http://mercuralis.deviantart.com/gallery/ deviantART RSS for sort:time gallery:mercuralis en-us Copyright 2013, deviantART.com Sun, 19 May 2013 17:40:21 PDT deviantART.com http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss http://st.deviantart.net/minish/widgets/apple-touch-icon-precomposed.png http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/Once-Upon-A-Time-Captain-Hook-371309162 http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/Once-Upon-A-Time-Captain-Hook-371309162 Sun, 12 May 2013 15:42:04 PDT Once Upon A Time - Captain Hook nonadult fanart/digital/painting/movies MelissaFindley http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/m/e/melissafindley.gif Copyright 2013 *MelissaFindley @Mercuralis And tonight seems a good night to upload it, since it's the Season 2 finale, and a Hook-centric episode.

Please do not reupload this to other sites (including Tumblr, Pinterest, Facebook, etc.) There are share buttons available on the right that you can use to link it there. Please do not edit this or use it to make other graphics, webpage backgrounds, avatars, etc. If you see anyone using it, let me know?

I don't sell prints of fan art, sorry.

Happy finale, Hookers! (And all other Oncers!) #BOOM ]]> And tonight seems a good night to upload it, since it's the Season 2 finale, and a Hook-centric episode.

Please do not reupload this to other sites (including Tumblr, Pinterest, Facebook, etc.) There are share buttons available on the right that you can use to link it there. Please do not edit this or use it to make other graphics, webpage backgrounds, avatars, etc. If you see anyone using it, let me know?

I don't sell prints of fan art, sorry.

Happy finale, Hookers! (And all other Oncers!) #BOOM

]]> http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/Captain-Swan-Pirate-Flag-359030034 http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/Captain-Swan-Pirate-Flag-359030034 Mon, 11 Mar 2013 20:16:36 PDT Captain Swan Pirate Flag nonadult designs/logos MelissaFindley http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/m/e/melissafindley.gif Copyright 2013 *MelissaFindley @Mercuralis
Please feel free to share this on twitter, tumblr, Facebook, whatever... Just also PLEASE remember to credit. Use the share buttons to repost or reblog this and make your life easier.

All I ask is that you:
1.) Credit.
2.) PLEASE don't modify it!
3.) If you want a variation on it, ASK ME FIRST! (See Footnote 1)
4.) DO NOT CLAIM IT AS YOUR OWN
5.) Do not use it for prints or t-shirts or whatever (See Footnote 2)

Footnote 1: If you want a graphic with this to share on Tumblr, etc, but with a particular phrase or in a different color, please ask! I'll take requests!

Footnote 2: T-shirts of this are now available at my Zazzle store: [link]

And if you'd rather credit my Tumblr, I'm okay with that too! You'll find me over there as [link] ]]>
Please feel free to share this on twitter, tumblr, Facebook, whatever... Just also PLEASE remember to credit. Use the share buttons to repost or reblog this and make your life easier.

All I ask is that you:
1.) Credit.
2.) PLEASE don't modify it!
3.) If you want a variation on it, ASK ME FIRST! (See Footnote 1)
4.) DO NOT CLAIM IT AS YOUR OWN
5.) Do not use it for prints or t-shirts or whatever (See Footnote 2)

Footnote 1: If you want a graphic with this to share on Tumblr, etc, but with a particular phrase or in a different color, please ask! I'll take requests!

Footnote 2: T-shirts of this are now available at my Zazzle store: [link]

And if you'd rather credit my Tumblr, I'm okay with that too! You'll find me over there as [link]

]]> http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/My-Art-Graveyard-333958859 http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/My-Art-Graveyard-333958859 Tue, 23 Oct 2012 12:51:49 PDT My Art Graveyard adult digitalart/paintings/other MelissaFindley http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/m/e/melissafindley.gif Copyright 2012-2013 *MelissaFindley @Mercuralis
Mostly it gets poked at and then put into a file called “Finish Me” or another one called “Abandoned.” Every so often I pull these files out and try to decide if I want to keep poking at it or not. Sometimes the work feels too dated, like I ought to start it over from scratch. Sometimes it’s so close to done that if I could just find the time, I’d finish it.

This is a collection of pieces that are all sitting in one of those two folders, waiting for me to find time, or energy. Some many never be finished. ("Sapphire", for instance, is the original version of what became "Shameless". I intend to finish "Shameless" but have no real interest in "Sapphire" anymore.) Some, like "Trick," are just too old and I'd need to start from scratch.

Still, I feel like there's some good stuff in here. If you could pick three of these that you'd like to see me finish, which would they be?

I do have some other work that I should be able to show, soon. I've had a few things come out from under NDA. Plus I have some work I've been doing for my other job that I should really post. This is mainly to get me thinking about some of these languishing projects and get me drawing for myself again. ]]>
Mostly it gets poked at and then put into a file called “Finish Me” or another one called “Abandoned.” Every so often I pull these files out and try to decide if I want to keep poking at it or not. Sometimes the work feels too dated, like I ought to start it over from scratch. Sometimes it’s so close to done that if I could just find the time, I’d finish it.

This is a collection of pieces that are all sitting in one of those two folders, waiting for me to find time, or energy. Some many never be finished. ("Sapphire", for instance, is the original version of what became "Shameless". I intend to finish "Shameless" but have no real interest in "Sapphire" anymore.) Some, like "Trick," are just too old and I'd need to start from scratch.

Still, I feel like there's some good stuff in here. If you could pick three of these that you'd like to see me finish, which would they be?

I do have some other work that I should be able to show, soon. I've had a few things come out from under NDA. Plus I have some work I've been doing for my other job that I should really post. This is mainly to get me thinking about some of these languishing projects and get me drawing for myself again.

]]> http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/AGoT-You-Swore-An-Oath-291888256 http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/AGoT-You-Swore-An-Oath-291888256 Fri, 23 Mar 2012 12:28:28 PDT AGoT - You Swore An Oath nonadult designs/gameart/gameconcepts/characters MelissaFindley http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/m/e/melissafindley.gif Copyright 2012-2013 *MelissaFindley @Mercuralis

Completed for Fantasy Flight Games' "A Game of Thrones: The Card Game"

All rights reserved, please do not use. ]]>

Completed for Fantasy Flight Games' "A Game of Thrones: The Card Game"

All rights reserved, please do not use.

]]> http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/CoC-Disk-of-Itzamna-291886181 http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/CoC-Disk-of-Itzamna-291886181 Fri, 23 Mar 2012 12:14:17 PDT CoC-Disk of Itzamna nonadult designs/gameart/gameconcepts/storyline MelissaFindley http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/m/e/melissafindley.gif Copyright 2012-2013 *MelissaFindley @Mercuralis
Done for Fantasy Flight Games' "Call of Cthulu: The Card Game."

All rights reserved, please do not use. ]]>
Done for Fantasy Flight Games' "Call of Cthulu: The Card Game."

All rights reserved, please do not use.

]]> http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/LotR-Taking-Initiative-291883561 http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/LotR-Taking-Initiative-291883561 Fri, 23 Mar 2012 11:57:05 PDT LotR - Taking Initiative nonadult designs/gameart/gameconcepts/characters MelissaFindley http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/m/e/melissafindley.gif Copyright 2012-2013 *MelissaFindley @Mercuralis
Done for Fantasy Flight Games' "Lord of the Rings: The Card Game" as part of the Dwarrowdelf Expansion. You can find this card in the "Redhorn Gate" pack.

So much of this got lost at the small card printing size, even though I do try to keep things simple when I know it'll be printed small.

All rights reserved on this piece, please do not use. ]]>
Done for Fantasy Flight Games' "Lord of the Rings: The Card Game" as part of the Dwarrowdelf Expansion. You can find this card in the "Redhorn Gate" pack.

So much of this got lost at the small card printing size, even though I do try to keep things simple when I know it'll be printed small.

All rights reserved on this piece, please do not use.

]]> http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/Pale-Prince-291147490 http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/Pale-Prince-291147490 Sun, 18 Mar 2012 23:57:22 PDT Pale Prince nonadult digitalart/paintings/people/portraits MelissaFindley http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/m/e/melissafindley.gif Copyright 2012-2013 *MelissaFindley @Mercuralis
This was originally conceived as a much needed update of my much older portrait of Hamlet. I have a few of these projects in the works (updates of older paintings that I no longer like). This isn't quite the final product I had in mind, but I'm fairly happy with the style of it. ]]>
This was originally conceived as a much needed update of my much older portrait of Hamlet. I have a few of these projects in the works (updates of older paintings that I no longer like). This isn't quite the final product I had in mind, but I'm fairly happy with the style of it.

]]> http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/Character-Portrait-Marcus-259586650 http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/Character-Portrait-Marcus-259586650 Wed, 21 Sep 2011 20:48:17 PDT Character Portrait: Marcus nonadult digitalart/paintings/people/portraits MelissaFindley http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/m/e/melissafindley.gif Copyright 2011-2013 *MelissaFindley @Mercuralis *abigailmh based on her original characters. This is Marcus.

No touchy. Please do not reuse, repost, or anything else without explicit written permission.

If you're interested in purchasing a character portrait, please visit my journal for more information. ]]> *abigailmh based on her original characters. This is Marcus.

No touchy. Please do not reuse, repost, or anything else without explicit written permission.

If you're interested in purchasing a character portrait, please visit my journal for more information.

]]> http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/Character-Portrait-Rhiannon-256088987 http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/Character-Portrait-Rhiannon-256088987 Wed, 31 Aug 2011 17:33:27 PDT Character Portrait: Rhiannon nonadult digitalart/paintings/people/portraits MelissaFindley http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/m/e/melissafindley.gif Copyright 2011-2013 *MelissaFindley @Mercuralis *LadyRhianwriter of her original character. Please do not use without permission.

For more information on character portraits and pricing, please see my journal. ]]> *LadyRhianwriter of her original character. Please do not use without permission.

For more information on character portraits and pricing, please see my journal.

]]> http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/Character-Portrait-Acacia-252008585 http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/Character-Portrait-Acacia-252008585 Tue, 09 Aug 2011 19:56:31 PDT Character Portrait - Acacia nonadult digitalart/paintings/people/portraits MelissaFindley http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/m/e/melissafindley.gif Copyright 2011-2013 *MelissaFindley @Mercuralis *Siriusstar76 of her original character, Acacia.

Interested in commissioning a character portrait? Please see my journal for more information. ]]> *Siriusstar76 of her original character, Acacia.

Interested in commissioning a character portrait? Please see my journal for more information.

]]> http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/Portrait-Commission-Mendarien-252008306 http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/Portrait-Commission-Mendarien-252008306 Tue, 09 Aug 2011 19:54:34 PDT Portrait Commission -Mendarien nonadult digitalart/paintings/people/portraits MelissaFindley http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/m/e/melissafindley.gif Copyright 2011-2013 *MelissaFindley @Mercuralis *Siriusstar76 of her original character, Mendarien.

Interested in commissioning a character portrait? Please check my journal for more information. ]]> *Siriusstar76 of her original character, Mendarien.

Interested in commissioning a character portrait? Please check my journal for more information.

]]> http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/Brian-Burnham-CoC-213009301 http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/Brian-Burnham-CoC-213009301 Mon, 13 Jun 2011 12:51:31 PDT Brian Burnham - CoC nonadult designs/gameart/gameconcepts/characters MelissaFindley http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/m/e/melissafindley.gif Copyright 2011-2013 *MelissaFindley @Mercuralis
Please do not reuse, redistribute, republish, etc.

A note on size: This image, when printed, is only a couple of inches wide/tall--less than the size of a standard playing card. ]]>
Please do not reuse, redistribute, republish, etc.

A note on size: This image, when printed, is only a couple of inches wide/tall--less than the size of a standard playing card.

]]> http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/Cheat-Fate-Talisman-213009018 http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/Cheat-Fate-Talisman-213009018 Mon, 13 Jun 2011 12:49:55 PDT Cheat Fate - Talisman nonadult designs/gameart/gameconcepts/characters MelissaFindley http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/m/e/melissafindley.gif Copyright 2011-2013 *MelissaFindley @Mercuralis
Please do not reuse, redistribute, republish, etc.

A note on size: This image, when printed, is only a couple of inches wide/tall--less than the size of a standard playing card. ]]>
Please do not reuse, redistribute, republish, etc.

A note on size: This image, when printed, is only a couple of inches wide/tall--less than the size of a standard playing card.

]]> http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/Apostle-of-Light-Talisman-213008380 http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/Apostle-of-Light-Talisman-213008380 Mon, 13 Jun 2011 12:46:16 PDT Apostle of Light - Talisman nonadult designs/gameart/gameconcepts/characters MelissaFindley http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/m/e/melissafindley.gif Copyright 2011-2013 *MelissaFindley @Mercuralis
This came out awhile ago, finally have permission to show. I believe this image ended up on the back of the box, as well.

Please do not reuse, redistribute, republish, etc.

A note on size: This image, when printed, is only a couple of inches wide/tall--less than the size of a standard playing card. ]]>
This came out awhile ago, finally have permission to show. I believe this image ended up on the back of the box, as well.

Please do not reuse, redistribute, republish, etc.

A note on size: This image, when printed, is only a couple of inches wide/tall--less than the size of a standard playing card.

]]> http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/Disguised-Threat-CoC-213008109 http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/Disguised-Threat-CoC-213008109 Mon, 13 Jun 2011 12:44:12 PDT Disguised Threat - CoC nonadult designs/gameart/gameconcepts/characters MelissaFindley http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/m/e/melissafindley.gif Copyright 2011-2013 *MelissaFindley @Mercuralis
This deck came out ages ago, finally have permission to show it.

Please do not reuse, redistribute, republish, etc.

A note on size: This image, when printed, is only a couple of inches wide/tall--less than the size of a standard playing card. ]]>
This deck came out ages ago, finally have permission to show it.

Please do not reuse, redistribute, republish, etc.

A note on size: This image, when printed, is only a couple of inches wide/tall--less than the size of a standard playing card.

]]> http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/Knight-of-the-Hollow-Hill-AGOT-213007684 http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/Knight-of-the-Hollow-Hill-AGOT-213007684 Mon, 13 Jun 2011 12:41:46 PDT Knight of the Hollow Hill AGOT nonadult designs/gameart/gameconcepts/characters MelissaFindley http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/m/e/melissafindley.gif Copyright 2011-2013 *MelissaFindley @Mercuralis
This deck came out ... awhile ago. Finally have permission to show it.

Please do not reuse, redistribute, republish, etc.

A note on size: This image, when printed, is only a couple of inches wide/tall--less than the size of a standard playing card. ]]>
This deck came out ... awhile ago. Finally have permission to show it.

Please do not reuse, redistribute, republish, etc.

A note on size: This image, when printed, is only a couple of inches wide/tall--less than the size of a standard playing card.

]]> http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/BtVS-Sketches-Spike-Dru-Buffy-190455524 http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/BtVS-Sketches-Spike-Dru-Buffy-190455524 Tue, 21 Dec 2010 21:57:50 PST BtVS Sketches: Spike Dru Buffy nonadult fanart/digital/drawings/movies MelissaFindley http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/m/e/melissafindley.gif Copyright 2010-2013 *MelissaFindley @Mercuralis
So, with so much of my work tied up with commissions and NDAs, it's nice to sometimes do stuff just for me. Especially stuff that is both educational and recreational.

I don't sketch enough, really, and I feel like I've fallen into a rut with my personal work, which is when I usually turn to fan art: It takes away the "creative" part and forces me to focus on the technical. So I've started a fan art digital sketchbook to work on in my spare time.

My goals: focus on sketching, line, form, shapes, poses, perspective, character likenesses, and expressions. Some of those are pretty easy, some are more difficult, but I'm learning a lot from doing these and they're fun (and an excuse to express my inner fan girl).

There will probably be more of these, eventually. ]]>
So, with so much of my work tied up with commissions and NDAs, it's nice to sometimes do stuff just for me. Especially stuff that is both educational and recreational.

I don't sketch enough, really, and I feel like I've fallen into a rut with my personal work, which is when I usually turn to fan art: It takes away the "creative" part and forces me to focus on the technical. So I've started a fan art digital sketchbook to work on in my spare time.

My goals: focus on sketching, line, form, shapes, poses, perspective, character likenesses, and expressions. Some of those are pretty easy, some are more difficult, but I'm learning a lot from doing these and they're fun (and an excuse to express my inner fan girl).

There will probably be more of these, eventually.

]]> http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/Deviant-Me-189845767 http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/Deviant-Me-189845767 Thu, 16 Dec 2010 20:48:33 PST Deviant Me nonadult digitalart/paintings/people/portraits MelissaFindley http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/m/e/melissafindley.gif Copyright 2010-2013 *MelissaFindley @Mercuralis
Or, something...

I think everyone should have at least one badass portrait of themselves, as they wish they were... don't you? ]]>
Or, something...

I think everyone should have at least one badass portrait of themselves, as they wish they were... don't you?

]]> http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/deviantID-2011-189816182 http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/deviantID-2011-189816182 Thu, 16 Dec 2010 15:34:57 PST deviantID 2011 nonadult darelated/deviantid MelissaFindley http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/m/e/melissafindley.gif Copyright 2010-2013 *MelissaFindley @Mercuralis
Poem by Shel Silverstien, who knew what he was talking about. ]]>
Poem by Shel Silverstien, who knew what he was talking about.

]]> http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/Edric-Dayne-Game-of-Thrones-188364028 http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/Edric-Dayne-Game-of-Thrones-188364028 Fri, 03 Dec 2010 14:57:44 PST Edric Dayne - Game of Thrones nonadult digitalart/paintings/fantasy MelissaFindley http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/m/e/melissafindley.gif Copyright 2010-2013 *MelissaFindley @Mercuralis
Again, this deck came out a few months ago and I'm just now getting around to posting this. I completed it sometime last January, so it's been almost a year.

Please do not reuse, redistribute, republish, etc.

A note on size: This image, when printed, is only a couple of inches wide/tall--less than the size of a standard playing card. ]]>
Again, this deck came out a few months ago and I'm just now getting around to posting this. I completed it sometime last January, so it's been almost a year.

Please do not reuse, redistribute, republish, etc.

A note on size: This image, when printed, is only a couple of inches wide/tall--less than the size of a standard playing card.

]]> http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/Crazed-Arsonist-CoC-188363442 http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/Crazed-Arsonist-CoC-188363442 Fri, 03 Dec 2010 14:52:07 PST Crazed Arsonist - CoC nonadult digitalart/paintings/fantasy MelissaFindley http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/m/e/melissafindley.gif Copyright 2010-2013 *MelissaFindley @Mercuralis
Please do not reuse, redistribute, republish etc.

A note on size: The printed version of this is only a couple of inches wide and less than that tall (less than the size of a playing card). ]]>
Please do not reuse, redistribute, republish etc.

A note on size: The printed version of this is only a couple of inches wide and less than that tall (less than the size of a playing card).

]]> http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/Noises-Off-Sardine-Cast-Poster-171335135 http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/Noises-Off-Sardine-Cast-Poster-171335135 Wed, 14 Jul 2010 15:50:37 PDT Noises Off Sardine Cast Poster nonadult digitalart/drawings/other MelissaFindley http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/m/e/melissafindley.gif Copyright 2010-2013 *MelissaFindley @Mercuralis
If you're not familiar with the play "Noises Off"... well, you really should go fix that. It's possibly one of the funniest plays ever written. But if you don't know it, you probably won't get the joke behind the poster.

At any rate, I did this poster as a gift for our director, who was amazing. Basically it's the entire cast, anthropomorphized as sardines.

Yes. Sardines.

Like I said, it's kind of an "in the play" joke.

Sardine Characters, in order of appearance (left to right)
Poppy, Selsdon, Tim, Brooke, Lloyd, Garry, Dotty, Belinda, Freddy

The costumes and props are based on our costumes and props in the play, and are fairly accurate. Each fish's physicality is based on the actor who played that character. In case you're curious, I'm the Poppy fish (Far left). ]]>
If you're not familiar with the play "Noises Off"... well, you really should go fix that. It's possibly one of the funniest plays ever written. But if you don't know it, you probably won't get the joke behind the poster.

At any rate, I did this poster as a gift for our director, who was amazing. Basically it's the entire cast, anthropomorphized as sardines.

Yes. Sardines.

Like I said, it's kind of an "in the play" joke.

Sardine Characters, in order of appearance (left to right)
Poppy, Selsdon, Tim, Brooke, Lloyd, Garry, Dotty, Belinda, Freddy

The costumes and props are based on our costumes and props in the play, and are fairly accurate. Each fish's physicality is based on the actor who played that character. In case you're curious, I'm the Poppy fish (Far left).

]]> http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/The-Crow-King-3D-163710514 http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/The-Crow-King-3D-163710514 Tue, 11 May 2010 11:23:15 PDT The Crow King 3D nonadult digitalart/paintings/fantasy MelissaFindley http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/m/e/melissafindley.gif Copyright 2010-2013 *MelissaFindley @Mercuralis
I'd planned, when doing this originally, to try out making it into a 3D/Stereovision image, so I saved pretty much each element as it's own layer to make my life easier. There's a couple of places where it's a little wonky, and some of the 3D effects in his face are pretty subtle, but overall I'd rate this an 8 as to how successful it was.

Next time, though, I'll try not to do it as a landscape.

If you don't know what stereovision means, here's how it works. Sit a foot or two away from your monitor, and stare at the two side by side images. If you can, cross your eyes and try to focus on the "magical" third/middle image that will pop up. Then you'll be able to see the 3D effects.

Want to learn how to make these? Um... check google? I had a link ages ago, but mostly I just tried to figure it out on my own. ]]>
I'd planned, when doing this originally, to try out making it into a 3D/Stereovision image, so I saved pretty much each element as it's own layer to make my life easier. There's a couple of places where it's a little wonky, and some of the 3D effects in his face are pretty subtle, but overall I'd rate this an 8 as to how successful it was.

Next time, though, I'll try not to do it as a landscape.

If you don't know what stereovision means, here's how it works. Sit a foot or two away from your monitor, and stare at the two side by side images. If you can, cross your eyes and try to focus on the "magical" third/middle image that will pop up. Then you'll be able to see the 3D effects.

Want to learn how to make these? Um... check google? I had a link ages ago, but mostly I just tried to figure it out on my own.

]]> http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/Lust-Unmasked-161543250 http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/Lust-Unmasked-161543250 Wed, 21 Apr 2010 18:40:54 PDT Lust Unmasked nonadult digitalart/paintings/people/portraits MelissaFindley http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/m/e/melissafindley.gif Copyright 2010-2013 *MelissaFindley @Mercuralis
The mask in this is actually based on one I own, sent to me by a friend all the way from Venice.

The lace is hand drawn.

Maybe I'll do a tutorial on how to do lace like this. ]]>
The mask in this is actually based on one I own, sent to me by a friend all the way from Venice.

The lace is hand drawn.

Maybe I'll do a tutorial on how to do lace like this.

]]> http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/The-Crow-King-159018976 http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/The-Crow-King-159018976 Tue, 30 Mar 2010 22:07:17 PDT The Crow King nonadult digitalart/paintings/fantasy MelissaFindley http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/m/e/melissafindley.gif Copyright 2010-2013 *MelissaFindley @Mercuralis [link] , it was one of my favorite pieces, but since then... whenever I look at it I see something I really don't like. A lot of somethings. Particularly his outfit.

I'm much, much happier with this new version of the character. I imagine that in a few years I'll want to do it over again, but in the meantime I'm pleased.

Details here:
Partial Walkthrough here: [link]

And I'm putting together a time-lapse video of the entire painting. It's just slow going since it's a big file. ]]> [link] , it was one of my favorite pieces, but since then... whenever I look at it I see something I really don't like. A lot of somethings. Particularly his outfit.

I'm much, much happier with this new version of the character. I imagine that in a few years I'll want to do it over again, but in the meantime I'm pleased.

Details here:
Partial Walkthrough here: [link]

And I'm putting together a time-lapse video of the entire painting. It's just slow going since it's a big file.

]]> http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/William-the-Bloody-158860783 http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/William-the-Bloody-158860783 Mon, 29 Mar 2010 13:43:27 PDT William the Bloody nonadult fanart/digital/painting/movies MelissaFindley http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/m/e/melissafindley.gif Copyright 2010-2013 *MelissaFindley @Mercuralis
Fanart, for me, is a great chance to experiment. I'm not so worried about the character or the story, and I get to fully concentrate on just style and playing around. I'm trying to loosen up a bit.

Spike is, of course property of Mutant Enemy, Joss Whedon, James Marsters and whoever else can legally claim him (I only wish it were me).

oh, and a shout out to Bittbox for the spatter brushes. ]]>
Fanart, for me, is a great chance to experiment. I'm not so worried about the character or the story, and I get to fully concentrate on just style and playing around. I'm trying to loosen up a bit.

Spike is, of course property of Mutant Enemy, Joss Whedon, James Marsters and whoever else can legally claim him (I only wish it were me).

oh, and a shout out to Bittbox for the spatter brushes.

]]> http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/Smoke-151977791 http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/Smoke-151977791 Wed, 27 Jan 2010 14:30:31 PST Smoke nonadult digitalart/paintings/fantasy MelissaFindley http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/m/e/melissafindley.gif Copyright 2010-2013 *MelissaFindley @Mercuralis [link]

I consider this an experiment in painting in Photoshop (which I don't normally do), and skin tones.

About three and a half hours, total. ]]> [link]

I consider this an experiment in painting in Photoshop (which I don't normally do), and skin tones.

About three and a half hours, total.

]]> http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/Seth-Study-150045125 http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/Seth-Study-150045125 Mon, 11 Jan 2010 08:11:19 PST Seth: Study nonadult digitalart/drawings/fantasy MelissaFindley http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/m/e/melissafindley.gif Copyright 2010-2013 *MelissaFindley @Mercuralis

By "faux charcoal" I mean digital done with charcoal brushes.

No reference, so the arms are a bit off. Couldn't find a reference for this kind of pose. Shame. I like lazy poses.

Seth, btw, is totally my imaginary property. Hands off. I have plans for him.

[Edit: His far hand was really bugging me. It made his arm look too long, wasn't attaching to his wrist right, and was drawing the eye away from his face... so I've adjusted it, and touched things up in other places] ]]>

By "faux charcoal" I mean digital done with charcoal brushes.

No reference, so the arms are a bit off. Couldn't find a reference for this kind of pose. Shame. I like lazy poses.

Seth, btw, is totally my imaginary property. Hands off. I have plans for him.

[Edit: His far hand was really bugging me. It made his arm look too long, wasn't attaching to his wrist right, and was drawing the eye away from his face... so I've adjusted it, and touched things up in other places]

]]> http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/2004-2009-Improvement-149201096 http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/2004-2009-Improvement-149201096 Mon, 04 Jan 2010 10:54:30 PST 2004-2009 Improvement nonadult darelated/deviousfun MelissaFindley http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/m/e/melissafindley.gif Copyright 2010-2013 *MelissaFindley @Mercuralis
Template from [link] (With some alteration). ]]>
Template from [link] (With some alteration).

]]> http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/2009-Art-Summary-Meme-148746319 http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/2009-Art-Summary-Meme-148746319 Thu, 31 Dec 2009 18:20:43 PST 2009 Art Summary Meme nonadult darelated/deviousfun MelissaFindley http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/m/e/melissafindley.gif Copyright 2009-2013 *MelissaFindley @Mercuralis
So, yes, I'm alive. I've been chugging away on commissions and dealing with personal problems the last few months. Sorry if I haven't been around so much. My message center is REALLY backed up.

___________
Meme started by: *AudreyDutroux
blank (although I heavily modified mine): [link] ]]>
So, yes, I'm alive. I've been chugging away on commissions and dealing with personal problems the last few months. Sorry if I haven't been around so much. My message center is REALLY backed up.

___________
Meme started by: *AudreyDutroux
blank (although I heavily modified mine): [link]

]]> http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/Thirst-142047386 http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/Thirst-142047386 Sat, 31 Oct 2009 10:12:32 PDT Thirst nonadult digitalart/paintings/fantasy MelissaFindley http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/m/e/melissafindley.gif Copyright 2009-2013 *MelissaFindley @Mercuralis
Lately I've been back on a vampire kick. This bad boy isn't meant to be anybody in particular, though he's a bit inspired by several other blonde vamps. Spike, obviously (yum), but also Bones from Jeaniene Frost's "Halfway to the Grave" series. ]]>
Lately I've been back on a vampire kick. This bad boy isn't meant to be anybody in particular, though he's a bit inspired by several other blonde vamps. Spike, obviously (yum), but also Bones from Jeaniene Frost's "Halfway to the Grave" series.

]]> http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/Death-Has-A-Smile-141021871 http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/Death-Has-A-Smile-141021871 Wed, 21 Oct 2009 13:25:00 PDT Death Has A Smile nonadult digitalart/paintings/fantasy MelissaFindley http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/m/e/melissafindley.gif Copyright 2009-2013 *MelissaFindley @Mercuralis
I'm on a white hair+young guy kick lately, just to warn you. There's at least one more coming soon.

The title and the image were loosely inspired by a poem by e.e. cummings. [link]

Specifically these lines:

"dead has a smile like the nicest man you’ve never met who maybe winks
at you in a streetcar and you pretend you don’t but really you do
see and you are My how glad he winked and hope he’ll do it again

or if it talks about you somewhere behind your back it makes your neck
feel pleasant and stoopid and if dead says may i have this one and
was never introduced you say Yes because you know you want it to dance
with you and it wants to and it can dance and Whocares"

Detail shot of Death: [link] ]]>
I'm on a white hair+young guy kick lately, just to warn you. There's at least one more coming soon.

The title and the image were loosely inspired by a poem by e.e. cummings. [link]

Specifically these lines:

"dead has a smile like the nicest man you’ve never met who maybe winks
at you in a streetcar and you pretend you don’t but really you do
see and you are My how glad he winked and hope he’ll do it again

or if it talks about you somewhere behind your back it makes your neck
feel pleasant and stoopid and if dead says may i have this one and
was never introduced you say Yes because you know you want it to dance
with you and it wants to and it can dance and Whocares"

Detail shot of Death: [link]

]]> http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/Inferno-137480753 http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/Inferno-137480753 Fri, 18 Sep 2009 21:42:01 PDT Inferno nonadult traditional/paintings/fantasy MelissaFindley http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/m/e/melissafindley.gif Copyright 2009-2013 *MelissaFindley @Mercuralis
I really need to get my scanner working again.

Anyway... this is an oil painting, approx. 8"x12", oils, painted on a hard canvas covered notebook (front cover).

Not perfect, but I'm still learning how to control my oils. The background looks flat black here, but it's not quite. There's some red/orange glow and blues mixed in as well. Hate how his hair turned out, but since this is experimental, I'll do better on the next one. ]]>
I really need to get my scanner working again.

Anyway... this is an oil painting, approx. 8"x12", oils, painted on a hard canvas covered notebook (front cover).

Not perfect, but I'm still learning how to control my oils. The background looks flat black here, but it's not quite. There's some red/orange glow and blues mixed in as well. Hate how his hair turned out, but since this is experimental, I'll do better on the next one.

]]> http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/Raistlin-136836036 http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/Raistlin-136836036 Sat, 12 Sep 2009 19:50:28 PDT Raistlin nonadult fanart/digital/painting/books MelissaFindley http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/m/e/melissafindley.gif Copyright 2009-2013 *MelissaFindley @Mercuralis
Larry Elmore's paintings of the Heroes had a major impact on me... though I don't think I realized it for a long time. I remember copying his drawings of the main characters over and over. I still have sketchbooks with some of my early drawings of the Heroes of the Lance--from middle school.

Of all the heroes, Raistlin was my favorite. He was mysterious and sarcastic and complicated and I adored him. I cried so hard the night I finished the last of the Legends trilogy--I felt like my best friend had died.

I'm no longer such a Dragonlance fan... at least not of the new books. The original chronicles still hold a special place in my heart. And it's been many many years since I last drew any of the characters. But after Dragon*con last weekend, and getting a chance to talk to Larry Elmore, I was obsessed with drawing Raistlin again. It was all I could think about the whole way home.

So here you go, some Raistlin fan art. If you're a fan yourself, you may even recognize the scene. Bonus points if you can tell me what's happening in the background.

My only regret with this painting is that with his head tilted down and him looking at the book, it's hard to see his hourglass eyes. They are there, though.

Raistlin is ©Weis and Hickman, Wizards of the Coast

No I don't do prints of fan art. ]]>
Larry Elmore's paintings of the Heroes had a major impact on me... though I don't think I realized it for a long time. I remember copying his drawings of the main characters over and over. I still have sketchbooks with some of my early drawings of the Heroes of the Lance--from middle school.

Of all the heroes, Raistlin was my favorite. He was mysterious and sarcastic and complicated and I adored him. I cried so hard the night I finished the last of the Legends trilogy--I felt like my best friend had died.

I'm no longer such a Dragonlance fan... at least not of the new books. The original chronicles still hold a special place in my heart. And it's been many many years since I last drew any of the characters. But after Dragon*con last weekend, and getting a chance to talk to Larry Elmore, I was obsessed with drawing Raistlin again. It was all I could think about the whole way home.

So here you go, some Raistlin fan art. If you're a fan yourself, you may even recognize the scene. Bonus points if you can tell me what's happening in the background.

My only regret with this painting is that with his head tilted down and him looking at the book, it's hard to see his hourglass eyes. They are there, though.

Raistlin is ©Weis and Hickman, Wizards of the Coast

No I don't do prints of fan art.

]]> http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/A-Mercurial-Mind-135686652 http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/A-Mercurial-Mind-135686652 Wed, 02 Sep 2009 16:16:56 PDT A Mercurial Mind nonadult digitalart/paintings/fantasy MelissaFindley http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/m/e/melissafindley.gif Copyright 2009-2013 *MelissaFindley @Mercuralis
Other wonderland portraits:
Alice: [link]
Queen of Hearts: [link]

You may be thinking... "hmm, with all these Wonderland portraits, does Mercuralis have some kind of evil plan in the works?" and the answer to that would be "Maybe, I do." ]]>
Other wonderland portraits:
Alice: [link]
Queen of Hearts: [link]

You may be thinking... "hmm, with all these Wonderland portraits, does Mercuralis have some kind of evil plan in the works?" and the answer to that would be "Maybe, I do."

]]> http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/A-Curious-Soul-135686201 http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/A-Curious-Soul-135686201 Wed, 02 Sep 2009 16:12:02 PDT A Curious Soul nonadult digitalart/paintings/fantasy MelissaFindley http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/m/e/melissafindley.gif Copyright 2009-2013 *MelissaFindley @Mercuralis
Alice (my take on her--a little older, but still curious) is a follow up to my earlier Queen of Hearts painting: [link]

If you've ever wanted to see how I take a painting from gray scale to colored image, I worked on this on my Ustream channel here: [link] and here: [link]

Alice and the Queen will soon be joined by a few other Wonderland characters. I promise that none of them will look like Johnny Depp. ]]>
Alice (my take on her--a little older, but still curious) is a follow up to my earlier Queen of Hearts painting: [link]

If you've ever wanted to see how I take a painting from gray scale to colored image, I worked on this on my Ustream channel here: [link] and here: [link]

Alice and the Queen will soon be joined by a few other Wonderland characters. I promise that none of them will look like Johnny Depp.

]]> http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/Neptune-134005806 http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/Neptune-134005806 Wed, 19 Aug 2009 15:29:40 PDT Neptune nonadult digitalart/paintings/fantasy MelissaFindley http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/m/e/melissafindley.gif Copyright 2009-2013 *MelissaFindley @Mercuralis
I painted this from beginning to end, live, on Ustream. You can watch the progress, though it's pretty long.

Part 1: [link]
Part 2: [link]
Part 3: [link]
Part 4: [link]
Part 5: [link]
Part 6: [link]
Part 7: [link]
Part 8: [link]

Holy crap, Wow! Thanks so much for the DD (^archanN and `duhcoolies). Thank you to everybody who has favorited this or commented on it, too. I can't possibly thank each of you individually, but I do read all your comments and appreciate them. ]]>
I painted this from beginning to end, live, on Ustream. You can watch the progress, though it's pretty long.

Part 1: [link]
Part 2: [link]
Part 3: [link]
Part 4: [link]
Part 5: [link]
Part 6: [link]
Part 7: [link]
Part 8: [link]

Holy crap, Wow! Thanks so much for the DD (^archanN and `duhcoolies). Thank you to everybody who has favorited this or commented on it, too. I can't possibly thank each of you individually, but I do read all your comments and appreciate them.

]]> http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/Puss-in-Boots-131958552 http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/Puss-in-Boots-131958552 Mon, 03 Aug 2009 08:47:54 PDT Puss in Boots nonadult digitalart/paintings/fantasy MelissaFindley http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/m/e/melissafindley.gif Copyright 2009-2013 *MelissaFindley @Mercuralis
Clearly my Puss is a sea-faring cat. Cat O'Nine Tails he's sometimes called. Small detail, hard to see, is the Mouse-Skull and Crossbones medallion round his neck. ]]>
Clearly my Puss is a sea-faring cat. Cat O'Nine Tails he's sometimes called. Small detail, hard to see, is the Mouse-Skull and Crossbones medallion round his neck.

]]> http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/Fiery-Ida-131473914 http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/Fiery-Ida-131473914 Thu, 30 Jul 2009 09:27:36 PDT Fiery Ida nonadult digitalart/paintings/people/portraits MelissaFindley http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/m/e/melissafindley.gif Copyright 2009-2013 *MelissaFindley @Mercuralis mizzdraconia (aka *mizzd-stock, aka Ida). Every now and then I find a stock photo that I just *need* to paint, and this was one of those times.

Based mostly on this image: [link]

And the style is vaguely inspired by the work of Howard Pyle, who is the master of pirate paintings.

I worked on this during my Ustream session. You can watch the underpainting process here: [link] ]]> mizzdraconia (aka *mizzd-stock, aka Ida). Every now and then I find a stock photo that I just *need* to paint, and this was one of those times.

Based mostly on this image: [link]

And the style is vaguely inspired by the work of Howard Pyle, who is the master of pirate paintings.

I worked on this during my Ustream session. You can watch the underpainting process here: [link]

]]> http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/LightBlind-Drow-vs-Mindflayer-130763295 http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/LightBlind-Drow-vs-Mindflayer-130763295 Fri, 24 Jul 2009 16:50:34 PDT LightBlind: Drow vs Mindflayer nonadult digitalart/paintings/fantasy MelissaFindley http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/m/e/melissafindley.gif Copyright 2009-2013 *MelissaFindley @Mercuralis [link] Drow vs. Mindflayer challenge. We were tasked with coming up with a mock book cover, and given a size, and a template with text on it to show us where the text would go. The wraparound cover had to be planned in such a way that it would work with the book cover graphic elements. You can see what this would look like in a book cover template here: [link]

The brief was pretty simple aside from that: a female drow locked in battle with a mindflayer. It had to be dynamic--no static poses.

I... worked my ass off on this. The chance of getting my work in front of some of the top art directors in the industry was too good to pass up.

I'm a long time D&D fan and for me drow and illithid (mindflayers) are still traditionally denizens of the Underdark--vast caverns deep below the earth where no sunlight penetrates. Drow and Illithid are lightblind (sunlight, fire, blind them)... which poses a problem when you're painting since you kind of need light to... well... show stuff.

My solution was, clearly, to go crazy with phosphorescent mushrooms.

I promise, I was only painting them. Not eating them. I actually think mushrooms are ick.

You do NOT want to know how many mushrooms are in this painting. I know because I counted. Don't ask.

I am really pleased with how this turned out. Even if it doesn't win, I know I really put a lot of effort into it and tried some new things to solve some unusual problems. Also, I got to paint a bunch of stuff I really like: waterfalls, big underground caverns, and chicks kicking ass.

[Edit:] You can view some detail shots here: [link] ]]> [link] Drow vs. Mindflayer challenge. We were tasked with coming up with a mock book cover, and given a size, and a template with text on it to show us where the text would go. The wraparound cover had to be planned in such a way that it would work with the book cover graphic elements. You can see what this would look like in a book cover template here: [link]

The brief was pretty simple aside from that: a female drow locked in battle with a mindflayer. It had to be dynamic--no static poses.

I... worked my ass off on this. The chance of getting my work in front of some of the top art directors in the industry was too good to pass up.

I'm a long time D&D fan and for me drow and illithid (mindflayers) are still traditionally denizens of the Underdark--vast caverns deep below the earth where no sunlight penetrates. Drow and Illithid are lightblind (sunlight, fire, blind them)... which poses a problem when you're painting since you kind of need light to... well... show stuff.

My solution was, clearly, to go crazy with phosphorescent mushrooms.

I promise, I was only painting them. Not eating them. I actually think mushrooms are ick.

You do NOT want to know how many mushrooms are in this painting. I know because I counted. Don't ask.

I am really pleased with how this turned out. Even if it doesn't win, I know I really put a lot of effort into it and tried some new things to solve some unusual problems. Also, I got to paint a bunch of stuff I really like: waterfalls, big underground caverns, and chicks kicking ass.

[Edit:] You can view some detail shots here: [link]

]]> http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/Catastrophic-Earthquake-Dragon-129140184 http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/Catastrophic-Earthquake-Dragon-129140184 Sat, 11 Jul 2009 14:42:38 PDT Catastrophic Earthquake Dragon nonadult digitalart/paintings/fantasy MelissaFindley http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/m/e/melissafindley.gif Copyright 2009-2013 *MelissaFindley @Mercuralis Art Order.

My stepson (~Tsakta) was a big help with this. He's a little bit dragon mad (aren't we all at that age?) and I asked him for his thoughts on what this kind of dragon might be like. Some of his suggestions that made it into the final visual appearance for my earthquake dragon:

* the dragon's shell being made of massive stony " plates "; that grind against one another, crack and reform with movement

*vestigial wing “bones” that have been broken off and ground down since this dragon spends most of its time underground and its massive weight prohibits flight

*the teeth resembling stalactites and stalagmites making the open mouth of the sleeping dragon resemble a cave

*the club like tail

A couple of things I had in mind while working on this: I wanted it to be MASSIVE and to really give the impression of something big and heavy, despite being only a shell for the catastrophic fury inside it. I also wanted it to live deep within the earth, and it's movements are what cause so much damage on the surface above it. I liked the phrase "Bones of the Earth" which came into play with the decision to expose the rib cage. I went with a greenish-orangish-yellow for the force inside of it to invoke the heat of the magma that the plates float on within the earth, and to differentiate it from the volcanic dragon.

Wish me luck! ]]> Art Order.

My stepson (~Tsakta) was a big help with this. He's a little bit dragon mad (aren't we all at that age?) and I asked him for his thoughts on what this kind of dragon might be like. Some of his suggestions that made it into the final visual appearance for my earthquake dragon:

* the dragon's shell being made of massive stony " plates "; that grind against one another, crack and reform with movement

*vestigial wing “bones” that have been broken off and ground down since this dragon spends most of its time underground and its massive weight prohibits flight

*the teeth resembling stalactites and stalagmites making the open mouth of the sleeping dragon resemble a cave

*the club like tail

A couple of things I had in mind while working on this: I wanted it to be MASSIVE and to really give the impression of something big and heavy, despite being only a shell for the catastrophic fury inside it. I also wanted it to live deep within the earth, and it's movements are what cause so much damage on the surface above it. I liked the phrase "Bones of the Earth" which came into play with the decision to expose the rib cage. I went with a greenish-orangish-yellow for the force inside of it to invoke the heat of the magma that the plates float on within the earth, and to differentiate it from the volcanic dragon.

Wish me luck!

]]> http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/Master-of-Crows-128526627 http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/Master-of-Crows-128526627 Mon, 06 Jul 2009 15:02:00 PDT Master of Crows nonadult digitalart/paintings/fantasy MelissaFindley http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/m/e/melissafindley.gif Copyright 2009-2013 *MelissaFindley @Mercuralis
Silhara, the titular crow-mage, was a joy to work on. I'm used to drawing guys with more regular features and Silhara's harsher ones were a challenge. (I've heard him compared to Alan Rickman, but I don't see it. I was shooting more for Michael Wincott.) Trying to capture Silhara's unique combination of haughtiness, harshness, and sexiness was a neat challenge.

I also got to read the advanced copy of "Master of Crows." It's very good, and I highly recommend it. If you're interested in checking it out or purchasing a copy you can find more information here: [link]

Please note: because this was a commission for a specific use, I will not relicense it for other uses, nor is it permitted to be used for avatars, sigs, tubes, tags, wallpaper, etc. Please do not use. ]]>
Silhara, the titular crow-mage, was a joy to work on. I'm used to drawing guys with more regular features and Silhara's harsher ones were a challenge. (I've heard him compared to Alan Rickman, but I don't see it. I was shooting more for Michael Wincott.) Trying to capture Silhara's unique combination of haughtiness, harshness, and sexiness was a neat challenge.

I also got to read the advanced copy of "Master of Crows." It's very good, and I highly recommend it. If you're interested in checking it out or purchasing a copy you can find more information here: [link]

Please note: because this was a commission for a specific use, I will not relicense it for other uses, nor is it permitted to be used for avatars, sigs, tubes, tags, wallpaper, etc. Please do not use.

]]> http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/Opacity-126122360 http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/Opacity-126122360 Tue, 16 Jun 2009 06:31:07 PDT Opacity nonadult digitalart/paintings/fantasy MelissaFindley http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/m/e/melissafindley.gif Copyright 2009-2013 *MelissaFindley @Mercuralis
Incidentally, this is my first "painted fully in Photoshop" piece in several years. Normally I do almost all of the painting work in Corel Painter. Also... he might be the first blonde guy in my gallery, aside from Jareth. ]]>
Incidentally, this is my first "painted fully in Photoshop" piece in several years. Normally I do almost all of the painting work in Corel Painter. Also... he might be the first blonde guy in my gallery, aside from Jareth.

]]> http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/Audacity-122206514 http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/Audacity-122206514 Mon, 11 May 2009 13:59:46 PDT Audacity nonadult fanart/digital/painting/games MelissaFindley http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/m/e/melissafindley.gif Copyright 2009-2013 *MelissaFindley @Mercuralis Blue Moon Rising. It was a great review, and something that the writer said really, really touched me. It got me to thinking about my characters, and about some of the things I try to say with my artwork, and in particular, about the word "Audacity."

It's a great word. And it really summed up for me a lot of what I want to say with my art. So I set out to paint something that to me represented true audaciousness. In character with most of my work, though, it had to be a challenging painting, challenging subject, and had to push the boundaries of what I thought I was capable of.

I'm a big believer in that.

It needed Action! and Armor! and Atmosphere! And to fit with another of my goals, it needed to be set in a pre-exisiting world that wasn't specifically of my own making.

The character in this painting is Raethe, my Halfling Rogue D&D character. The scene isn't from any particular adventure, but it's a story I keep for her in my head. She's tiny, yes, but gutsy, more assassin than thief--but she keeps her options open, and she loves shiny stuff.

I did a lot of looking at D&D white dragons for this painting... they look about as flight worthy as a semi-truck, but I think I got it. It was a weird angle to try to pull off, too, but hopefully it works.

I really want to thank =kyrn for posing for me so I could get Raethe's body position correct, ~faerywitch for doing research for me on dragon toes, and *phuriedae *quickreaver and *PatrickMcEvoy for critiques and support.

Also, Raethe has her own Twitter account... if you want to hear her bitch about fighting undead, pwning sorcerers, and the trials and tribulations of traveling with a human monk, you can follow her here: [link] ]]> Blue Moon Rising. It was a great review, and something that the writer said really, really touched me. It got me to thinking about my characters, and about some of the things I try to say with my artwork, and in particular, about the word "Audacity."

It's a great word. And it really summed up for me a lot of what I want to say with my art. So I set out to paint something that to me represented true audaciousness. In character with most of my work, though, it had to be a challenging painting, challenging subject, and had to push the boundaries of what I thought I was capable of.

I'm a big believer in that.

It needed Action! and Armor! and Atmosphere! And to fit with another of my goals, it needed to be set in a pre-exisiting world that wasn't specifically of my own making.

The character in this painting is Raethe, my Halfling Rogue D&D character. The scene isn't from any particular adventure, but it's a story I keep for her in my head. She's tiny, yes, but gutsy, more assassin than thief--but she keeps her options open, and she loves shiny stuff.

I did a lot of looking at D&D white dragons for this painting... they look about as flight worthy as a semi-truck, but I think I got it. It was a weird angle to try to pull off, too, but hopefully it works.

I really want to thank =kyrn for posing for me so I could get Raethe's body position correct, ~faerywitch for doing research for me on dragon toes, and *phuriedae *quickreaver and *PatrickMcEvoy for critiques and support.

Also, Raethe has her own Twitter account... if you want to hear her bitch about fighting undead, pwning sorcerers, and the trials and tribulations of traveling with a human monk, you can follow her here: [link]

]]> http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/An-Unfamiliar-Familiar-122059238 http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/An-Unfamiliar-Familiar-122059238 Sun, 10 May 2009 08:16:06 PDT An Unfamiliar Familiar nonadult anthro/digital/paintings MelissaFindley http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/m/e/melissafindley.gif Copyright 2009-2013 *MelissaFindley @Mercuralis [link] was to come up with an unfamiliar familiar. If you’re a D&D player you’ll know that most familiars are rats, snakes, cats, ravens, bats, weasels… with the occasional imp, or dire badger thrown in. Familiars must be, according to D&D rules, a common animal that the sorcerer or wizard bonds with (though there are allowances made in special situations for magical creatures to become familiars). Research done, I started wondering what sort of familiar I would want.

As always, inspiration is often right under our noses.

In my backyard I have a birdfeeder that, until recently, was suspended from our drake elm by a tv cable. (We’re geeks here, such things were handy). Below it was a plastic pedestal bird bath. We have several dozen birds that live in the many, many trees around our house, as well as several daredevil squirrels. Recently we discovered that there was also a couple of raccoons.

One morning I woke up to discover that the birdfeeder had somehow fallen in the middle of the night, spilling seed, nuts and dried fruit everywhere. Well, there should have been dried fruit and nuts, but most of it was gone and only the seed was left. I refilled it and rehung it. Two days later, same thing. Feeder on ground, nuts and fruits gone, still plenty of seed left. Hmmmm. Again, I refilled it and rehung it. The next morning there was some evidence that something had been hauling on the cables trying to pull up the feeder. Weird. So I fixed it again. Two days later, however, I woke up to find not only the feeder on the ground but something had snapped the bird bath pedestal, which was pretty flimsy, true, but shouldn’t have broken like that.

I brought the feeder into the house, left out some fruit and nuts, and then sat up late to wait. Around midnight our little thief showed himself.

Raccoons are surprisingly noisy. He slipped through the yard, then down to the patio. He sat up and looked for the feeder, but I’d brought it in. Disappointed, he set to work on the fruit and nuts and the bugs and earthworm under the dead leaves.

The next morning I did some research on raccoons. They climb well, high up in trees. Their eyesight is pretty poor, but their hearing and sense of smell is phenomenal. They can remember the solutions to puzzles up to three years later and have some minimal counting ability. We’ve upped our cable suspension on the bird feeder to a chain with a closed hook system. Near as we can tell, he was using the bird bath to jump up onto the feeder and swing on it till it fell.

Why aren’t raccoons an option for a familiar already? Certainly they’re at least as clever as a cat or weasel, if not more so, and they can be as big and vicious as a badger. So Slippy here is my submission for the Unfamiliar Familiar challenge. He gives his sorcerer bonuses to listen checks, intelligence, and in addition he can pick simple locks and solve simple puzzles. There is the problem, however, of him sometimes getting into packs looking for food…

Wonder if WotC might consider giving him a bonus “Rabid” attack at higher levels? ]]> [link] was to come up with an unfamiliar familiar. If you’re a D&D player you’ll know that most familiars are rats, snakes, cats, ravens, bats, weasels… with the occasional imp, or dire badger thrown in. Familiars must be, according to D&D rules, a common animal that the sorcerer or wizard bonds with (though there are allowances made in special situations for magical creatures to become familiars). Research done, I started wondering what sort of familiar I would want.

As always, inspiration is often right under our noses.

In my backyard I have a birdfeeder that, until recently, was suspended from our drake elm by a tv cable. (We’re geeks here, such things were handy). Below it was a plastic pedestal bird bath. We have several dozen birds that live in the many, many trees around our house, as well as several daredevil squirrels. Recently we discovered that there was also a couple of raccoons.

One morning I woke up to discover that the birdfeeder had somehow fallen in the middle of the night, spilling seed, nuts and dried fruit everywhere. Well, there should have been dried fruit and nuts, but most of it was gone and only the seed was left. I refilled it and rehung it. Two days later, same thing. Feeder on ground, nuts and fruits gone, still plenty of seed left. Hmmmm. Again, I refilled it and rehung it. The next morning there was some evidence that something had been hauling on the cables trying to pull up the feeder. Weird. So I fixed it again. Two days later, however, I woke up to find not only the feeder on the ground but something had snapped the bird bath pedestal, which was pretty flimsy, true, but shouldn’t have broken like that.

I brought the feeder into the house, left out some fruit and nuts, and then sat up late to wait. Around midnight our little thief showed himself.

Raccoons are surprisingly noisy. He slipped through the yard, then down to the patio. He sat up and looked for the feeder, but I’d brought it in. Disappointed, he set to work on the fruit and nuts and the bugs and earthworm under the dead leaves.

The next morning I did some research on raccoons. They climb well, high up in trees. Their eyesight is pretty poor, but their hearing and sense of smell is phenomenal. They can remember the solutions to puzzles up to three years later and have some minimal counting ability. We’ve upped our cable suspension on the bird feeder to a chain with a closed hook system. Near as we can tell, he was using the bird bath to jump up onto the feeder and swing on it till it fell.

Why aren’t raccoons an option for a familiar already? Certainly they’re at least as clever as a cat or weasel, if not more so, and they can be as big and vicious as a badger. So Slippy here is my submission for the Unfamiliar Familiar challenge. He gives his sorcerer bonuses to listen checks, intelligence, and in addition he can pick simple locks and solve simple puzzles. There is the problem, however, of him sometimes getting into packs looking for food…

Wonder if WotC might consider giving him a bonus “Rabid” attack at higher levels?

]]> http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/Puck-s-Introduction-120679503 http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/Puck-s-Introduction-120679503 Mon, 27 Apr 2009 12:10:20 PDT Puck's Introduction nonadult digitalart/paintings/fantasy MelissaFindley http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/m/e/melissafindley.gif Copyright 2009-2013 *MelissaFindley @Mercuralis Fairy
Either I mistake your shape and making quite,
Or else you are that shrewd and knavish sprite
Call'd Robin Goodfellow: are not you he
That frights the maidens of the villagery;
Skim milk, and sometimes labour in the quern
And bootless make the breathless housewife churn;
And sometime make the drink to bear no barm;
Mislead night-wanderers, laughing at their harm?
Those that Hobgoblin call you and sweet Puck,
You do their work, and they shall have good luck:
Are not you he?

Puck:
Thou speak'st aright;
I am that merry wanderer of the night.

-William Shakespeare
A Midsummer Nights Dream
Act II, Scene I

Okay, if I add any more to this painting I think I will utterly ruin it. So it's time to let it go, I think.

This is one of my favorite scenes in A Midsummer Night's Dream. It's so playful and flirtatious and fun. Both characters have always, to me anyway, read as a little cheeky. Puck is trying very hard to impress the dewdrop fairy, and she's flirting for all she's worth. If only their respective royalty didn't come along and spoil the fun...

Again, this is set in my Ante-bellum Fantasy version of the play.

Also, there is not a good place for illustrations that *aren't* technically fan art, so I'm guessing on the appropriate gallery for this.

Edit: Why does dA brighten all my colors, I wonder. Noticed after uploading that a layer had flattened incorrectly. Should be fixed now.

Also, I wanted to dedicate this painting to Josh, and Ryan, tricksters who both exited the stage far too soon. ]]> Fairy
Either I mistake your shape and making quite,
Or else you are that shrewd and knavish sprite
Call'd Robin Goodfellow: are not you he
That frights the maidens of the villagery;
Skim milk, and sometimes labour in the quern
And bootless make the breathless housewife churn;
And sometime make the drink to bear no barm;
Mislead night-wanderers, laughing at their harm?
Those that Hobgoblin call you and sweet Puck,
You do their work, and they shall have good luck:
Are not you he?

Puck:
Thou speak'st aright;
I am that merry wanderer of the night.

-William Shakespeare
A Midsummer Nights Dream
Act II, Scene I

Okay, if I add any more to this painting I think I will utterly ruin it. So it's time to let it go, I think.

This is one of my favorite scenes in A Midsummer Night's Dream. It's so playful and flirtatious and fun. Both characters have always, to me anyway, read as a little cheeky. Puck is trying very hard to impress the dewdrop fairy, and she's flirting for all she's worth. If only their respective royalty didn't come along and spoil the fun...

Again, this is set in my Ante-bellum Fantasy version of the play.

Also, there is not a good place for illustrations that *aren't* technically fan art, so I'm guessing on the appropriate gallery for this.

Edit: Why does dA brighten all my colors, I wonder. Noticed after uploading that a layer had flattened incorrectly. Should be fixed now.

Also, I wanted to dedicate this painting to Josh, and Ryan, tricksters who both exited the stage far too soon.

]]> http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/Alchemy-April-120241638 http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/Alchemy-April-120241638 Thu, 23 Apr 2009 13:08:28 PDT Alchemy: April nonadult digitalart/paintings/fantasy MelissaFindley http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/m/e/melissafindley.gif Copyright 2009-2013 *MelissaFindley @Mercuralis
The original sketch was done in a program called Alchemy. It's a free program that you can download from [link]
(thanks to *sandara for posting some work done in it and inspiring this kind of painting). Then I took it into Painter and painted over the sketch.

You can view the original Alchemy sketch here: [link]

You can watch some of the process of this painting here:
[link]
and here: [link] ]]>
The original sketch was done in a program called Alchemy. It's a free program that you can download from [link]
(thanks to *sandara for posting some work done in it and inspiring this kind of painting). Then I took it into Painter and painted over the sketch.

You can view the original Alchemy sketch here: [link]

You can watch some of the process of this painting here:
[link]
and here: [link]

]]> http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/In-the-Twilight-Court-116993323 http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/In-the-Twilight-Court-116993323 Tue, 24 Mar 2009 14:10:08 PDT In the Twilight Court nonadult digitalart/paintings/fantasy MelissaFindley http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/m/e/melissafindley.gif Copyright 2009-2013 *MelissaFindley @Mercuralis
This is, possibly one of my most ambitious paintings, and the culmination of a lot of other paintings and subjects I've tackled over the last few years. I started this more than a month an a half ago--before I painted Oberon--and I think there are things I would have done differently if I'd started it after I'd painted Oberon. However, over all, I'm pleased with it.

The painting is loosely based on a story I'm working on at the moment--so no touchy on the subject matter, please.

Some textures were used in this, most from my own images, some built in Painter textures, and a few from CGTextures.com

Details are now available here: [link] ]]>
This is, possibly one of my most ambitious paintings, and the culmination of a lot of other paintings and subjects I've tackled over the last few years. I started this more than a month an a half ago--before I painted Oberon--and I think there are things I would have done differently if I'd started it after I'd painted Oberon. However, over all, I'm pleased with it.

The painting is loosely based on a story I'm working on at the moment--so no touchy on the subject matter, please.

Some textures were used in this, most from my own images, some built in Painter textures, and a few from CGTextures.com

Details are now available here: [link]

]]> http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/Oberon-114915458 http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/Oberon-114915458 Wed, 04 Mar 2009 19:33:22 PST Oberon nonadult digitalart/paintings/fantasy MelissaFindley http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/m/e/melissafindley.gif Copyright 2009-2013 *MelissaFindley @Mercuralis
See... I started life as a theater major. It's been my dream since I was probably about 14 years old to direct (or art direct) a production of A Midsummer Night's Dream. It's my favorite Shakespeare play (probably for some obvious reasons) and I've never seen a version of it that I felt really explored all the possibilities in it, visually.

I got to costume a stage production of it in college (where I also got to play Hippolyta), but our director had absolutely NO vision for how he wanted it costumed. First he wanted the Faeries dressed like rock stars then like pop stars then like an English garden party. It was all over the place, and all my ideas for costumes pretty much ended up in the gutter and the final was cobbled together with a small budget and a lot of just finding things in thrift stores and sewing on some leaves.

It was really a disappointment.

Off and on over the years I've toyed with drawings of various Midsummer characters, but I've never really solidified my vision of how I'd do it (given an unlimited budget). This is probably the first time I've really nailed down precisely how I'd want a character to look, if I were to actually stage the play.

I think if I were to do it, I'd set it in the Southern US (Florida or Georgia, probably, maybe Louisiana) in the swamp, sometime between the colonial period and the civil war. The Faeries would be very nature inspired, drawing some of their costume from the fashion of the humans they toy with.

This, obviously, is how I would imagine King Oberon. Tall, stately, regal, arrogant, lazy, vain, and a bit of a jerk when it comes right down to it.

And before anyone says anything, while he's a King, he's also quite definitely Queen Titania's consort. I've always felt it's pretty obvious she wields the real power in the relationship and Oberon is a the "scorned" lover out for revenge. ]]>
See... I started life as a theater major. It's been my dream since I was probably about 14 years old to direct (or art direct) a production of A Midsummer Night's Dream. It's my favorite Shakespeare play (probably for some obvious reasons) and I've never seen a version of it that I felt really explored all the possibilities in it, visually.

I got to costume a stage production of it in college (where I also got to play Hippolyta), but our director had absolutely NO vision for how he wanted it costumed. First he wanted the Faeries dressed like rock stars then like pop stars then like an English garden party. It was all over the place, and all my ideas for costumes pretty much ended up in the gutter and the final was cobbled together with a small budget and a lot of just finding things in thrift stores and sewing on some leaves.

It was really a disappointment.

Off and on over the years I've toyed with drawings of various Midsummer characters, but I've never really solidified my vision of how I'd do it (given an unlimited budget). This is probably the first time I've really nailed down precisely how I'd want a character to look, if I were to actually stage the play.

I think if I were to do it, I'd set it in the Southern US (Florida or Georgia, probably, maybe Louisiana) in the swamp, sometime between the colonial period and the civil war. The Faeries would be very nature inspired, drawing some of their costume from the fashion of the humans they toy with.

This, obviously, is how I would imagine King Oberon. Tall, stately, regal, arrogant, lazy, vain, and a bit of a jerk when it comes right down to it.

And before anyone says anything, while he's a King, he's also quite definitely Queen Titania's consort. I've always felt it's pretty obvious she wields the real power in the relationship and Oberon is a the "scorned" lover out for revenge.

]]> http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/Water-Dragon-110934611 http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/Water-Dragon-110934611 Tue, 27 Jan 2009 14:59:03 PST Water Dragon nonadult digitalart/paintings/fantasy MelissaFindley http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/m/e/melissafindley.gif Copyright 2009-2013 *MelissaFindley @Mercuralis sketchtopic over at Epilogue. I was going to do more with it, then decided I kind of liked it as is.

It's good to remind myself sometimes that I can paint things OTHER than people with pointy ears. It's been a really long time since I had anything in my main gallery here that didn't have a human face.

So I duotoned it and here you go. Yes, I totally cheated on the bubbles, and no, I have no plans to fix it. ]]> sketchtopic over at Epilogue. I was going to do more with it, then decided I kind of liked it as is.

It's good to remind myself sometimes that I can paint things OTHER than people with pointy ears. It's been a really long time since I had anything in my main gallery here that didn't have a human face.

So I duotoned it and here you go. Yes, I totally cheated on the bubbles, and no, I have no plans to fix it.

]]> http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/Bad-Boys-Wallpaper-Pack-110789434 http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/Bad-Boys-Wallpaper-Pack-110789434 Mon, 26 Jan 2009 08:21:44 PST Bad Boys Wallpaper Pack nonadult customization/wallpaper/fantasy MelissaFindley http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/m/e/melissafindley.gif Copyright 2009-2013 *MelissaFindley @Mercuralis Four of my favorite bad boys from my gallery, bundled up in some various wallpaper sizes for you all to enjoy.

Please remember that these images are for your personal enjoyment only and should not be redistributed, reposted, changed, altered, sold for money on the black market, or cut up into sparkly pieces and used for myspace layouts. All are no-no's and I will hunt you down and make you cry if you do.

An unnecessary warning, I know, because all of you are awesome and wouldn't even think to do something like that...

but sometimes you just gotta say it. ]]> Four of my favorite bad boys from my gallery, bundled up in some various wallpaper sizes for you all to enjoy.

Please remember that these images are for your personal enjoyment only and should not be redistributed, reposted, changed, altered, sold for money on the black market, or cut up into sparkly pieces and used for myspace layouts. All are no-no's and I will hunt you down and make you cry if you do.

An unnecessary warning, I know, because all of you are awesome and wouldn't even think to do something like that...

but sometimes you just gotta say it.

]]> http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/Goblin-Box-109553322 http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/Goblin-Box-109553322 Thu, 15 Jan 2009 08:24:39 PST Goblin Box nonadult artisan/other MelissaFindley http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/m/e/melissafindley.gif Copyright 2009-2013 *MelissaFindley @Mercuralis
Anyway, this is a gift I made for for Christmas. I also made a second one that went to . So now there is one of these boxes in Scotland, and the other is on the other side of the world in Australia--which is kind of cool, I think.

The box is a premade one, that I woodburned, stained, painted, gold leafed, glittered and varnished (in that order, I think--also YAY GLITTER SPRAY).

The book is a standard blank book with really pretty handmade paper pages that I bought and took apart. I recovered it in faux red leather and then added new decorated inner pages and a red ribbon marker. I hand wrote the title on, and then gold leafed it. There's also a tiny, barely visible "crystal" above the "i" in the title.

The leather "Dream" book mark is just made from standard crafting supplies from my beading collection. The juggling ball I purchased at Borders, of all places, because it's filled with sparkly purple glitter, but it's also the right size and weight for learning to contact juggle (yes, I tested it).

The little velvet pouch with feather and leaf accents: again made from stuff I had around the house... but I think I'll leave the contents of that as a secret for just me and Phuriedae and Lixxle.

And to head off any questions: Sorry, I'm not making more (unless I make myself one).

The idea for this, is of course based on the film Labyrinth, which if you've been around long enough you'll know that I'm crazy about (and so are my friends). ]]>
Anyway, this is a gift I made for for Christmas. I also made a second one that went to . So now there is one of these boxes in Scotland, and the other is on the other side of the world in Australia--which is kind of cool, I think.

The box is a premade one, that I woodburned, stained, painted, gold leafed, glittered and varnished (in that order, I think--also YAY GLITTER SPRAY).

The book is a standard blank book with really pretty handmade paper pages that I bought and took apart. I recovered it in faux red leather and then added new decorated inner pages and a red ribbon marker. I hand wrote the title on, and then gold leafed it. There's also a tiny, barely visible "crystal" above the "i" in the title.

The leather "Dream" book mark is just made from standard crafting supplies from my beading collection. The juggling ball I purchased at Borders, of all places, because it's filled with sparkly purple glitter, but it's also the right size and weight for learning to contact juggle (yes, I tested it).

The little velvet pouch with feather and leaf accents: again made from stuff I had around the house... but I think I'll leave the contents of that as a secret for just me and Phuriedae and Lixxle.

And to head off any questions: Sorry, I'm not making more (unless I make myself one).

The idea for this, is of course based on the film Labyrinth, which if you've been around long enough you'll know that I'm crazy about (and so are my friends).

]]> http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/Dream-109273481 http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/Dream-109273481 Mon, 12 Jan 2009 12:32:20 PST Dream nonadult fanart/digital/painting/books MelissaFindley http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/m/e/melissafindley.gif Copyright 2009-2013 *MelissaFindley @Mercuralis
As always, and I hate to have to publicly state this, I do not sell my fan art in any way, so please don't submit print requests.

Drip texture from [link] (a great resource for free stock texture images) ]]>
As always, and I hate to have to publicly state this, I do not sell my fan art in any way, so please don't submit print requests.

Drip texture from [link] (a great resource for free stock texture images)

]]> http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/Peppermint-Twist-107066742 http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/Peppermint-Twist-107066742 Mon, 22 Dec 2008 08:11:53 PST Peppermint Twist nonadult digitalart/paintings/fantasy MelissaFindley http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/m/e/melissafindley.gif Copyright 2008-2013 *MelissaFindley @Mercuralis
Just a quick little something while I dash between all the other stuff I have to get done in the next few weeks.

I want to say thank you, to all of you who've commented or fav'd or watched my gallery or bought a print or calendar this past year. It absolutely floors me every time that there are so many incredible people out there who like my work. Thank you for making 2008 so wonderful for me.

Oh...

The print version of this does not contain the "Happy Holidays" text, and has a smaller version of my signature. ]]>
Just a quick little something while I dash between all the other stuff I have to get done in the next few weeks.

I want to say thank you, to all of you who've commented or fav'd or watched my gallery or bought a print or calendar this past year. It absolutely floors me every time that there are so many incredible people out there who like my work. Thank you for making 2008 so wonderful for me.

Oh...

The print version of this does not contain the "Happy Holidays" text, and has a smaller version of my signature.

]]> http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/Devilish-Wallpaper-Pack-104614934 http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/Devilish-Wallpaper-Pack-104614934 Tue, 25 Nov 2008 15:39:55 PST Devilish - Wallpaper Pack nonadult customization/wallpaper/fantasy MelissaFindley http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/m/e/melissafindley.gif Copyright 2008-2013 *MelissaFindley @Mercuralis
So here go: something a little devilish to decorate your machines. There are four different sizes in the wallpaper pack, ranging from the standard to the hugely gigantic.

Hopefully I uploaded this correctly.

DO NOT change, alter, repost, republish, or redistribute these wallpapers on any other sites or in any other way. ]]>
So here go: something a little devilish to decorate your machines. There are four different sizes in the wallpaper pack, ranging from the standard to the hugely gigantic.

Hopefully I uploaded this correctly.

DO NOT change, alter, repost, republish, or redistribute these wallpapers on any other sites or in any other way.

]]> http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/Bitten-102271356 http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/Bitten-102271356 Fri, 31 Oct 2008 10:32:03 PDT Bitten nonadult digitalart/paintings/fantasy MelissaFindley http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/m/e/melissafindley.gif Copyright 2008-2013 *MelissaFindley @Mercuralis

Keep an eye on this one, as I have some plans for it in the very near future. ]]>

Keep an eye on this one, as I have some plans for it in the very near future.

]]> http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/2009-Fantasy-Art-Calendar-99552268 http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/2009-Fantasy-Art-Calendar-99552268 Wed, 01 Oct 2008 17:21:52 PDT 2009 Fantasy Art Calendar nonadult digitalart/paintings/fantasy MelissaFindley http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/m/e/melissafindley.gif Copyright 2008-2013 *MelissaFindley @Mercuralis
Cover: Fists Full of Time [link]
January: A Cold and Terrible Beauty [link]
February: A Touch of Sin [link]
March: A Darkly Tangled Skein [link]
April: Mina [link]
May: Capricorn [link]
June: Green and Sultry Summers [link]
July: Before the Storm [link]
August: Burning Bright [link]
September: A Sharpened Heart [link]
October: All My Heros Are Bad Boys [link]
November: Hamlet [link]
December: Mistletoe [link] ]]>
Cover: Fists Full of Time [link]
January: A Cold and Terrible Beauty [link]
February: A Touch of Sin [link]
March: A Darkly Tangled Skein [link]
April: Mina [link]
May: Capricorn [link]
June: Green and Sultry Summers [link]
July: Before the Storm [link]
August: Burning Bright [link]
September: A Sharpened Heart [link]
October: All My Heros Are Bad Boys [link]
November: Hamlet [link]
December: Mistletoe [link]

]]> http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/Raven-Remembers-98669280 http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/Raven-Remembers-98669280 Mon, 22 Sep 2008 07:39:35 PDT Raven Remembers nonadult traditional/paintings/fantasy MelissaFindley http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/m/e/melissafindley.gif Copyright 2008-2013 *MelissaFindley @Mercuralis approx. 15" x 22"

Raven remembers stealing the sun and the moon and the stars, and the feel of creation in his hand. He remembers the World Tree and Odin. He remembers tricking the world that he remembers creating and he remembers the stench of the dying..."

I was playing with mixing mythologies.

Anyway, so about a month or so ago I got the urge to actually put my gorgeous studio space to work and start doing some more work in traditional mediums. It's been a LOOOONG time since I tried oils and my last few attempts (over eight years ago) were, shall we say, less than stellar. I'd been reading some of Dan Dos Santos's oil painting tutorials ([link]), and decided I'd give it a try.

His wrist is a little thick, but I think I'm going to leave it as is. I learned a lot from doing this one and can't wait for the right idea to strike for the next.

I wish my camera was better, or I had a tripod. You'll have to deal with my bad photography skills, sorry. This is slightly color corrected from the original, since I have to wait to varnish it, and until I do the blacks are a little faded in person. ]]> approx. 15" x 22"

Raven remembers stealing the sun and the moon and the stars, and the feel of creation in his hand. He remembers the World Tree and Odin. He remembers tricking the world that he remembers creating and he remembers the stench of the dying..."

I was playing with mixing mythologies.

Anyway, so about a month or so ago I got the urge to actually put my gorgeous studio space to work and start doing some more work in traditional mediums. It's been a LOOOONG time since I tried oils and my last few attempts (over eight years ago) were, shall we say, less than stellar. I'd been reading some of Dan Dos Santos's oil painting tutorials ([link]), and decided I'd give it a try.

His wrist is a little thick, but I think I'm going to leave it as is. I learned a lot from doing this one and can't wait for the right idea to strike for the next.

I wish my camera was better, or I had a tripod. You'll have to deal with my bad photography skills, sorry. This is slightly color corrected from the original, since I have to wait to varnish it, and until I do the blacks are a little faded in person.

]]> http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/Capricorn-98438443 http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/Capricorn-98438443 Fri, 19 Sep 2008 22:31:24 PDT Capricorn nonadult digitalart/paintings/fantasy MelissaFindley http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/m/e/melissafindley.gif Copyright 2008-2013 *MelissaFindley @Mercuralis Then I ran out of space on my hard drive and had to upgrade my 250 GB (main) drive to a Terrabyte drive. So thanks to THIS painting I now have three hard drives, including my 500 GB backup drive.

It was like my birthday, only sooner. Makes sense since I'm a Capricorn.

I don't have any plans at this time to do any of the other zodiac signs, but tend to change my mind frequently, so who knows.

Figure referenced from: [link]

Horns referenced from: [link]

Rock texture from CGTextures.com ]]> Then I ran out of space on my hard drive and had to upgrade my 250 GB (main) drive to a Terrabyte drive. So thanks to THIS painting I now have three hard drives, including my 500 GB backup drive.

It was like my birthday, only sooner. Makes sense since I'm a Capricorn.

I don't have any plans at this time to do any of the other zodiac signs, but tend to change my mind frequently, so who knows.

Figure referenced from: [link]

Horns referenced from: [link]

Rock texture from CGTextures.com

]]> http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/What-Lies-Between-the-Lines-96285207 http://melissafindley.deviantart.com/art/What-Lies-Between-the-Lines-96285207 Thu, 28 Aug 2008 06:19:13 PDT What Lies Between the Lines... nonadult literature/prose/nonfiction/general MelissaFindley http://a.deviantart.net/avatars/m/e/melissafindley.gif Copyright 2008-2013 *MelissaFindley @Mercuralis
I wrote this as a form of catharsis, initially. I was thinking of all the advice I've gotten over the years about art--although this applies to a lot of other disciplines as well--and thinking about all the things no one ever told me.

Although I suppose, like it says, even if they had I'd do it anyway. ]]>
They don't tell you about the nights when you'll cry; when you'll curse and rave and throw wadded up tissues at the monitor. They don't tell you about the number of times you'll want to throw your pencil or brush or tablet pen in the garbage disposal and flip the switch.

They don't tell you about the time spent painting insane detail onto tiny things that no one will ever see, ever appreciate, ever understand except to say "nice" or "pretty" or "wow"--none of which ever come close to how you felt when you painted it. How you felt when you stepped back and stared and were awed for a moment that you had pulled s ]]>
I wrote this as a form of catharsis, initially. I was thinking of all the advice I've gotten over the years about art--although this applies to a lot of other disciplines as well--and thinking about all the things no one ever told me.

Although I suppose, like it says, even if they had I'd do it anyway. ]]>