deviantART: gallery:christopherstoll/11767285

On the Nature of Desire...

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 19:59:18 PST

Love is derivative, like a reflection suspended inverted in the surface of a lake, a shadow, a bud birthed from the stem of a greater passion, but never the plant itself. This is because desire eclipses love, forming a core to our identities and actions that supersedes the more specific feeling of love.

Love is by its nature a subsidiary of lust. Of the desire to have.
Love is war, an imperialism of the soul. A struggle that demands endless proofs of subservience, wherein the ultimate goal is to receive the total surrender of another individual to your affections. Courtship like cannon-fire, and the nuclear arsenal of emotional turmoil always prepared to launch at the first sign of an escalating cold war.

If I am forced to represent the depths of human desire visually, it is the above. Destructive and lustful. A vision of pursuit and consumption.
A hunt for something beautiful that can only resolve with its absolute destruction.

-Happy (late) Valentines Day
Christopher Stoll

Stalwart Minotaur

Fri, 28 Dec 2012 17:56:31 PST

The Boros Legion is a militant order of righteous zealots dedicated to enforcing order and harmony in the realm, no matter what the cost. Its reigns are held by a violent archangel of flame and fervor who rules over the tight ranks of the guild with pitiless ire.
Within the vast multitudes of the Boros ranks Minotaurs typically specialize in single combat and are the expectant hammer-blow in any Boros assault.
However, these beasts can rally to a bone-crushing defense and are often expected to do so. They typically assemble around the outside of a conflict, prepared to prevent enemy retreat or strike final necessary blows. Like living banners for troops to rally around, the fear and awe inspired by the minotaur battalions that patrol the battlefield helps the Boros to keep the upper-hand in any engagement. The iron-clad fist of the Minotaur has come to be regarded by the Ravnican populace as a symbol of Boros might, as well as their swift retribution in the face of defiance.

Fire swelled from beneath our feet, avenging angels circled above our head, and Boros outnumbered us three to one, but it was not until I saw the encircling minotaur ranks that I knew our cause was lost.
-Seemos Gavin, Freedom-Fighter
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The second submission in my five week long GateCrash Celebration!
Check out my other MtG Art
Each week I will submit a new creature inspired by a Guild from Magic the Gathering's Upcoming set "GateCrash"
This week is Boros. Please let me know what you think! Comments are always appreciated!
All rights belong to Wizards of the Coast, this is a work of fan art only and was not intended for publication or commercial gain.
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Card Rules cost: red (2) white (2)
Stalwart Minotaur 2/3
Other white creatures you control get +1/+1
Other red creatures you control get +1/+1

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Many, Many, Many reference pics were incorporated into this piece, if you think your work has been unfairly plagiarized please leave a comment. This work was not created for private profit, please do not share, recreate, or sell without permission (or steal my dog).

DragonSlayer

Fri, 08 Feb 2013 07:47:21 PST

Soot and scale eclipse pitiless sun,
and the tyranny of nature befalls us.
Ivory claws rake the ground with cruel grace before bounding back
into untrespassed sky.
Arrows pepper the air, then burn to ash
and scatter under the hurricane beats of iron wings.
The archers along with them.

A man stands, decked in steel.
Glittering with scale to rival the beast above,
not king, nor lord, nor noble knight, he calls...
The drake swings low to meet this unworthy challenge.
Spiked breast to spiked breast oppose,
the champion’s heart as hard as his armor.

He fights on foot against the sky,
slashing, leaping, hurling,
and is dragged up into the delirious air.
Astride the head of a titan,
grappling with death itself amongst a field of burning blue.

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Another therapeutic sketch and poem. Sometimes slaying monsters is more than catharsis, its a keen metaphor for daily life. Anyway, I sketched it all in a frenzy of ink, 20-30 minutes and the piece was done. Then I spent a little more time touching it up digitally. Originally the piece had a lot of red, but I changed it because the black and white feels so bleak and apocalyptic.
Partially inspired by an old self-portrait that I did waaaaaay back in 2009.

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I am currently accepting commissions for art projects of all kinds. Browse my gallery to see if you like any of the styles presented, and feel free to ask questions. I promise professional treatment, high quality, low prices, and customer satisfaction. Individual pieces typically run from $15-30 depending on color, style, size, and subject matter. Please don't hesitate to contact me with your project for some free sketches and a consultation.
If you are at all interested send me an email at:
cstoll17@me.com

CRASHDOWN

Sat, 06 Apr 2013 22:05:11 PDT

A lone astronaut stranded on an alien world, bloodied, bruised, and permanently blinded in the crash-landing. He must now survive the ravenous jungle of this dark and dangerous new realm.
His sole companion is the monotone drone of his salvaged flight computer. Strapped to his arm like a shield, literal and figurative, his friend and savior as he navigated a darkened world. A silicon soul, blind, buffeted, and broken like his own.

Before long the computer suffered damage at the razored claws of local wildlife, but from the gouged and mangled metal he still hears the comforting voice of his computerized companion... Though he is no longer convinced that this is anything other than the fevered dream of a madman long lost to a dark and empty cosmos.

Years drag on, the delirious seasons of a faraway sun become the background music to madness. The astronaut, name long unlearned, hears the sonic boom of a ship and the roar of distant thrusters. Is this some new insanity, some fresh pit of madness and despair?
Or after his long stay in hell, has someone new arrived in his pitiless world?

CowGirl

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 08:02:44 PST

Reminds me of a friend.

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Check out my other Bone Women!

Also...
I am currently accepting commissions for art projects of all kinds. Browse my gallery to see if you like any of the styles presented, and feel free to ask questions. I promise professional treatment, high quality, low prices, and customer satisfaction. Individual pieces typically run from $10-20 depending on color, style, size, and subject matter. Please don't hesitate to contact me with your project for some free sketches and a consultation.
If you are at all interested send me an email at:
cstoll17@me.com

Princess Avengers: THOR

Thu, 16 May 2013 00:54:30 PDT

Guess what’s actually REALLY HARD TO DRAW WELL... If you guessed hair then you are absolutely correct.

This piece was a challenge. I wanted to finish up with a bang, and I think that Thor turned out to be the most expressive and dynamic Princess Avenger yet.
Although I originally intended to only stick to the classic hand drawn Disney princesses for inspiration I eventually relented because the frying pan visual gag works so well.
I also wanted to capture the awkward adolescent lightheartedness of Tangled’s Rapunzel. Thematically both Thor and Rapunzel have quite a bit in common, having lived insular existences before finding themselves in a strange new world to explore and fight for. In the piece I wanted motion to be primary; implied flight, the raised hands, and the twirling hair are all there to give a sense of freedom. However, her awkward smile deliberately indicates that she might not be entirely sure of herself or her newfound powers.

Rapunzel is young, beautiful, and more than a little naive in her original story, and this lead to an interesting design challenge. So far I’ve tried to make the PA’s sexy without objectifying them, but after redesigning Thor’s armor and combining it with a young girl in a liberated pose I’m not sure how it reads.
She was also a challenge to do realistically, as her features are so exaggerated in the film and her main distinguishing (realistic) characteristic is her hair.
If you have any thoughts on this be sure to share them in the comments.

Oh! Should she have had a lizard? Think about it...

This concludes my Disney Princess Avengers mashup.
In a lot of ways it’s fitting. I started this bizarre experiment nearly a year ago with a crude rendition of Thor as Belle and the reception was so rapid and overwhelming I knew I had to do more than just dip a toe into the world of fan-art.

This series of images has gotten me an article on Huffington Post, and more subscriber views than anything else that I have yet produced. I’m grateful for all the attention that I’ve received.
On that note, I want to thank everyone who has taken the time to enjoy my work, superficial though it may be.

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CHECK OUT MY OTHER AVENGING PRINCESSES HERE

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Many, Many, Many reference pics were incorporated into this piece, if you think your work has been unfairly plagiarized please leave a comment. This work was not created for private profit, it is a parody only. Marvel's the Avengers and Tangled are both property of Disney Corp (It's convenient because I'll only be sued once!) please do not share, recreate, or sell without permission (or steal my dog).

Adventure-Time Gothic

Thu, 31 Jan 2013 15:45:36 PST

Oh my glob!
A lovingly creepy homage to the show Adventure Time and Grant Wood's American Gothic
Enjoy.

Comments are always appreciated, please don't share, recreate, or sell without my permission.

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I am currently accepting commissions for art projects of all kinds. Browse my gallery to see if you like any of the styles presented, and feel free to ask questions. I promise professional treatment, high quality, low prices, and customer satisfaction. Individual pieces typically run from $15-30 depending on color, style, size, and subject matter. Please don't hesitate to contact me with your project for some free sketches and a consultation.
If you are at all interested send me an email at:
cstoll17@me.com

Sky Skimmer

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 14:20:18 PST

The Simic Combine, this enigmatic guild's purpose was originally to preserve the health of Ravnica's various forms of life, dedicated to the study of medicines and biology. Soon however, this group interpreted its founding principles as a license to improve upon life's machinations, to alter and augment it to suit the needs of the Combine. Using dark surgeries and superior magic they have crafted a series of new species that defy nature and grow ever more powerful beneath Ravnica's vast oceans.

These enigmatic mantas serve the Combine well, acting as messengers, transport, and scouts. Like many Simic creatures, Skimmers will continue to grow throughout their long lives, often to suit the demands of their position.
The sight of an adult Skimmer soaring over the waves, eclipsing the sun and stirring the deep with each thrust of its wings is an awe inspiring sight for most of Ravnica's Citizens. However, for those Simic dedicated to the birth of ever-larger organisms, the pursuit of natural sciences, and the upswelling of the natural world, these magnificent creatures are merely the beginning.

In a world of endless city, only sea and sky remain unbound.

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The third submission in my five week long GateCrash Celebration!
Each week I will submit a creature inspired by a Guild from Magic the Gathering's Upcoming set "GateCrash"
Check out my other MtG Art
This week is Simic. Please let me know what you think! Comments are always appreciated!
All rights belong to Wizards of the Coast, this is a work of fan art only and was not intended for commercial gain.
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Card Rules Cost: green<2>blue<2>
Sky Skimmer 0/1
If you would place a +1/+1 counter on another creature you control you may place an additional +1/+1 counter on Sky Skimmer. Activate this ability only twice per turn.
Flying

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Many, Many, Many reference pics were incorporated into this piece, if you think your work has been unfairly plagiarized please leave a comment. This work was not created for private profit, please do not share, recreate, or sell without permission (or steal my dog).

Hellbound Witch Concept

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 13:01:34 PDT

This was a design challenge to be sure, I wanted to contort her form but also keep her in a position that prominently displays her racial characteristics. I ended up with a half-turn and tuck that makes me feel like she would be right at home in some hellish pinup calendar.
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This is a character class design for TPK Games and their Malefactor releases!

If you are into the roleplaying scene you should definitely check them out!! They offer a great series of supplementals for campaigns, as well as some other goodies.

Please take the time to visit their website, they have been extremely kind to me and any traffic I can direct towards their work is the least I can do.

Octopus Shaman Self Portrait

Sat, 27 Apr 2013 09:10:22 PDT

CREATURE WARS HAS COME TO DA, AND NATURE HAS CALLED ITS CHAMPIONS.
IF YOU'VE SEEN THIS, CONSIDER YOURSELF PART OF THE COMING BATTLE. YOU ARE NOW A CREATURE SHAMAN AND MUST DRAW YOURSELF AS ONE!!!

This means choosing a creature to embody and then creating a self portrait of yourself wielding the elemental might of your chosen species. Any medium, style, or creative interpretation of the premise is okay! You can create a hybrid of yourself or just augment your appearance with the capabilities of your chosen animal.

IF YOU CREATE A CREATURE-SHAMAN PLEASE LEAVE A LINK IN THE COMMENTS SO PEOPLE CAN FIND IT, AND LEAVE A LINK TO MY WORK IN YOUR DEVIATION'S COMMENT.
I'm hoping to start a chain of artists who have been pulled into elemental combat by each other.

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This creation is based on some old photos of myself that I started sketching. I wanted a minimalistic theme to prevent the pirate elements from overwhelming the octopus powers. I think it deserves re-visitation, but I wanted to put this version out there to test the waters.

Anauel, The Collector

Sun, 23 Dec 2012 21:31:01 PST

The Orzhov are a guild of business, ruled over by a ghostly council of autocratic spirits. Although the group bears the markings of a religious organization, they worship only profit and greed and will stop at nothing to acquire more. Within the Syndicate debt is leveraged heavily, and members of the guild often die with their bills unpaid and return as servant spirits to fulfill their eternal obligation to the guild's dark masters.

Among the Orzhov Angels are rare, but disgusted with the militancy of her former masters Anauel defected to an organization that would yield her vast power proper respect. She now collects upon those few wealthy indebted who threaten to default on the Syndicate, striking fear than ensures the cash will continue to flow unfettered and their vast debt will continue to grow.

Once an angel of justice she still bears her sword and scale, though they find dark new purpose in the employ of the Orzov.
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The first submission in my five week long GateCrash Celebration!
Each week I will submit a creature inspired by a Guild from Magic the Gathering's Upcoming set "GateCrash"
Check out my other MtG Art here!
This week is Orzhov. Please let me know what you think! Comments are always appreciated!
All rights belong to Wizards of the Coast, this is a work of fan art only and was not intended for commercial gain.
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Card Rules:
Anauel, The Collector 4/5

[2]: Put a debt counter on target creature you don't control without a debt counter on it.
Creatures with debt counters on them get -1/-0.
[T]: Remove all debt counters from all creatures. For each counter removed this way, that creature's controller loses 1 life and you gain 1 life.

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Many, Many, Many reference pics were incorporated into this piece, if you think your work has been unfairly plagiarized please leave a comment. This work was not created for private profit, please do not share, recreate, or sell without permission (or steal my dog).

I am currently accepting commissions for art projects of all kinds. Browse my gallery to see if you like any of the styles presented, and feel free to ask questions. I promise professional treatment, high quality, low prices, and customer satisfaction. Individual pieces typically run from $15-30 depending on color, style, size, and subject matter. Please don't hesitate to contact me with your project for some free sketches and a consultation.
If you are at all interested send me an email at:
cstoll17@me.com

Nothing Like the Sun

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 11:21:55 PST

The world holds many secrets, nooks and crannies, secluded glades and crystal springs.
And there are guardians among us, beautiful and spirited, who carry with them the essence of Earth itself. The old Earth, long since lost to the decays of our strange age. Endowed with its waning might and the weight of ancient elemental power, they visit terrible vengeance at their displeasure.

PARA Comic

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 11:21:41 PDT

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I'm proud to announce an upcoming personal project! PARA
An exciting new webcomic of punishment, pioneering neuroscience, and madness. I hope that you'll follow the labyrinthine twists and turns for yourself.

Take a deep breath...
Grasping the walls of your skull as it lurches,
peeled open with pain of the memories played,
Remembering fevers of sicknesses passed,
mixed with the promises this one has made.

Step into my machine.
A body that flickers with wires entwined,
swept low to the ground in its futile pains,
playing host to dark memories that babble and laugh, dancing and killing as they rush through blue veins.

Denizens of the Dreaming

Sun, 24 Feb 2013 18:06:02 PST

Legends tell of fey who dwell in the dank canyon valleys of forgotten dream; fairy-folk that can shift their shape like water, snatch infants from their cribs before vanishing into shadow, or bend nature's might to their mysterious wills. These creatures, though rarely glimpsed, grip the reigns of the world. The enigma of their very being has never before been unraveled, that is... until this book...

From Left to Right:
Crimbil Dark goblin-like fey that use cover of night to replace mortal children with squalling lumps of changeling flesh that eventually grow to maturity in place of the stolen infant. They are stealthy and cunning, seldom seen but always capable

Glimmerkin - An enigmatic species even among the Fey, these insectoid creatures are rarely encountered, spending much of their time hibernating deep within membranous cocoons spun for mysterious purpose. When not encased in meditative trances, they act as wandering wizards or scholars, often appearing troubled as glide silently through the world.

Changeling- These mercurial being are the essence of the Dreaming, tumbling through an endless shifting chaos of form. In their eternal dissatisfaction of form and feeling they wander the world, causing mischief and harm wherever they venture.

BriarBorn -Tree-like humanoids that are birthed from the very essence of the Earth, a collective intelligence dedicated to the protection of nature.

Sylfaen- A created race, generated by the Fey to act as soldiers and protectors. They are not automatons, possessing instead a powerful will of their own that is augmented by the honor-bound need to protect their home. As for those unfortunate souls that they deem enemies or trespassers they will often carry out their own form of grisly justice, seemingly without remorse, reservation, or compassion.
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These are a series of creature design for TPK Games. and their upcoming Denizens of the Dreaming book release!

If you are into the roleplaying scene you should definitely check them out!! They offer a great series of supplementals for campaigns, as well as some other goodies.
The book with feature the imaginative writings of Brian Berg as well as creative contributions rest of TPK's creative team, including art by yours-truly!

The book will be released in the next couple of weeks, so please take the time to stop by their website and see what they have to offer!

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All rights belong to TPK Games, please do not copy, distribute, or sell without permission. Or steal my dog...

Princess Avengers: BLACK WIDOW

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 07:30:26 PST

I know it's been a while, but here's the next image in my inexplicably popular series of Disney Royalty and Avenging Super Heroes!!!

Black Widow was undoubtedly a tough piece to pull together, you may recall that I posted a journal earlier this year to test the waters and let the fans decide the face of the newest Princess Avenger.

The feedback was overwhelming and unanimous, and the results certainly don't disappoint!
Balancing the disparate gender-elements was the biggest challenge, next was reconciling the comical elements of the Sultan's cartoon face with the realistic style I have chosen for the Princess Avengers! Earlier versions gave him a very realistic middle eastern appearance, but it wasn't immediately recognizable as Aladdin's Sultan... Plus I wasn't able to bring the same expression of sincerity and determination to him that you see above. I eventually relented, making Black Widow the most cartoonish PA so far!!

Please let me know what you think with a comment. I certainly put a whole lot of work into this, I hope that you all like it!! It's important to me that these Princess Avengers appeal to the fans, as you can tell I always do my best to take viewer preference into account when designing.

CHECK OUT MY OTHER AVENGING PRINCESSES HERE

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Many, Many, Many reference pics were incorporated into this piece, if you think your work has been unfairly plagiarized please leave a comment. This work was not created for private profit, it is a parody only. Marvel's the Avengers and Aladdin's "The Sultan" are both property of Disney Corp (It's convenient because I'll only be sued once!) please do not share, recreate, or sell without permission (or steal my dog).

___________________________________
I am currently accepting commissions for art projects of all kinds. Browse my gallery to see if you like any of the styles presented, and feel free to ask questions. I promise professional treatment, high quality, low prices, and customer satisfaction. Individual pieces typically run from $15-30 depending on color, style, size, and subject matter. Please don't hesitate to contact me with your project for some free sketches and a consultation.
If you are at all interested send me an email at:
cstoll17@me.com

A Portrait of the Artist

Wed, 19 Dec 2012 11:59:34 PST

hehehehehehee..... bewbiez, let me explain.

I happened upon an art column the other day:
"WHY ARE YOU AN ARTIST!?" it asked (oh, so subtly) "WHAT MAKES YOU AN ARTIST? DESCRIBE WHY YOU ARE AN ARTIST IN A PICTURE!" It practically screamed.
The replies were as predictably sincere as they were terrible; a young girl flying away on a winged wolf, a man pulling his chest open to reveal a cascade of hearts and roses, sketches of misunderstood artists putting bricks into the foundation of a great civilization...
You get the idea.

I'm sure that some of these people mean what they say, but I thought about it and in encapsulating myself as an artist I came up with the above. My process... My passions.

I don't do art in order to forward mankind's aspirations and I don't do it to bear my soul...
It's a compulsion, an addiction, a personal pleasure. An activity as self-gratifying (and occasionally as messy) as masturbation.
A guilty pleasure, I could as soon stop eating as I could stop sketching.
But I have no illusions about what I do. It's not high art, and nobody will unearth my pieces after the fall of Western Civilization and consider them as aesthetically representative of our strange age.
It is just this, only impassioned instances as fleeting and as guilty as the enjoyment of breasts without their owner's consent or acknowledgment. What you see above is a shameful self portrait, a meta-narrative, a glimpse of my happiest moments all rolled into one.

I wouldn't have it any other way.

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Many, Many, Many reference pics were incorporated into this piece, if you think your work has been unfairly plagiarized please leave a comment. This work was not created for private profit, please do not share, recreate, or sell without permission (or steal my dog).
____________________________________
I am currently accepting commissions for art projects of all kinds. Browse my gallery to see if you like any of the styles presented, and feel free to ask questions. I promise professional treatment, high quality, low prices, and customer satisfaction. Individual pieces typically run from $15-30 depending on color, style, size, and subject matter. Please don't hesitate to contact me with your project for some free sketches and a consultation.
If you are at all interested send me an email at:
cstoll17@me.com

GraveWalker

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 14:35:08 PDT

A cobbled together golem of dried bones and headstones, the gravewalker is an earthen creature that gains vitality from the corpses buried within it.

Sometimes, when enough human bodies are buried in the same location their essence infects the local area with supernatural strength and intent. These slow lumbering creatures often contain the corpses of dozens of bodies, ranging from the recently buried to the completely decayed.

The human remains within the Gravewalker act like batteries, infusing the creature with afterlife energies that might have otherwise created a common ghost or zombie.
Typically harmless wanderers, these large elemental-like specimens are often instilled with the lingering intentions of the corpses inside of it. This often manifests as a borderline manic depression or wanderlust that sends these cobbled creatures solemnly stumbling long distances (often by the light of half moons) in search of closure and peace.

Warning: There have been reports of battlefield Gravewalkers that arise from mass killings, these creatures are often more dangerous. Fueled by murderous desires for revenge and larger pools of fresher bodies, they become a deadly force to be reckoned with.
The risk of Gravewalker phenomenons during wartime (although rare) is why most modern militaries choose to bury or burn the dead separately and often in thin-soiled or sandy regions.

Done for the Creature Lovers mini-contest this week ([link]).

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I am currently accepting commissions for art projects of all kinds. Browse my gallery to see if you like any of the styles presented, and feel free to ask questions. I promise professional treatment, high quality, low prices, and customer satisfaction. Individual pieces typically run from $15-30 depending on color, style, size, and subject matter. Please don't hesitate to contact me with your project for some free sketches and a consultation.
If you are at all interested send me an email at:
cstoll17@me.com

Heroes of Newerth: Myrmidon

Wed, 19 Dec 2012 11:22:51 PST

It’s easy to believe this champion of the deep is a myth—until you feel rubbery coils of "myth" sieze you and tug you down towards a deep and smothered doom.

During the Hellbourne invasion, Myrmidon's allegiance to the Legion was always tenuous at best; the sharkman's joy in the carnage of combat left many suspicious. It was not until a Legion sorcerer uncovered that Myrmidon was himself a member of a shadowy race of deep-sea daemons that true panic set in, but by then it was too late. A trail of blood and devastation marked Myrmidon's escape to the ranks of the Hellbourne.
Now, wielding the destructive might of a tsunami, he wreaks havoc among those who once claimed him as an ally.

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Done originally for the Heroes of Newerth (HoN) Art-Challenge. HoN is a DoTA style game that I play instead because the digital environment is more beautifully realized, and the player environment is more brutal and competitive.
This is a rendition of a powerful spellcaster/support hero: Female Glacius
All rights belong to S2 games.

Tip Jar- If you feel like it...
[link]

Binder of Bones

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 20:32:14 PST

The Gruul Clans are a loose affiliation of violent tribes that find refuge in whatever pockets of wilderness still remain in a realm of vast cities. Descended from ancient sects of shamans and nature guardians the Gruul are resentful of the world around them, of greed and decadence veiled beneath high minded notions "progress". They take any reason to cause chaos, any reason to destroy a symbol of civilization. Living to raid and destroy until no two stones stand upon each other, and the great towers of Ravnica come tumbling down.

Many citizens believe the Gruul to be little more than savages and street toughs scavenging among the dilapidated outskirts of crumbling cities and shrinking forestry. However, this perspective ignores the subtle influences and arts of their shamans and ritual makers in the workings of the tribe. Although shamanic rites are performed to invoke nature's fury and violent bloodlettings may herald a coming battle, the Bone Shamans most often go to work after the dying is done. As much a craftsman as a soothsayer they shape bone into armor and weapons, enemy and ally alike. An essential element in the fighting fitness of any Gruul Clan are skilled craftsmen of bone and leather, and those who work with the remains of dead are treated with reverence and respect even within the savage Gruul ranks.

Boros, Simic, Gruul... They'll all look the same when I've finished with them
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The fourth piece in my five week long GateCrash Celebration!
Each week I will submit a creature inspired by a Guild from Magic the Gathering's Upcoming set "GateCrash"
Check out my other MtG Art here!
This week is Gruul. Please let me know what you think! Comments are always appreciated!
All rights belong to Wizards of the Coast, this is a work of fan art only and was not intended for commercial gain.
________________________________________________________________
Card Rules Cost: (2) Red (2) Green
Binder of Bones
Binder of Bones 2/3
Whenever you discard a card you may draw a card.
Activate this ability no more than once per turn.

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Many, Many, Many reference pics were incorporated into this piece, if you think your work has been unfairly plagiarized please leave a comment. This work was not created for private profit, please do not share, recreate, or sell without permission (or steal my dog).

The Aftermath

Fri, 07 Dec 2012 20:37:17 PST

A moment to relax in the wreckage of the world,
No sound but the wind,
passing over bones, bandages, dust...

Rats and roaches creep past dank chaos,
alabaster skulls in the sorrowed sun's glare.

Bleak winds shoulder the ash of the late world into void.
Everything unbinds, fragile fibers ripping with no solid ground to root them.

Lonely I sit amidst the tombs of us all,
diseased and decaying from decades before.

_________________________
I saw it in a dream.

Tip Jar- Ya know, if you feel like it...
[link]

Heroes of Newerth: Glacius

Fri, 07 Dec 2012 09:03:29 PST

On the eve of the Hellbourne invasion, a woman clad more in cold than flesh emerged from the tundra. Wrapped in mist and armored in ice, and she claimed the name Glacius.
Swift and cold and lethal as the frozen winds of mountain peaks, black as the cloud-choked night, her dark magic potent and her origin unknown.
The people of Frostfield have come to believe she is an elemental remnant from an ancient, cataclysmic age of ice and darkness, who dreams of once again plucking the sun from the sky to extinguish the warmth of our world, and wielding considerable might and magic in that terrible cause.

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Done originally for the Heroes of Newerth (HoN) Art-Challenge. HoN is a DoTA style game that I play instead because the digital environment is more beautifully realized, and the player environment is more brutal and competitive.
This is a rendition of a powerful spellcaster/support hero: Female Glacius
All rights belong to S2 games.
References from [link] were used for inspiration

Tip Jar- Ya know, if you feel like it...
[link]

Bad Trip

Mon, 12 Nov 2012 14:59:38 PST

You cannot stop till you have learned
Insanity has this way turned.

It chills the blood and swallows lives
Hatred poured from empty eyes.

It barrels forward dripping red
A twisted sickness living dead…

A jagged open mouth that screams
A mouth that snaps and grips and steams.

And like so many men before,
Insanity now knocks at your door.

It takes you, and for all its fright
It gently pulls you close and tight...

And gently whispers loving lies into your waiting ear…
for truth is good, and pure, and just, but is not welcome here.

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Based on microscopic pictures of worm proboscises and an old creature concept that I did.
Please comment.

Tip Jar- Ya know, if you feel like it...
[link]

The Diver's Daughter

Fri, 13 Jul 2012 20:33:01 PDT

......

Still playing with the art applications on my new ipad!
This one took some time, mostly on the train and late night after other assignments. Originally she was just a girl, but I wasn't a huge fan of her face or the general lack of surreality in the picture so I sketched the diving helmet over her and it stuck.

I'll upload an unaltered version of her soon (helmetless) and post a link in the Diver's Daughter description.

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Tip Jar-
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Princess Avengers: CAPTAIN AMERICA

Fri, 09 Nov 2012 17:26:45 PST

The next entry in my ongoing series of Disney Marvel Mashups!!!

The leader of the Avengers!! The top-dog! The big cheese!! Frozen during a time of true patriotism, this fearless hero has leapt forward in history to stand for the real America she once knew!!
Finally here!! It's CAPTAIN NATIVE AMERICA!!

Anyway, I hate talking about my process, but... well....
I wanted to change up my formula a bit. To bring across both the position of Captain America as the leader of the group, and Pocahontas' willpower and self-sacrifice. Ultimately, to try and make her look empowered.
I'm not sure how well I succeeded.
Still, I'm hoping that the series will hold up well stylistically once it can be viewed as a whole. I try not to see them as individuals, but rather their place in the group.
Perhaps in need of some revision, but I've grown accustomed to releasing these well before their "completion!" So enjoy.

Who do you think the next princess will be!?! Who do you WANT the next Avenger mashup to be? If you think a princess should be paired with a hero let me know too! I haven't decided who is going to be who just yet!

LEAVE A COMMENT TO HELP ME DECIDE!!!!!!! 8D

If you like this piece then please check out my other Avenging Princesses here:
[link]

Many, Many, Many reference pics were incorporated into this piece, if you think your work has been unfairly plagiarized please leave a comment. In particular several pictures of Pocahontas cosplayers were studied to create the head, hair, and arms. If you know who I should credit, leave a comment. This work was not created for private profit, it is a parody only. Marvel's the Avengers and Pocahontas are both property of Disney Corp (It's convenient because I'll only be sued once!) please do not share, recreate, or sell without permission (or steal my dog).

Missionary

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 14:56:20 PST

Reminds me of an enemy.

______________________________
Check out my other Bone Women!

Also...
I am currently accepting commissions for art projects of all kinds. Browse my gallery to see if you like any of the styles presented, and feel free to ask questions. I promise professional treatment, high quality, low prices, and customer satisfaction. Individual pieces typically run from $10-20 depending on color, style, size, and subject matter. Please don't hesitate to contact me with your project for some free sketches and a consultation.
If you are at all interested send me an email at:
cstoll17@me.com

Cyborg De Milo

Wed, 04 Jul 2012 02:48:18 PDT

A re-imagining of that classic armless femme "Venus de Milo" let's call it a "reboot" of the old statue in ever sense of what that word has come to imply. Everyday I expect to see some classic work of artistic triumph "improved" through the pointless and indulgent addition of modern trappings, and I suppose that really was the initial conceptual inspiration for this piece.

We can rebuild her, we have the technology....

This was another piece done entirely on my iPad, I stretched the work out over a couple weeks and hundreds of tiny touch ups as the mood stuck; on the train, in the bath, at school...
Overall I'd say it took about 2-3 hours of continual work, I'd love to hear what you have to say about her.
Remember, a comment is worth a thousand faves

________________________
I am currently accepting commissions for art projects of all kinds. Browse my gallery to see if you like any of the styles presented, and feel free to ask questions. I promise professional treatment, high quality, low prices, and customer satisfaction. Individual pieces typically run from $15-30 depending on color, style, size, and subject matter. Please don't hesitate to contact me with your project for some free sketches and a consultation.
If you are at all interested send me an email at:
cstoll17@me.com

Organ Reaper

Sun, 06 Jun 2010 20:54:26 PDT

Imagine seeing the Organ Reaper's first victim slide down its gullet in twitches of movements and smothered screams for an easier death.
Watching paralyzed as the monster descends on you, squirming pregnant pink slimy insides pumping toxic blood through translucent veins.
Its mouth slipping open to swallow you whole, primordial poisons wafting from the dank cavernous tomb of the Reaper's body.
There is no escape, it cannot be outrun, or fought, or reasoned with. Your death is certain.
The monster lunges, hooked teeth dig deep into your fragile human form, ringing out clarity and carving out pain.
It's like falling upwards, slipping and gripping your way through its throat, deeper into the red and warm.

The experience that follows cannot be described, but I assure you that it takes far too long to die, poisonous senses stifle the brain, membranous tissue binds you, rancid acid saturates your skin as you struggle to breath. Helplessly you feel the first victim still weakly gasping, trying to scream, or perhaps he has given up crying for help and now only begs to be shat out quicker.

Trapped within the monster, your lungs sputter while gasping for something to say. Your body flickers, arching, and sobbing for home in the dark depths, entwined with the eternal frame of death while the creature draws precious strength from your coming lifelessness.

------------------------------------

There is something fundamentally terrifying about being eaten.
An electric shock of fear that we so rarely experience, having long ago firmly established ourselves as pinnacle of the planet's food chain.
This pure primordial horror crops up occasionally, Shark attacks, a few choice monster movies, the creatures squirmed up from dark and stormy nightmares that dwell outside your bedroom window or wait under the bed (we never really outgrow our monsters, just learn to ignore them)

It is a fear forged from helplessness, striking right to the root of our animal psychology. The concept behind this creature sketch was founded in that fear, the fear of being consumed.
I wanted to design a monster that not only looked capable of consuming human prey, but relished the notion.

This officially kicks off my "drawing a day" project.

Check out the original sketch here
[link]

_______________________________________________________
I am currently accepting commissions for art projects of all kinds. Browse my gallery to see if you like any of the styles presented, and feel free to ask questions. I promise professional treatment, high quality, low prices, and customer satisfaction. Individual pieces typically run from $15-30 depending on color, style, size, and subject matter. Please don't hesitate to contact me with your project for some free sketches and a consultation.
If you are at all interested send me an email at:
cstoll17@me.com

Tokyo Rain

Wed, 15 Aug 2012 15:48:22 PDT

Another lonely American in Japan.
ただ日本に住んでいるアメリカ人だ。寂しそう。

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Many, Many, Many reference pics were incorporated into this piece, if you think your work has been unfairly plagiarized please leave a comment. This work was not created for private profit, please do not share, recreate, or sell without permission (or steal my dog).

Black Cat Rager Concept

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 16:40:27 PDT

A steely mountain strutted across the field of battle, clad in almost nothing but armored all the same. The warrior next to me, a young woman, was dead instantly. The demon didn’t seem to realize that and kept killing her, splashing and smearing her corpse across the black soil.

A farmboy had his helmeted head caved in with casual swipe of an muscled limb, sending a splatter of final thoughts and memories rocketing out the back of a shattered skull.

The barbarian charged, I lowered my crossbow and released. The bolt buried itself in the beast as it closed distance between us, but did not diminish the doom crashing down upon me. I should have run when I realized the crossbow had done nothing to slow its assault, but instead I fumbled a blade from its scabbard and prepared to clash. I should have run, for as the raging mass of muscle leaped into smokey air I knew that the last thing I would ever experience was the gory edge of a dull blade and the howl of victorious ecstasy from a legendary Black Cat Rager.
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This is a character class design for TPK Games and their Malefactor releases!

If you are into the roleplaying scene you should definitely check them out!! They offer a great series of supplementals for campaigns, as well as some other goodies.

Please take the time to visit their website, they have been extremely kind to me and any traffic I can direct towards their work is the least I can do.

Princess Avengers: IRONMAN

Sun, 20 May 2012 07:52:00 PDT

The third of my Avenger's/Princess crossover series.
Jasmine Iron(wo)man! This one was a series of design challenges and difficult decisions regarding the character and her position on the page. Ironman's armor doesn't lend itself to to characterization, so I needed to reduce it to suit Jasmine's wardrobe... AND THAT IS THE ONLY REASON!! *panicked look* *not sexist*

I ended up going with something fairly simple and she looks just as badass as Mulan did in my former mix. I think I'm getting better at marrying the character's different styles, this one seems to gel
Then again, if you totally disagree then you should leave a comment. A really long and detailed one! I'm a glutton for punishment!

The next crossover will be the HULK! (POST A COMMENT IF YOU CAN GUESS WHICH PRINCESS IT WILL BE).

If you think a princess should be paired with a hero let me know too! I haven't decided who is going to be who just yet!

If you like this piece then please check out my other Avenging Princesses here:
[link]

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Many, Many, Many reference pics were incorporated into this piece, if you think your work has been unfairly plagiarized please leave a comment. In particular several photos of Jasmine cosplayers were used to create this piece, let me know if you know who I should credit. This work was not created for private profit, it is a parody only. Marvel's the Avengers and Aladdin's Jasmine are both property of Disney Corp (It's convenient because I'll only be sued once!) please do not share, recreate, or sell without permission (or steal my dog).

__________________
I am currently accepting commissions for art projects of all kinds. Browse my gallery to see if you like any of the styles presented, and feel free to ask questions. I promise professional treatment, high quality, low prices, and customer satisfaction. Individual pieces typically run from $15-30 depending on color, style, size, and subject matter. Please don't hesitate to contact me with your project for some free sketches and a consultation.
If you are at all interested send me an email at:
cstoll17@me.com

Princess Avengers: HULK

Sat, 13 Oct 2012 14:29:15 PDT

The next piece in my Princess Avengers crossovers series!

I ended up going with an unusual mix of features for this one. Marrying the distinct visual styles of the Avenger's universe with that of Disney's cartoons is difficult enough, but this one had so many discordant elements that I must have drawn and redrawn it a dozen times before I found anything I liked. The realistic visual style adds another hurdle, I need to create a realistic revision of these old 2D cartoons BEFORE I even consider the addition of the Avenger character. This one is supposed to be mid transformation, but I'm not sure how well it comes across. I think I'm getting better at marrying the character's different styles, this one seems to gel...
Then again, if you totally disagree then you should leave a comment. A really long and detailed one! Maybe several! *wink* *wink* *nudge* *nudge*

Honestly....
This piece is not quite done. But I've been delaying for so long that I wanted to put it out there and gauge the reactions... It's a vulnerable thing for an artist, but I think can deal with people seeing my work in stages that are "less than complete." I hope that they will see the attempt, and judge accordingly.
I'll be uploading a cleaner version with more detail in the shirt rips, and more transformation!!

Many, Many, Many reference pics were incorporated into this piece, if you think your work has been unfairly plagiarized please leave a comment. This work was not created for private profit, it is a parody only. Marvel's the Avengers and snow white (in her current form) are both property of Disney Corp (It's convenient because I'll only be sued once!) please do not share, recreate, or sell without permission (or steal my dog).
People have recently let me know that one of the pics I used as the basis for this piece is of a cosplayer known as Tallest Silver, you should give her a look. Honestly, I never thought I'd find out who it was. No disrespect intended.

Check out my other Princess Avengers here:
[link]

__________________________
I am currently accepting commissions for art projects of all kinds. Browse my gallery to see if you like any of the styles presented, and feel free to ask questions. I promise professional treatment, high quality, low prices, and customer satisfaction. Individual pieces typically run from $15-30 depending on color, style, size, and subject matter. Please don't hesitate to contact me with your project for some free sketches and a consultation.
If you are at all interested send me an email at:
cstoll17@me.com

Darkling Days

Fri, 14 Jan 2011 16:38:55 PST

A Creature Conceptual of an impish monster.
The picture is actually several feet wide/tall... much bigger than it appears in the photo.

_________________________________________
I am currently accepting commissions for art projects of all kinds. Browse my gallery to see if you like any of the styles presented, and feel free to ask questions. I promise professional treatment, high quality, low prices, and customer satisfaction. Individual pieces typically run from $15-30 depending on color, style, size, and subject matter. Please don't hesitate to contact me with your project for some free sketches and a consultation.
If you are at all interested send me an email at:
cstoll17@me.com

Princess Avengers: HAWKEYE

Fri, 18 May 2012 16:13:30 PDT

Here's the second work in the series of Disney princesses assembled (see what I did there?) into the Avengers.

It's Fa Mulan!! I did a much better Job of incorperating aspects of the character's costumes and color schemes in this one than I did will Belle, but it still doesn't work like I want it to... An alternate upload may be in order

The next princess will be Iron-Man! (POST A COMMENT IF YOU CAN GUESS WHICH PRINCESS IT WILL BE).

But even though this whole idea started as a shamelessly shallow fun mix up project I gotten really into it and would love to hear if you have suggestions, or you just absolutely hate it...

If you think a princess should be paired with a hero let me know too! I haven't decided who is going to be who just yet!

If you like this piece then check out my other Avenging Princesses:

[link]

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Many, Many, Many pictures were incorporated into this piece, notably some old mirror's edge conceptual art. If you think your work has been unfairly plagiarized please leave a comment. This work was not created for private profit, it is a parody only. Marvel's the Avengers and Mulan (in her current form) are both property of Disney Corp (It's convenient because I'll only be sued once!) please do not share, recreate, or sell without permission (or steal my dog).

_______________
I am currently accepting commissions for art projects of all kinds. Browse my gallery to see if you like any of the styles presented, and feel free to ask questions. I promise professional treatment, high quality, low prices, and customer satisfaction. Individual pieces typically run from $15-30 depending on color, style, size, and subject matter. Please don't hesitate to contact me with your project for some free sketches and a consultation.
If you are at all interested send me an email at:
cstoll17@me.com

Doggy

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 07:27:27 PST

Reminds me of a scornful lover.

______________________________
Check out my other Bone Women!

Also...
I am currently accepting commissions for art projects of all kinds. Browse my gallery to see if you like any of the styles presented, and feel free to ask questions. I promise professional treatment, high quality, low prices, and customer satisfaction. Individual pieces typically run from $10-20 depending on color, style, size, and subject matter. Please don't hesitate to contact me with your project for some free sketches and a consultation.
If you are at all interested send me an email at:
cstoll17@me.com

The Anatomy of Joy

Sat, 12 Jun 2010 20:42:08 PDT

How should we presume?
....

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Tip Jar- Ya know, if you feel like it...
[link]

Princess Avengers: LOKI (Bonus)

Sat, 18 May 2013 11:27:15 PDT

It's been a long time coming.
This is just a fun bonus to make up for how long some of the other mashups have taken.
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CHECK OUT MY OTHER AVENGING PRINCESSES HERE

Demon Page

Sun, 23 May 2010 18:17:39 PDT

A demonic essence scorched into ancient parchment, its sinister presence bound long ago by those who swore to protect this realm from the veil of darkness that extends beyond the fragile walls of our reality.
As a fly trapped in amber, forbidden magics hold the beast fast in its cosmic prison...
Although the capture of this being has long ago passed into legend, and few who know of this tale have given pause to what dark and terrible vengeance the demon may visit upon an unsuspecting world should it escape, its unique circumstances betray the monster's true strengths...
for even while it is locked away within leathery bindings, a voice as soft as honey pours from the page corrupting the hearts of lesser men and sending servants in search of mighty weapons to pick the lock of its cell and set loose once more a darkness that seeks to devour whole our ephemeral realm.

....
Started as a quick sketch, but became one that I decided to put a little more work into.
The words in the background is the Wikipedia page for "evil"
translated into Sandscrit

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Tip Jar- Ya know, if you feel like it...
[link]

Sundered Child Concept

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 13:32:01 PST

A nightmarish vehicle of twisted flesh and undead wails, the corpses of multiple humanoid children—all perished of wasting illness—given new form through dark necromancy. For even the most well-equipped traveller, the thought of this screaming, skittering, gnashing beast stumbling from the darkness with sinister intent turns the blood to ice-water.

A creature design for TPK Games.
If you are into the roleplaying scene you should definitely check them out!! They offer a great series of supplementals for campaigns, as well as some other goodies.

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All rights belong to TPK Games, please do not copy, distribute, or sell without permission. Or steal my dog...

Lord of Serpents Sketch

Wed, 06 Feb 2013 20:34:39 PST

An idea hatched fully formed... hehe "hatched"
I really like the androgyny. Initially it was going to be Serpent Queen, but I changed it pretty quickly into a more midline, nondescript, "serpent-like" avatar of snakes.

Character Set

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 13:15:45 PST

The above portraits are a series of characters that I did for TPK Games.
If you are into the roleplaying scene you should definitely check them out!! They offer a great series of supplementals for campaigns, as well as some other goodies.

Anyway, the best kinds of commissions are those where you have freedom to interpret and work laterally within the guidelines you are given. It always makes me eager to show that the buyer's faith in my wasn't misplaced, and I work harder to prove it. This one certainly fell within that category, I had room to visually interpret characters and bring a personal expressiveness to each of them that reflected their described personalities.
I wanted to make their traits apparent at a glance, maybe not their entire backstory or personal depth is evident... but I think that each of them displays their nature in posture and expression.
That's a win in my book

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All rights belong to TPK Games, please do not copy, distribute, or sell without permission. Or steal my dog...

Drawing a Day: Eve

Sun, 25 Mar 2012 03:25:29 PDT

I sketched this in brush-pen on the back of some spare foam matting, it's amazing practice for free association sketches and drawing in general because the foam soaks up ink and even pencil lines can't be erased without tearing up the surface of the material.
You'd think it would make you more cautious, but having to work with the material and not make mistakes forces you to think laterally and correct creatively. It really shakes up your artistic routine.

もし昔話のセタヌという鬼がいたら、いい事をした。あの悪魔は人間を助けたり幸せと悪を説明したり放したりした。無知で生活することは最低だ。
無秩序になるのはそれより欲しいそしてちゃんと無秩序を起こられる。良かったね

If Satan existed then he's the good guy. Just saying... Freeing God's ignorant slaves and allowing us control over our own destiny. This sketch has little to do with the unusual circumstances that surround the Christian creation myth, but I thought it was an interesting point to bring up in tandem with a pic about snakes and women

CHECK OUT MY OTHER DRAWINGS A DAY HERE:
[link]

Drawing a Day: Smog

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:24:03 PST

A fun concept for my drawing a day. Everyone in Tokyo seems to smoke (well, all the old businessmen) and sometimes you see shapes in the undulating strings of grey.
Hence my inspiration.

I almost colored it, but because the black/white was so striking I couldn't bring myself to do it. Thoughts?

CHECK OUT MY OTHER DRAWINGS A DAY HERE:
[link]

Smashed

Tue, 25 May 2010 14:36:15 PDT

Watercolor is not my thing, but I do like how this turned out. Done for a friend who likes his drinks (not in the way that you are thinking) and harbors deep resentment for people who can draw (somehow I'm the exception)

It took me about an hour to do, no reference pics which is also a big deal for me. I've been trying to practice without them.

Tell me whatcha think

PlanetBreakers Cover

Sun, 03 May 2009 17:56:36 PDT

This is a perfect example of good work, and bad photography... It was originally designed as a cover for the PlanetBreakers. Although you can't see it here, it was going to be made up to look like a military enlistment poster for the PlanetBreakers
WELL I THOUGHT IT WAS COOL!!!

SandStorm

Fri, 27 May 2011 13:34:01 PDT

A Sketch with some Eastern Flair (By that I mean kinda Manga-ish) This kicks off the return of my drawing a day.

The Good Life

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 17:46:01 PDT

A Speed Drawing of me after the world ends The whole thing took me about 30-45 minutes.
Comments are always welcome.
----------------------

The frailty of it all revealed at last,
bleak and infernal winds shouldering the ash of the late world into murky void.
Everything unwound, fragile fibers ripping with no solid ground to root them.

Sirens played formless music for a silent age to come,
rocked the soil to the beat of its rumbling doom.

Now aluminum cans glint
in the subdued light of a banished sun.
Label-less treats summoned up from the ashes of our ruin.

The future isn't what it was.

Disturbing the soft insides of burnt shops,
leaving Calvin Klein rotting on hangers,
and stepping over blackened books heaps swollen with rain,
I wander through bitter ash under darkened skies.

Painting totem faces
on cast down skyscraper heights.
Sleeping on moldy mounds of charred remains
beneath starless nights and the indifferent sun,
sorrowing the violated corpse of the abiding Earth.

I am God
of rags, bandages, dust.
No sound but the wind.
While at night in the light of a fire
I namelessly hum dim memories of mini-malls
to milky and mud-colored skies.

The legacy of our strange age,
dazzling machines, color and form,
the memory of that world sustained only by my breath.
Trembling and brief, visible for an instant,
before being poured away into frigid atmosphere.

Rats and roaches creep in dank chaos,
alabaster bones in the campfire glare.
Lonely I sit amidst the tombs of us all,
diseased and decaying from decades before.

Why not go back
to stabbing at shadows
in the damp canyon forests
of ancestral dreams?
Why not wake up
to tight knuckled families,
and our white-picket lives?

Those ancient people are dead.
This is my world
now.

Drawing a Day: To Conquer Death

Sat, 29 Sep 2012 12:32:24 PDT

It's no longer a matter of drawing these things every day, I just need to find the time to draw at all...
Still, I like the way this piece came out, will color it and upload later.

CHECK OUT MY OTHER DRAWINGS A DAY HERE:
[link]

Onib Alien Concept

Sun, 11 Nov 2012 21:09:15 PST

A species of sentient wormlike and warbent beings that hail from the dense center of our galaxy where the stars are packed so thick together that nightfall never comes.
We called them the Onib, perhaps the first species that mankind has ever encountered that matches us in murderous intent as well as technological prowess.
Currently engaged in a large scale territorial dispute with the human race over the planet Everest (galactic sector 13.31.89) which both species consider to be viable for longterm sustainable colonization.

-Journal of Captain Zane Ferris, year 2214, Planet Everest:

I cautiously peeked my head past the buckled wall to survey the scene; there must have been thirty of them all armed to the spines and rushing towards our hastily constructed barricades. Clear slime frothed thickly from their rubbery bodies as they clamored past one another, namelessly clawing, writhing, and hideously babbling their way across the crumbling desert sands swinging their heavy grey weapons ahead of them as they ran. I raised my own rifle and let off a series of carefully aimed blasts before ducking back behind my ruined piece of masonry and listening to the wounded creature’s gurgling shrieks.
My remaining human companions and I were seconds away from being overrun only moments after the battle had begun.

With a rush of cold air, something huge soared over my head, throwing circles of blinding light across the ruined landscape and laying down sheets of heavy flack. Speakers tucked deep in its belly roared encouragement and praise for the few remaining human soldiers below. “A new future for humanity!” “Our right as a species,” “To ensure our Art, Science, and Ideals endure and dominate!” I caught only snippets as the metal leviathan swung low over the battlefield reducing charging enemies to smears of mustard yellow guts and slimy grey flesh with waves of cannon fire.
We had been lucky. Perhaps tomorrow will end differently.
...

-Zane Ferris died twelve days later at the hands of the Onib
Soldiers fighting in this sector have a lower survival rating than any other known region of interplanetary dispute.

___________________________________
This is a redo of one of the first pieces I ever posted to DA almost 5 years ago. If you want to see how far I've come in that time click the link:
[link]

A Moment in the Dream

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:49:55 PST

A landscape of surreality inspired by a collection of my own dramatized dreams and personal experiences. I consider it an abstract self portrait.

The work was done all in marker on a piece of scrap cardboard that I found in the trash. The piece itself is about 4 feet long.
Completion took about 6 hours

Technical note: I never intended for this to be a finished piece, and because it was on cardboard it was very difficult to photograph and adjust digitally to get a clear image. This is the best result I could manage.

White Noise

Sat, 03 Sep 2011 12:12:02 PDT

I try to listen, but it's all so much white noise...

Itsy Bitsy

Fri, 20 May 2011 13:23:31 PDT

You know the feeling...

Drawing a Day: Two Hearts

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:30:35 PST

A romance that crosses the barrier of skin and steel.

Should I color it......?

Drawing a Day: Good Soldier

Sun, 01 Jan 2012 01:25:32 PST

"Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
with the cross of Jesus going on before.
The royal Master, leads against the foe;
forward into battle see his banners go!"

Those Christian soldiers forged in dank chaos,
alabaster bones in the fiery glare.
Lonely they walk amongst tombs of their fellows,
diseased and decaying from decades before.

Hand in hateful hand they slouch forward,
beneath starless nights and the indifferent sun,
sorrowing the violated corpse of the abiding Earth
crusading ever on, while fear and fire spread.

That rising black smoke carried us far from here...
Visible but for an instant, hung in the air
before being poured away into frigid atmosphere.
Bleak and infernal winds shouldering the ash of their
late world into murky void.

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Drawn from a dream. I like drawing scenes or characters that look like they belong to a story in an expanded universe, and if the picture doesn't do that by itself then I make sure to attach a poem to do the job. Which explains my melodramatic attachment... I guess if it means anything it's how I imagined the Crusades, the lust for death driving so many men forward. Burning the countryside as they went...

CHECK OUT MY OTHER DRAWINGS A DAY HERE:
[link]

Surreal Self

Sun, 11 Dec 2011 06:13:06 PST

A surreal self portrait of the human body and mind.
The painting itself is actually quite large Not that you can tell from this terrible photo, seriously I'm starting a bad quality upload FAD.

Self Portrait

Sun, 11 Dec 2011 05:58:50 PST

Drawing a day

Drawing a Day: Kiss Me

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 16:39:54 PST

Give love a chance!

CHECK OUT MY OTHER DRAWINGS A DAY HERE:
[link]

No Animal Testing

Fri, 05 Oct 2012 18:09:13 PDT

A lot of people I know (some of them close friends) were put on dangerous medication that they didn't need as young children. When families rely primarily on medication, children never have the opportunity to develop coping skills to adapt to new situations and frustrations. Additionally, the underlying issues in relationships are not addressed. Medication can have the effect of silencing everyone.

I try not to do "message art" but this image leaps to mind whenever 6 year olds I know are un-ironically diagnosed with "Bipolar" or "Attention Deficit Disorder".

If the pharmaceutical industry can turn normal human behavior into pathologies they make tremendous moniez.... They are incentivized to encourage YOUR doctor to prescribe unnecessary mind altering medications for you and your children. Please. Medications this powerful should be used only as a last resort.

Drawing a day: Angry Angel

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 02:01:46 PDT

Maybe under all that dirt and gunmetal grease she really is stunningly beautiful, not that she'd care.
She'll never say she loves you, but she lies about everything else so you wonder what's stopping her.

Not quite a damsel in distress, this bad girl does what she wants, when she wants, AND HOW F%*#ING DARE YOU TELL HER WHAT TO DO.

You're never sure if she turns you on or scares you, and even after she's done you can still taste those smokey kisses and hear those thick skinned jabs.

CHECK OUT MY OTHER DRAWINGS A DAY HERE:
[link]

Drawing a Day: Manscape

Sat, 15 Oct 2011 04:18:59 PDT

Instead of a drawing it's a painting!!! Painting a day!!! yeaaaaa!! Still in Tokyo, so it's a little hard to find the time to do full pieces and then scan and upload them, but I'll keep trying!
がんばっている!!

Buffy vs. Batman Speed Drawing

Fri, 11 Jun 2010 00:00:58 PDT

That's right, he's not a vampire, He's the Goddamn Batman.... -.-
Just for fun, I'm actually not sure who would win.

Although batman would need to have some sort of Anti-Wit gadget on his belt just to survive Buffy's one liners.

This was my drawing for the day.
It was a speed pic, no pencil, and took about 20 mins to do in all marker.
Comments are always encouraged, especially if they are debating the logistics of a battle between slayers and superheroes

_________________________________________
I am currently accepting commissions for art projects of all kinds. Browse my gallery to see if you like any of the styles presented, and feel free to ask questions. I promise professional treatment, high quality, low prices, and customer satisfaction. Individual pieces typically run from $15-30 depending on color, style, size, and subject matter. Please don't hesitate to contact me with your project for some free sketches and a consultation.
If you are at all interested send me an email at:
cstoll17@me.com