THE NEXT WEB MAGAZINE

Some of my work is featured on the cover, and within the current issue of The Next Web Magazine. This online magazine is a monthly offering created by The Next Web, one of the world's largest online publications that gives an international perspective on news concerning Internet technology, business and culture. In addition to my work being featured, the hazy, cloud backgrounds from my work have been repurposed to create graphic elements, that give colour and flavour to the issue. 

The Next Web Magazine is a free publication that is available in iPhone and iPad versions from iTunes.

This is one of the better, well put together online publications I've had the pleasure of using, and is worth checking out. The current issue, titled Game, has several articles concerning gaming, gamification, and one that poses the question: Is the Gaming Console Dead?

Thanks to the guys at Kuvva and The Next Web for putting this together

FIRST CONTACT

I have several pieces in the upcoming First Contact exhibit at the Gallery Project gallery in Ann Arbor, Michigan. First Contact is a multimedia exhibit that explores our desires for encounters with alien life forms, our preparedness for them, the events themselves, and their possible consequences.

This is a large group show that features work from 29 artists across numerous different disiplines. Some amazing artists are participating in this exhibit, including H.R. Giger, Mayumi Haryoto, Nicholas Kahn and Richard Selesnick to name a few.

The exhibit runs from February 14th thru March 24th, 2013.
Opening reception is on February 22nd, 6-9pm.

First Contact is curated by Seder Burns, Lecturer of New Media at the University of Toledo.

For more info. visit The Gallery Project.

ASCENSION (Merkaba)

Here are a few pics of latest EK piece. As one of the last images in the series, and as I wind down on this project, I find the images returning to the central theme of this work: to shed old, antiquated ideas and biases, to acquire a new outlook, and to rejuvenate oneself. 

Here our traveller emerges from the construct, shepherding his new experiences and attitudes (represented here as a merkaba), as he discards the protective confines of his helmet (his old self). His journey is far from over, but he moves on inspired, with new ideas and energy.

Higher res. and details at my Flickr.

OTHER WORLDS OPENING

Here are a few pictures of my work from the opening of the Other Worlds: The Art Of Illustration show from a few weeks back. The Dan and Gail Cannon Gallery was gracious enough to fly me down to Oregon to attend the opening. The show was great, with amazing work by the other artists involved: Stephan Martiniere, David Palumbo, Omar Ryan, Donato Giancola, Tran Nguyen, and David Meng. The opening reception was a lot of fun, and it was great to get the chance to exhibit with these artists.

Big thanks to show curator Brandon Cline-Jones (pictured with me in a few of these shots) and gallery coordinator Paula Booth for inviting me to be part of the show and for having me down for the opening. Also thanks to Kathyrn and Meagan for hanging my pieces and for all their work during the opening reception.

Other Worlds: The Art Of Illustration is on for a few more weeks, so if you find yourself in the Portland area, head over to the The Dan and Gail Cannon Gallery in Monmouth to take a look!

THIS-IS-COOL

Small feature on my work at UK based sci-fi/fantasy/horror website This-Is-Cool. The site has some nice features on a number of artists, including Faulk Haensel, Thom Tenery and Levi Hopkins to name a few. Anyways, check it out here. 

Thanks to Brian for the interest and his kind words.

WIRED - HAVILAND TUF

I have a spot illustration appearing in the tablet edition of Wired magazine this month. The illustration is a rendition of cult science fiction character Haviland Tuf. I had never heard of Haviland Tuf before doing this illustration, but it is my understanding that this character has quite a large following among science fiction fans. Haviland Tuf appeared in several short stories written in the mid 70's to the mid 80's by Game of Thones author George R. R. Martin. These short stories were then collected together into a single book called Tuf Voyaging in 1986. Due to the success of Game of Thones, and the increased interest in Martin's work, Tuf Voyaging is being republished (the first edition in 10 years).

This was a fun little gig, as I found the Haviland Tuf character pretty interesting and unconventional.  He also hasn't been visualized too many times before, so I felt free to give him my own interpretation.

Thanks to Gus Wezerek at Wired for the input and the opportunity.

CONCEPT ART WORLD

A selection of pieces from my Enartete Kunst series has been featured on Concept Art World. Go here to check out the feature.

Concept Art World is a great site that features production art and illustration by many talented artists from games, film and the art world in general. Pop over to their site and take a look if you haven't been there before.

Thanks to Louis Iracheta at Concept Art World for the interest and the opportunity.

OTHER WORLDS ART SHOW

Next week I'll be exhibiting some work at the Other Worlds: The Art of Illustration show at the Dan and Gail Cannon Gallery of Art on the Western Oregon University campus in Monmouth, Oregon.

This group show will feature some amazing talent, including work by Stephan Martiniere, David Palumbo, Omar Ryan, Donato Giancola, and Tran Nguyen. This show will also feature the incredible sculptural works of David Meng.

The show will run from January 9th until February 8th, 2013, so if you happen to be in the area, go check it out.

Thanks to Paula Booth and Brandon Cline-Jones for inviting me to be part of the show!

SPECTRUM 19

My piece "Insolent Mockery of the Divine Under Centrist Rule" is featured in the latest edition of seminal fantastic art annual Spectrum. They pack a lot of work into this large book, so I was happy that my piece was given a full page all to itself.

As with all of the past Spectrum books this edition is full of some really great work, from several hundred different artists and is worth picking up.

Cover art by Brom. Thanks to Cathy Fenner for the reminder!

DYSTOPIC KIT SHIPPING

The Dystopic model kits are all packed up and are being shipped out. Thanks to everyone that bought one!

A second kit is already in the works, and a third one planned, so hopefully we'll have another EK/Industria Mechanika release sometime in 2013. 

I'll post updates early next year.

ALL WATCHED OVER BY MACHINES OF LOVING GRACE

This one was inspired by the title of Adam Curtis's 2011 documentary series All Watched Over by Machines of Loving Grace. In this three part series Curtis argues that we adopted machine like thinking, and have come to believe that computers/technology could stabilize our societies and liberate humanity. In Curtis's view, these efforts have failed, and has left humanity less free and has given us a warped view of reality.

Curtis borrowed the title from a poem, and a book of the same name published in 1967, by American writer Richard Brautigan. Brautigan, living and working in California in the 1960's (including a stint as poet-in-residence at the California Institute of Technology), was possibly influenced by the "Californian Ideology", the ideology that promoted the computer-utopian ideas that Curtis criticizes in his documentary. In his poem, Brautigan envisions a future world where technology merges with nature, humanity is freed from its labor and mankind, nature and technology join together in some sort of harmonious balance.

I didn't try to consciously convey Curtis's or Brautigan's ideas through this piece. It just started as an image that popped in my head when I read the title, All Watched Over by Machines of Loving Grace, and then evolved as I worked up the initial sketch and started painting. That being said, I guess my thoughts concerning this piece conform more to Brautigan's vision, as I see the orbs in this piece as mechanical shepherds, protecting and watching over our traveler along his journey. Even though he is tired and worn, they push him on. He remains motivated, his gaze is firmly fixed on his goal and his journey is almost over.

This mirrors my own feelings as I finish up the last few pieces in this series.

If you haven't checked out any of Adam Curtis's work before I highly recommend it. He has some great documentaries. The Century of Self (2002),  and The Power of Nightmares (2004) are a couple of my favorites of his. I agree that sometimes the connections made can be stretched pretty far, but his documentaries are generally interesting, entertaining and well put together. As for Brautigan, he passed away in 1984. I had never heard of him before I watched Curtis's documentary. I haven't read any of his other work, and I don't even really care for the poem...... but what a great title!

More details at my Flickr.

WIRED - CYOA

Here is an illustration I did for the latest issue of Wired magazine. It was for an article on the old Choose Your Own Adventure series of books. My older brother had a stack of Choose Your Own Adventure paperbacks that I used to read through when I was a kid (and my Dad still has them at the house last time i checked). I really enjoyed them back then, so getting a chance to work on something related to the series was a pleasure.

As I was drawing on my childhood memory and emotion, my original sketches for the illustration were much more playful (as seen below), and put a lot more emphasis on the books, and elements from the article. But Wired was looking for something more akin to my "EK" illustrations and wanted something a little more ambiguous as they felt this would appeal more to their mature readership, so we ended up with the image above, with it's restrained colour scheme and more serious forms. In the image the concept of choice is represented subtly, and is somewhat overshadowed by the sense of danger. We also decided to bleed the image out of it's frame to allow it to merge with the body of the article.

This issue is out on the shelves (and in tablet form), and as is the case with Wired, is filled with cool and interesting stuff. Big thanks to Gus Wezerek for his thoughts, input and the gig!

DYSTOPIC KIT UPDATE

After only a few days the first edition Dystopic Model Kit is %60 sold. If you are interested in one of these kits, now is the time to preorder before they are all gone! 
Visit the IMech Shop here for more details.

DYSTOPIC KIT RELEASE

The model kit based on my Dystopic piece will be available for preorder from Industria Mechanika starting tomorrow, November 5th, 2012. This large 1/6th scale model kit consists of resin parts, along with photoetch and laser cut detail pieces, wire (for the suspended orbs), decals, and an 8"x 10" print of the cover painting. 

As mentioned in previous posts, this model was masterfully sculpted by Gene Campbell. Gene's skill and attention to detail made this product as cool as it is. Big thanks to Des at Ownage for all his work in  crafting the kit from Gene's sculpt and to Michael at Industria Mechanika for putting this all together and making it happen!

Visit the Industria Mechanika Shop if you are interested in checking this kit out (not to mention a bunch of other kits from great artists like Ian McQue, Adrian Smith and Scott Robertson just to name a few). Preorder starts tomorrow, and the packaged kits will ship around Nov. 31, 2012 (plenty of time for Christmas!).