Illuxcon 7

Illuxcon 7

Jeff Jones

Imaginative Realism is the new name for fantasy art.  That covers all the genres of science fiction, fantasy, horror and gaming art that took realistic painting or sculpture in the direction of things only seen in the imagination.  In September I was lucky to attend Illuxcon7, the premier convention for Imaginative Realism, created by Patrick and Jeannie Wilshire.  The Allentown Museum of Art is inundated every September with artists, collectors, and students of the fantastic from all over the world.  Only non-digital work is allowed, so the galleries are filled with the most amazing work in traditional methods - oils, acrylics, watercolors, graphite, and the three dimensional work is beyond description, especially because I haven't the faintest idea what they are using to create their strange and lifelike beings.  There are also wonderful classes and discussions going on in the nearby Baum Education Center, and a stream of students getting their portfolios reviewed by professionals.

Allentown Museum of Art

Here are some of the artists I met and the work that I saw at Illuxcon7.

Stephen Hickman

John Jude Palencar

Bob Eggleton

Marianne Plumridge

Bob Eggleton & Marianne Plumridge

Richard Hescox

Ruth Sanderson

Annie Stegg

Travis Lewis

Justin Gerard

Rebecca Guay

My art display

Mermaid: Blue Eyes

I only have photos of a small part of the show, but more and larger views of the artists' work can be seen at:

http://www.illuxcon.com/#

Illuxcon is thoroughly inspiring for me.  I love seeing work this good, and find it gets the creative juices flowing in ways that just working alone does not.  It's a pleasure to meet the artists, the collectors, and the fans in an intimate and low key setting.  We all wander around talking and chatting and having a great time.  We also sell some art, which is always good too.

A close up of a painting by Jeff Jones, one of my favorite artists.  Very Whistler like treatment.  There was a special exhibition of Jones' work owned by Robert K. Weiner at Illuxcon.

My room mates Kat and Ingrid

Jody

a Studio by the Sea

Stickley Museum

Stickley Museum

Some times you head off the beaten path and you discover little unknown treasures.  In the summer I was looking for inexpensive flooring for a room I was finishing, and found I could get some at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore in New Jersey.  On the drive to Morris, New Jersey, I passed a sign that said "STICKLEY MUSEUM."  My head turned, as any one who loves the Arts and Crafts Movement in the United States knows the wonderful furniture made by Gustav Stickley.  Of course I had to find out what this museum could be. It turns out that there was a beautiful property in New Jersey that Stickley bought, and then built as a school for boys to learn a trade.  The school never took off, but he lived there with his family for a short time as his country estate when he was at his most successful, furnishing every room with pieces designed especially for himself and to his specifications.  I took a tour of the lovely grounds and the building with an agreeable and knowledgeable old docent. Below is the main building, called the Log House, which is filled with many of his original pieces, wall hangings and decor.  Every room has been loving restored, right down to an old Cornell pennant on the wall of his daughters' room, as it was seen in photographs.  Inside, the fireplaces are of brass with typical arts and crafts style mottos beaten into the metal.  Everywhere are small soft golden electrical lamps hanging from posts or the ceilings, lighting the dark rooms.  It's like stepping into an illustration for a proper home from the Arts & Crafts Magazines of the time.  I was so pleased to come upon this hidden gem!

The Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms

The tour entry

A box of the beautiful joinery used by the Stickley craftsmen.  No nails!

The gift shop is in the old kitchens.  There was a giant stove and ice room because he thought he would have a school here.

I wasn't allowed to take photographs inside so you can get a better idea of the treasures within by visiting their website: 

http://stickleymuseum.org 

Jody

a Studio by the Sea

The Fields of Wrath

The Fields of Wrath

This is the finished art for "The Fields of Wrath" the sequel to Mickey Zucker Reichert's "Flight of the Renshai." I used oils on Crescent illustration board, and the interlace circles (also my own design) were added digitally.  Though I love the contrast of gold or silver metallic elements in my art, it is really difficult to photograph and then control the color of said metallic.  Digital takes care of both of those problems.  Retracing the steps, I started out with the figure drawings below.

Then combined them with the interlace circle

Offered two color comprehensives to the publisher.

And because I understood the figures pretty well from the sketches, enlarged the sketches straight to the board.

I completed the faces first, then moved from left to right, top to bottom in completing the clothing.

Jody

www.astudiobythesea.com

www.jodylee.org

Fantasy Book Cover: Closer to Home

Closer to Home

This is the color comp for the latest Mercedes Lackey Valdemar novel.  For this book I was given a synopsis by the author;  she is in the process of writing the book.  Our hero, Mags, the former mine slave, has finally graduated from his trainee grays to his Herald whites.  He is the first Herald-Spy, so we've returned to the city of Haven, and obviously he won't have his Companion Dallen, his blue eyed spirit/horse, close by when he's spying on people.  For that reason I decided it would be a change of pace to not have them in the same physical space.  Mags is a mind speaker, so he is constantly in touch with Dallen.

First of all I started with just little idea scribbles in my sketch book.  Then I moved onto drawings for the color comp.

Here is my pencil sketch for Mags.  I wanted masks to symbolize the different personas he takes on as a spy.  These are drawn in graphite, but I scan them and make them darker.

His Companion Dallen.

And the city of Haven.  Below are three of the black and white digital comps I made to show the publishers my ideas of how the cover would look.

They chose the last one, and then I did a tightly finished color comprehensive because their publishing deadlines for the sales catalog were moved up.  They needed art faster than I could complete the final finish.  I also decided to split the art in two, so the designer could be more flexible on the positioning of the Companion on the front, and then use the full horse on the back cover.  These were done in oils after printing the drawing onto paper and at the printed size.  The first image in this post was the final comp - minus the lettering - that was used for the sales catalog.

I usually do a final drawing to size, but because the color comp was so finished, I just enlarged them right onto the gessoed illustration boards for the final art.  Below are some of photographic reference I shot of my son and some small models I used to figure out the lighting of Mag's faces.

The final art was approximately twice the size it would be printed, done in oils on gessoed illustration board.  The publisher didn't want Mag's faces to look like masks, so I added in hair on the final art.  One of the characters Mags portrays is supposed to be a deaf mute, another a street tough, and that is reflected in the faces he holds.

My drawing board with the finished art and color comps.  I know I should have taken pictures in the process of painting, but I forgot.  Honestly, I'm a bit insecure that my art is ever going to turn out well, so I probably did that on purpose. 

Mags in "Closer to Home."

Dallen in "Closer to Home."  It was really fun to work on a horse this big.  I could make big brush strokes for once.  The designer will fade out the darks for the front cover so the type will pop, while on the back he'll probably let the art print like the original.  The book comes out from DAW Books in October.

Jody

www.astudiobythesea.com

www.jodylee.org