Unfortunately, this is the final issue for Realms of Fantasy... I'm sorry to see them go. They've been a great asset and support to the fantasy industry. Back in February 2001, they published me in their Artists' Gallery, and I was honored to be featured again.
Although, sadly, this final December 2010 issue didn't make it into print, it's worth viewing. You can download the entire magazine, or simply read my feature online by clicking each image below for enlargement.
The popular Star Wars Miniatures line from Wizards of the Coast, has a new expansion "The Dark Times" due out on January 26th. I was lucky enough to be commissioned to create the images for each of the three booster packs for this set.
This was my first time drawing or painting any of these three characters. Chewie was the only one I was really familiar with.
I was asked to illustrate Chewbacca holding the bowcaster weapon, showing him doing his "Chewie yelping thing." Ever since I was a kid, that hollow sounding howl has stuck with me. He's a cool character. Does anyone not like Chewbacca?
K'Kruhk was all new to me. The art director told me he was a Whiphid Jedi, who lived around the end of the Galactic Republic, all the way to the time of the new Sith Order. We wanted to show him with both his lightsaber and his Rambo knife, looking beefy and imposing. This was one of the rare occasions I've been able to show a Jedi bare chested. The only thing that would've been even more "freakin' sweet", is if they had let me add in the straw hat. I freakin' tried.
It seemed like the images for this set, were heading along a tough, furry theme. However, we deviated from that path on the third one, and tossed in a scaly dude, a.k.a. Bossk, the Trandoshan bounty hunter, -- full of attitude.
So aside from talking about "Land of the Lost", these images are all created traditionally. I do the sketch on tracing paper parchment. After it is approved, I scan it in, and print it out on Epson Velvet Fine Art Paper. I then submerge the print in my oversize sink, which is filled with water (wet stretching) and mount it to a piece of drywall for a sturdy surface while painting. My first stage of painting is always covering the white of the paper by washing in general colors and textures with acrylic. That is followed with building up the details using colored pencils and oil.
Just to let you know, I still have the original sketches and paintings for K'Kruhk and Bossk. I'll be adding them to my website shortly, but if you want a jump on them email me directly.
Has it really been almost a year ago, during Thanksgiving break, that I was working on the sketches for these three packages? Our family drove up to San Jose last year for the family festivities...me, dragging along half of my studio to assist me in the sketch phase. I was shooting photos, cutting apart and reassembling action figures, and surfing the internet for various reference needed to arrive at the best results. The bedroom that four of us shared, looked like an ADHD seizure, thanks to me. Somehow I did manage to finish the sketches while away. Twas a typical 'freelancers' vacation.
The three characters that Paul Hebron, the art director, asked me to illustrate this time around, was Kit Fisto, Asajj Ventress and General Grievous.
These were Paul's descriptions of the direction he was envisioning:
Asajj Ventress: I think it is better to show her with the bottom skirt. Would be nice to show it partially opened or removed to flash some leg. She could have a wide legged stance with strong camera eye contact if we do her with a straight forward view. Shoulders back. Face with her typical scowl.. Or check this out, maybe a slightly amused look with one eyebrow raised like, “you dare challenge me?”. Two lightsabers. Could be connected but not needed.
General Grievous: I don’t want to show him hunched over like in many other images. More straight up standing. Even though he grieves, I want to show the Sheelal warrior side of his personality. He is proud and skilled with an aggressive pose-- only two lightsabers. Side pose with left arm front? The cloak that we spoke about-not tattered or damaged but flowing royally.
Kit Fisto: He was a renowned male Nautolan Jedi Master in the waning years of the Galactic Republic. A very likeable guy with a winning smile, even at times in battle Fisto met an ignominious end with a smile on his face, much to the surprise of Anakin Skywalker when he arrived. "Sleep, all life is a dream." ―Kit Fisto
Out of the three of these, Asajj Ventress was the most enjoyable for me to illustrate. White skin is fun to paint, as well as strong, intimidating women. I did the first sketch of her. Paul wanted to try a version with her looking a bit more sinister, with crossed lightsabers and a snarl. I used what has become my typical mixed media approach to paint these, washes and splatterings of acrylic, followed by building up and rendering the details with acrylic, and oil on top of that. Colored pencils are worked in here and there around edges, to pop and carve out specific areas. By the way, my old trusty airbrush is still my best friend when it comes to lightsabers... no Photoshop there. As my son would say, I'm still "kick'n it old school", and I have a sneaking suspicion my school's not going to get any younger.
Do you have a handful of favorite cards that you would absolutely LOVE to have embellished with Terese's signature? You don't HAVE to go to an event and stand in long lines to have it done. She's more than happy to sign cards for all of her fans!
