from the torpid nightmares of long ago, the slings of the past chime to break the serenity of this sacred place. A heavy umbra swings as an undulating pendulum of remnant despair.'

A newish pencil piece done this past month . I actually had quite the battle with this one. I tend to flip my images once they are scanned, to weed out any asymmetry issues or imbalances in the composition. Well the negative space in this one certainly ate away at me. Ironically, that was how I pictured it in my mind but sometimes ideas fill in blanks as you work on this piece. Well in the end I realized I LIKED it this way. The imbalance of negative space creates a feeling of unease, tension and dissonance..which works well with my original intent for the piece. I want the viewer to feel the warmth of this place but also feel something is off..wrong..that being the weight of memories on the character's shoulders.

Well That's the idea anyway.

Character copyright
Size: 11x14
Medium: graphite on smooth vellum
Prints: 8x10 yes, LE large prints may be offered at a later date.
Watermark: sorry guys, tried to make it as unobtrusive as possible.

Bengal: King of Diamonds

Thu, 27 Sep 2007 19:33:04 PDT

King of Diamonds, Bengal tiger card for an upcoming cat themed playing card deck. Scheduled for release at Further Confusion 2008.

Note: this is quicker looser work than my usual, but hopefully it doesn't look horribly sloppy!

~~~
Tools: Photoshop, wacom graphite
Time taken: ?
Prints: yes 8x10 through me for 10$ + shipping.

Nautilus

Mon, 04 Jun 2007 14:11:58 PDT

It has been a long time! Life has kept me fairly busy and my muse has decided frolicking in the gorgeous weather is far more enthralling than allowing me to draw. But my spirit is being rejuvinated and so I suppose the time away has done me good. Thank you for those that left me messages that they missed my work, it has meant a lot!

I'm not sure explaining the piece itself would serve much of a purpose. So what I will say is how beautiful I find all of nature to be. There is such profound elegance and perfection in the simplest designs found on earth. I chose the Nautilus shell for this piece as the striping pattern on them reminded me strongly of the stripes on a tiger, not to mention how ancient the imagery of the spiral shell is. The idea was merely how nature repeats similar themes throughout its creations, big and small..thus connecting each . The rest of the elements in the piece go along the same theme of connecting the natural world. As for why I chose a tiger and not some other animal, well of course my heart's passion is for big cats and so...I surmise they will always be a primary subject in my personal work.

This piece is meant to be loose and not constricted by any rules! The original will appear in the Anthrocon 2007 Artshow in July.

Thank you in advance for looking and commenting .

Time taken: ? I really don't know! A WHILE anyway.
Tools: mechanical pencil, tourtillons, q-tips on smooth bristol.
Size: 11x14"
Prints: yes, unwatermarked. 8x10 available through me for 8$ plus shipping.

King of Hearts

Sat, 02 Dec 2006 01:29:15 PST

In his kingom we stand together,
each heart with strength
divinity
hope
and
love

~~~

So odd the trails that inspiration decides to take. I was sitting on the couch, more or less doing nothing but vaguely skimming across the newest deviations, but my conscious attention was outside, walking with quiet thoughtful steps along the snowy sidewalk. A soft snow was falling, and I was just content to exist. Then this idea came, lunging, screeching and screaming out of the calm. And so..I, surprised and rather taken aback, decided to follow it..curious to see where..if anywhere it would take me.

The snow stopped and melted that night, but somewhere it remained with me as I painted it.

Now to decipher my words. I usually don't paint stuff like this, especially with the bright booold saturated colors I used here. But, it was a good experiment..if not frustrating at times. I think I was inspired by a multitude of things, mostly deviations here on DA..some of tigers...but mostly photography. I saw a good deal of overexposed photos and for whatever reason they stuck with me..I loved the drastic contrasts in color and the dominance of white in composition and wanted..if anything to try and paint something somewhat similar. So I did.

I am not altogether sure what I think of the piece. I can't even say if I like it or hate it, might just take me some time to digest it to find a verdict.

SO here he is, King of Hearts. Take him as he is..like it hate it..I suppose really art is just like anything, one man's trash is another man's treasure.

~~~
time taken: ? really don't even want to take a guess

Tools: original sketch in pencil, ps for color

Size: 6000x4000 pixels at 200 dpi

Prints: yes, 8x10 sold privately through me for 10$ plus shipping. Note me if interested .

Critique: discouraged, I probably won't return to this and chances are I may well not do pieces like this in the future since it was experimental.

In the Embrace of Dawn

Sun, 05 Nov 2006 10:28:00 PST

A private commission thats been a bit overdue! This year has been so full of ups and downs, I've just not been an overall reliable commissioner to deal with. HOPEFULLY that will change or I'm afraid I will have to stop taking commissions. For all those that have been waiting on me in one fashion or another, I'm sorry folks, I am trying to sort out things and get back into my normal groove.

A pair of lovers bask in the secluded warmth of an early morning sun. This piece took quite some time, and was, more than anything, a learning process. Mostly I learned 1. refine your sketch before you jump into painting it, or pay the consequences later. Go me for being a slow learner. 2. More is less, ugh I always end up learning the easier ways to do things after I end up making a ton of mistakes. Eh oh well. I had fun painting these 2 guys, and yes one of them is a grey tiger with red eyes, not a shadow saturated white tiger XD!

As always, there are things I wish I had done differently, things that drive me NUTS in the final piece and etc. But one must learn when to stop working on a piece for fear of losing their sanity or ruining the piece with frustration.

Technical Details:

Time taken: ?
Size: 20x30 inches at 300 dpi
Prints: yes, jumbo prints available in limited numbers, 8x10 prints 10$ US plus 3$ shipping & handling within the continental US (pm me if interested)
Watermark: eh unfortunately yes, printed version will be watermark free.

Critique discouraged for this piece since I a don't intend to go back and work on it again. Helpful critique to keep in mind for future pieces is ALWAYS welcome .

Fearful Symmetry

Tue, 19 Sep 2006 17:12:20 PDT

The Tiger
By William Blake

TIGER, tiger, burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?

In what distant deeps or skies
Burnt the fire of thine eyes?
On what wings dare he aspire?
What the hand dare seize the fire?

And what shoulder and what art
Could twist the sinews of thy heart?
And when thy heart began to beat,
What dread hand and what dread feet?

What the hammer? what the chain?
In what furnace was thy brain?
What the anvil? What dread grasp
Dare its deadly terrors clasp?

When the stars threw down their spears,
And water'd heaven with their tears,
Did He smile His work to see?
Did He who made the lamb make thee?

Tiger, tiger, burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?

---
Thank you to *WickedSairah for the name suggestion. Spent about the last 2 weeks bouting insomnia, moreso than usual. I sketched a rough version of this and decided since I wasn't sleeping anyway to go ahead and see what comes of it, if anything. I had always loved the cliche posters of tigers stalking forward, howevr cliche it does boast a powerful presence..so I decided why not try it with an anthroish cat? I knew, however, after I got some sleep that I would dislike much of it (more specifically the stripes on the back). If I decide to paint this, supposing I have the time and still like the idea, I will redo the stripes on the back to match better with the designs on his face. My absolute favorite part of all of this was the paws, I've gone through several different similar poses (most of them either more frontal or more of a sideview) but all of them ended up obscuring at least one of the paws completely..and seeing as I adore big feline paws, I just couldn't have that. I thought about redoing the whole sketch since I ended up thinking I started a wee bit too small for what I wanted to accomplish, but I'm not sure I have the patience to do another sketch annnd a painted version.

compositional/design critique welcome before I decide whether I want to paint this or not. Thank you guys, oftentimes your advice is truly helpful!!

Size: 6x12 inches
tools: mechanical pencil (.3,.5,.7) on smooth bristol
Time: ?
prints: yes 8.5x11, 8$ US plus shipping, note me if interested .

Thank you for looking!

Wish You Were Here October

Thu, 14 Sep 2006 01:27:42 PDT

For the upcoming calendar project: [link]

The idea is a series of postcards from around the world depicting dogs native to that region in their..natural element!

A labrador Retrievor enjoys October in the beautiful scenic Western Canada, more specifically Brittish Columbia, a close neighbor to where I live, Washington State. I suppose it is a bit clicheish but then..it's kinda meant to be . Hopefully it isn't offensive to any Canadian folks out there, it's not meant to be in the least..just a bit of fun and twist of humour. I realize it is a jab at Dudley Do Right with our mountie here sitting backwards on the moose. Actually I started out with the idea of showing a Moose's posterior plastered with Canadian stickers..but since the focus of the piece was supposed to be the doggies of the world, I supposed a good view of our mountie would be important..so I made him sit backwards on the moose (since I found it too hard to part with the idea of a moose's behind..don't ask.)

So here he is Saluting a proud family of Beavers, the patriarch of which holding aloft the Canadian flag.

Overall I had fun with this piece, just getting back to my roots of a more toony style!

Size: 9.25 x 12.25 inches at 300 dpi
Time: ??
Prints: yes 8x10 for 10$ US plus shipping, note me if interested .

The Secret Garden

Sun, 27 Aug 2006 00:25:05 PDT

Was inspired by some macro photographs of eyes here on DA, anyone that has known me for even 5 minutes knows I have an odd fascination with eyes. The idea for this is more clear in my head and didn't quite turn out as I had hoped in pencil. BUT when I have more time I hope to do a color vision, that hopefully lives up to the mental image I have.

Oh and yes, tis Balaa pictured in the sketch, thus the odd markings.

The idea for the colored version is something along the lines of a secret garden blooming within the eye(a crown of clovers), thus the presence of the butterflies....The eyes seem so small in relation to the size of our bodies as a whole..and yet to me, there is so much beauty, so much depth and wisdom within the eyes...you can read the story of life within the blooms of the eyes.

Tools: Oc for concept, mechanical pencil (.3, .5, and .7mm) on smooth Bristol
Size: 7x9"
Time: ? really not sure, divided it over the span of several days between working on commissions and such
Prints: 8x10 8$ US plus shipping. If interested please note me . Print will NOT be Watermarked.

Also sorry for the watermark, I never wanted to resort to that..but unfortunately some inconsiderate folks have twisted my arm.

Kalahari Princess

Sun, 20 Aug 2006 03:38:56 PDT

A preliminary sketch of an idea I had for a painting of an African Leopardess, likely to be sold in the Further Confusion Art show. The name was inspired by a show I recently caught on animal planet that chronicled the life of a leopardess trying to raise a family and survive in the Kalahari Desert. I chose the composition simply because it intrigued me, we shall see how well it works in painted format. I was inspired by a pose from a photo I found sometime ago., from where I don't even recall now..and also by trying various poses myself in the mirror. I am still debating how to go about doing the background, but I have a fairly good idea of what I want, nothing complex (shocking!), rather a simple gradiant/wash of softer colors..ie washed out purples/blues/pinks. However, I do welcome other suggestions and ideas!

Usually I am prone to post such sketches in my scraps, for the most part I will continue to do so...and hopefully you folks will be kind enough to drop in on my scraps as well!

Details:

Size: a little under 6"x10"
tools: mechanical pencils on smooth vellum. Original rough concept sketched in open canvas 1.1
time taken: roughly a little over an hour

EDIT: thank you for those that commented, the name of the show WAS Kalahari Supercat ! I would have never remembered if not for your comments!

Thank you for looking!

The Leopard Tree

Fri, 11 Aug 2006 05:00:25 PDT

A preliminary sketch for a painting I hope to start relatively soon. I always adored sunsets..and most especially African sunsets...something so clean and pure in that golden light. Hopefully the final painting will turn out at least somewhat close to the image I see in my head

The sketch itself is about 10 inches by 5 inches.
tools: mechanical pencil on vellum

A special thanks goes out to my dear friend ~Faizah, without whom this sketch probably would not have come to fruition! Thank you for the inspiration .

EDIT: Moved this to my formal gallery because of all the kind comments it has received. I often upload sketches to my scraps, not because I view them as 'scraps' or less worthwhile than the deviations in my formal gallery, but because sometimes I truly appreciate the attention my scraps get over my formal pieces. I appreciate the effort on the part of the people that watch me in taking a little more time to look at ALL my work. Also sometimes I post pieces in my scraps simply because it helps me stay confident about pieces that are still in the working stages, ie sketches that may turn into paintings etc. SO an extra special thank you to all those that go out of their way to look at my scraps and not only that but also take time to comment, encourage me and even go so far as to fave the pieces. YOU remind me how lucky I am to be part of this community on a daily basis.

Obsidian Snow

Wed, 26 Jul 2006 16:06:14 PDT

Introducing Zhed, a black snow leopard. His name roughly translates to 'fear' in tibetan and the reason behind the name is simple: 'That which is rare or misunderstood is often feared'. The reason I chose to go with a black snow leopard is because I figured, even in the wild genetic melatonin flaws occur, producing animals with pelt colors uncharacteristic of their species. Well I've read a little about tigers born with reversed stripes, and obviously there are leopards born with 'black' pelt..so it wouldn't be so far fetched to see a black snow leopard. I will leave the interpretation of the title and his name to each person who chooses to view this picture.

The painting actually took me quite a while to finally call finished and I struggled a bit with the background and the figure himself. All in all I feel proud of this piece and happy with how he turned out and I hope you folks enjoy it as well. I will check 'mature' content only to be safe but I do not at all consider this work mature or adult content. Nudity is beautiful and natural in the human form and if an anthro snowy ever existed, I somehow doubt he would find use for a loin cloth what with all the fur he would have to keep him warm .

Now for those that 'hate'/'dislike'/'insert synonym here' anthro work, I believe anthromorphic art can be beautiful. To me an anthromorphized animal represents a closer link of humanity to the natural world, it is our inner wish to be primal and wild and live within the natural world instead of outside of it. With my anthros I strive to make them look natural, a part of and not apart from their world. It is fantasy art just as are dragons and elves and anything else. I have seen a lot of anthro art flamed in various communities so I feel it necessary to stick a disclaimer here. You don't have to like it, I'm not asking anyone too..I am merely sharing my vision with the world.

Now that I have yammered with excessive verbage, time for the technical specs of this piece.

Size: 38 x24 inches at 250 dpi. The psd ended up being well over 500mb in size.
Time taken: ehm I really havent a clue, in excess of 30 hours..at the very least.
Prints: yes (pm me if interested in 8x10 at 10$ plus shipping). Larger limited edition prints available at conventions.
Watermark: sorry folks, I really don't want someone making money off my time and effort...though I hate watermarking my work. Prints will come minus the watermark.
Tools: original sketch pencil([link]), final ps

**Please respect the work and time put into the work and full view**

EDIT- taking the mature warning off for now..I am not certain that it really requires the mature content disclaimer..but if it does, I would be happy to return it .

Cars Style Police Interceptor

Mon, 17 Jul 2006 04:27:46 PDT

And now for something compleeeeeeetely different!

I don't often draw mechanical...anything..but after I saw Cars I decided to draw our 2001 Crown Victoria Police Interceptor in Car's style...just for the fun of it and to try something different from my normal stuff.

So here I present Bruiser, our car. (Yes I am the kind of freak the names my car)

No critique because this was for fun and..I know its far from unflawed . Thank you to Pixar/Disney for the inspiration!

Winged Sunset Badge

Sun, 02 Jul 2006 22:28:08 PDT

A con badge commission for the sweet Felix Carni. I really had fun just splashing aroiund the digital paint with this one and yessss I am biased and love warm atmospheres, especially African sunsets. I like to imagine myself there, the warmth and sweet smell of dry grasses wrapping around me and carrying me away.

This piece is not intensly detailed as obviously too much detail would be lost when printed in badge size but even so I hope the general feel of the piece are convincing. Also as far as wings go..erf..definetly something I need to work on but I think you guys will see more winged critters from me in the future as I rather enjoyed the learning process on this one.

Size: 1250x1000 pixels
Time: 4-6 hours?
Tools: open canvas for the original sketch, ps cs2 for coloring.

(For those curious, Prices for a badge like this are $60+ )

Nikki the Dalmation

Sat, 01 Jul 2006 21:27:34 PDT

Well I tend to not post most of my commissions to my deviant gallery just because I prefer not to. But I had so much fun with this one I decided, hey why not. This was MEANT to be a realism badge(which usually means a shoulders up badge) buuuutt I kinda let the idea run away with me. The description of the character mentioned a little heart shaped spot around the waist area and it seemed too cute to leave out. SO I went with kinda a look of a magazine clothing ad. I think the box around the name is inspired from 'The Gap' commercials..I think...and the rest was just..random flinging of digital paint and having fun with it.

It's not perfect but I like it nonetheless, reminded me to have fun with all the work I do! No critique on this one please!

Tools: ps cs2, wacom tablet
size: 2500x1700 pixels at 120 dpi(rather low resolution)
time: 6 hours?

***Edit*** this iiisss a male! seems odd to me that Nikki is considered a girl's name..when in Russian Nikki/Nikita is a boys name. O_o *random observation*

Waiting for You

Tue, 27 Jun 2006 00:02:01 PDT

started as a rough oc sketch but I wanted to clean it up and just..have fun with it..see where it went on its own without overthinking or planning it. I had fun and it was a good way to practice canines..which for those of you who haven't noticed, I don't draw an over abundance of XD! I think, though, they arrreee growing on me and I am learning a lot with each time I attempt to draw a wolf/fox/what have you.

I do welcome constructive criticism on any pieces I do, however if you do leave criticism please give me something helpful to work with instead of "this or that looks off"..that really aggravates me more than it helps me. We all have room to grow and improve and I am always excited at the chance to learn something new ! OH and if anyone has the names of any good books for canine references, please speak up; that would be very helpful! Thank ya in advance.

The idea behind this piece is the wolf is waiting for someone, just who, I will leave to interpretation. The pedestal he is sitting on is a sundial and I did incorporate the symbols of the elements used in the film "the Fifth Element" because I adore that movie to bits and it has brainwashed me completely. Also I would like to thank some of the canine artists out there that kinda nudged me and inspired me with their beautiful rendition of canines (thornwolf, Dark Natasha, and Goldenwolf to name a few), without your inspiration I doubt I would have become so smitten with canines.

I be supposing thats all for now!

Size: roughtly 10x10 inches
tools: mechanical pencil, q-tip on bristol paper (I LOVE MY NEW .3 mm pencil!! )
time 5 hours? I watched a movie while I drew!

Pathfinders

Sun, 04 Jun 2006 22:01:16 PDT

Pathfinders: The Animal Totem Deck
[link]
Coming to you in 2007

My entry for the design of the card deck box. It started out as a very loose open canvas sketh that blurbed out my rough idea. All I knew at that time is I wanted something symbolic..and somehow the idea of animals being pathfinders got me to thinking about the moon and its mysterious ethereal qualities. After the initial sketch I actually did not intend to color it...the inspiration kinda went astray and so I left it be. Then one day for whatever reason wanted to color it. So I did..without much thought as to what I wanted as the end product. The only thing that remained a constant is I wanted to incorporate the moon somehow and kinda give a dreamcatcher feel to it somehow. So while looking at photos of eyes..I suddenly thought of a solar eclipse..the pupil serving as the moon. Also incorporated patterns of various animals in the design, from top left to bottom right: hawk feathers, simple white fur(could belong to a multitude of animals), leopard spots, tiger stripes, giraffe spots, moth/butterfly wing, xebra stripes.

So here is my design, I am still working on it from time to time when one thing or another begins to irk me. It's not meant to be super crazy polished..thats not the intent I had when I started it. This may not be chosen as a final design, but I look forward to seeing what others come up with.

The full wrap-around box design can be viewed here: [link]

Prints: yes if interested pm me(specify if you wish it with or without thet text)
Time taken
tools: open canvas for original sketch, ps for final.

Dreamcatcher

Mon, 01 May 2006 23:01:50 PDT

'I am your dreamcatcher. I see beyond the shadow and the storm that plagues you even as you sleep. Descend from madness unto me and I shall guide you into starry night, beyond the storm and tempest tide, and unto paradise of thine heart.'

I haven't drawn Balaa in a while..at least not a more polished piece. I oced with Bagheera for a while and he suggested I draw Balaa more serene as I tend to draw her very stern or somehow steeped in shadow...so later that night something hit me and a rough idea flew out in open canvas. So I printed it and decided to clean it up. I couldn't sleep thinking about this piece and wanted to incorporate rings in her design..something about the geometric perfection of a circle...not sure what it was. That is what inspired the title Dreamcatcher. Also the text behind her head is elvish for 'Dreamcatcher' in case anyone wondered

I realize my anatomy is off in places..still working at improving it so bare with me folks..this piece wasnt really intended to turn out as such. But I am happy with it and it has a special place in my heart...so I doubt I will sell it..unless someone is willing to pay a crazy high price its staying with me .

Size: 11x14" bristol paper
Tools: mechanical pencil (.7/.5mm) and cuetip for blending
Time: erm...prolly around 10 hours
Prints: yes..if interested, please pm me or e-mail me at xxbalaaxx@yahoo.com.

The Look

Sun, 30 Apr 2006 02:58:54 PDT

Fierce Primal and Proud stands he.

A sketch that started in oc and transferred over to an 11x14 piece of Bristol. Sketch itself is roughly 8x10" and took 4 or 5 hours to detail in. The scanner did a number on it and kinda chewed on the background and fur detail especially, but if you are interested in seeing the original, it may well show up in the 2006 Anthrocon Art Show . Also debating whether to do a painted version of this sketch or not...what ya guys think?

Sorry for the long time with no posts, have been working on a lot of real media work..and if I can decent scans/photos of them..I shall post them of course .

Size: 8x10" on 11x14" Bristol paper
Tools: mechanical pencil/eraser
Time: 4-5 hours
Original sketch: [link]
Prints: yes if interested please pm me ..prints are 10$ plus shipping for an 8x10 on premium glossy photo paper.

Smilodon Fatalis

Tue, 14 Mar 2006 01:15:09 PST

Pathfinder Website, check them out. The project is set to debut at Anthrocon 2007.

[link]

~~~

This is a piece done for an upcoming card project titled "PATHFINDERS: The Animal Totem Deck". I have two assigned cards for the deck, needless to say I was giddy as a child in a toy store when I found out one was the saber toothed cat. I don't know why I never thought to paint them myself but this was a GREAT excuse to do so for the first time.

I tried some new fur techniques on this piece, which may or may have not payed off. The overall piece was enjoyable but tedious to do. I took some different approaches with the eyes, modelling them sooommewhat after some human eye photos I saw that inspired me. I loved the black flecks in the eyes and wanted to make the Smilodon's eye both reminiscent of present day lions as well as having a quality of that which no longer exists. Again not sure how well it payed off, but they were fun to play with just the same.

I could probably work on this piece forever perfecting minor flaws here, there, and everywhere, but I just can't look at it anymore..and I need to move on to my other unfinished pieces and the ideas bubbling around in my head furiously.

Tools: open canvas for sketch, ps for finished piece
Time: ???????
Prints: yes
Size: 18x24 inches at 200 dpi.
watermark: Yes, especially since this piece is to be published. Sorry folks,as much as I LOATHE watermarking my work, just really don't want it taken by sticky hands.

*** Please respect the time and effort put into the piece and full view. Thank you! ***

Painted Passion

Sat, 11 Mar 2006 06:51:22 PST

African Painted Dogs/Wild dogs

As promised, finally trying to finish up some pieces sitting around on my computer. Since January, I have felt rather slow artistically and for at least a month could not even start a piece. This one actually was a flook; the sketch aquired while trying to widdle away some time in the late night in open canvas. It was by no means a perfected sketch (a weakness I need to push myself to work at!) but before I( even finished the sketch I saw the colors/mood I wanted for the piece. I think in part those colors were chosen by my heart's longing for summer evenings. The sun has been scarce in these parts of late, no surprise seeing as we live in the great northwest. Nothing against winter or rain folks, but I think I will always feel like a texan deep on the inside..and as such I missss the sunnnn, warm sunsets and its warmth against my skin.

So, having no real intention of it turning out, I decided to unleash my angst upon this piece and though, even in the end, it is still not lacking flaws..it is a piece I find contentment and peace of mind in.

Some details: I wanted very much for the female to look as the 'guardian', even though the male is embracing her. I wanted her to look as if she was watching the lands for threats and in doing so protecting him while he enjoys the undulating peace of the dwindling day.. Also this is the first time I have painted wild dogs and erm anthros..sooo forgive anatomical flaws and what have you. If they look thin, thats intentional as the painted dog does have thinnnnn limbs.

Size: 5000x4500 pixels at 200 dpi
time taken: ?
Tools: open canvas for sketch, ps for finished product, wacom graphire 3 4x6"
Prints: yes 8x10's via deviant, limited edition large format prints in the future.
watermarked: yes as it is a personal piece and I dooo nooot want to find it stolen. But hopefully the watermark is not over powering.

**please respect the piece and the time and effort placed into it and take the time to full view. Thank you!**

Brown Bear goes Travellin

Thu, 09 Mar 2006 02:08:20 PST

this truly came out of nowhere. All of a sudden I wanted to draw a bear and so I did and here he is. I am still debating whether or not I want to submit this to Anthrocon's 2006 con book, but I may just do so...after all couldn't hurt anything!

As for my absence here on dev of late, my pardons..life has been keeping me pretty busy. I do have quite a few pieces in the works, most of which just need a few hours to be finished. SO hopefully you will see more from me soon!

There is some thanks in order to *Wursu whose Bears, I firmly believe, are in some part to blame for this piece. Also I drew some inspiration from Madagascar's style because its so vivid, alive and just plain fun! AND who doesn't need more fun these days??

Piece details:

Size: 11x14 inches at 200 dpi
Tools: Open canvas 1.1 for sketch, Ps for final piece.
Time take: ? haven't the slightest.
Prints?: yes

The Lemur King

Sat, 28 Jan 2006 18:46:23 PST

I recently returned from Furcon '07 where I found myself a new obsession. I suppose it was bound to happen but I have most definetly fallen for the vibrant energetic critters known as lemurs. Mostly I have been drawing ring tailed lemurs, but really I love them all and there is not nearly enough luvin for the furry critters, so I take it as my personal mission to expose the world to their near blasphemous cuteness.

Yes, doom on you all . This is just a quickie sketch in a lucid state of mind. I was still exhausted from the trip and coming down with a cold..so I dont doubt there are mistakes to be had. Also yes I realize the tail cannot naturally curl that way...but it was fun drawing it that way.

tools: mechanical pencil, eraser on bristol paper.

Skunk

Sun, 01 Jan 2006 03:14:50 PST

Practice paint to further reaquaint myself with acrylic painting on illustration board but moreover practice some fur techniques. I'm not 100% happy with how it turned out and I'm learning rapidly for better results I should work bigger than 8x10". The only problem there is I have no good way to photograph/scan bigger pictures with good results.

Tools: acrylic paint on illustration board
Time: 5 hours? give or take
prints: yes if there is any interest that is XD
size: 8x10 inches

I may move this to scrap later if I get horribly upset with it .

**edit** plinked around with it a bite more adding more color highlights to the fur so it didnt feel so apart from the background. I hope it looks a wee bit better .