First look: Cover: Deliverance Lost

Hello All!

So, Black Library Live! 2011 has been and gone for another year and what a great day it was - it was great to meet up with all those who enjoy the books, hobby and artwork.

A big THANKYOU for making all the hard work feel worthwhile.

Many folk saw the new Corax artwork for 'Deliverance Lost' by Gav Thorpe and Black Library have now put the final (lo-res) image up for your enjoyment and scrutiny:

(Above)
Corax in orbital drop.
The brief wanted an Art Deco hanging garden city
something we've never really seen in 40K before

Thankfully the artwork has gone down a storm. It was inspired by a specially commissioned illustration by John Blanche - Corax has never been seen before, so who better to define his look ;)

(Above: Detail)
I was inspired by the idea of a 'Dark Knight' style
base-jump mixed with 'Star Trek' orbital drop.
WHOOOSH!

Anyway, here you go - feast thine eyes upon it and feel free to leave a comment.

See you soon!

Process: Oil Paint: Regent Street 2010

Hello All,

Just a quick process post about an oil painting I recently finished. I wanted to do a contemporary landscape, so I chose Regent Street, London. The aim of doing an oil painting was to re-connect with the notion of being an artist - especially after the busy year that was 2010. I wanted to re-establish those traditional skills that are easy to move away from when you've been working digitally for so long.

After a few sketches and reference photo's were taken, I launched into the painting. Below you can see my process:

(Above)
Regent Street painting in progress

As you can see I used a saturated umber as my ground, mainly because I wanted to get a real warmth to the painting, which would mainly be that rather flat Portland stone colour. Also, I painted it in elements, sky, left side, right - a kind of Alla Prima approach over several days.

The final painting (apologies for the poor quality, will get a better pic when the weather is better)

(Above)
Regent Street, 2010
Oil on canvas
24"x30"

It's exciting for me, as I've been able to acknowledge a more traditional and considered approach that will, hopefully, inform my future work. I've already gessoed a load of other canvases and panels, so I'm looking forward to exploring the posibilities of oil painting, still life and landscapes further.

I've got a few other paintings almost finished which I'll post up as and when they're done - keep those eyes peeled!

Cover: 2000AD Prog 1721

Hello All,

A quick post about this weeks 2000AD, with the cover art by yours truly:

(Above)
Basing it on the Henry-Flint-drawn
Shakara strip meant I could
try a more limited palette

I'll do a proper process post soon and maybe Pete Wells over at the EXCELLENT blog, 2000AD Covers Uncovered may have more material at some point as well.

Right, that's it for now, Dr Sketchy's tomorrow.

See you in the funny papers...!

Doctor Who: The Design Conspiracy

So, here's a quick piece on an artwork created for The Design Conspiracy's 10th Birthday:

(Above)
Doctor Who: 2005 Revival
Digital, 10"x10"

The brief was to choose a year from the decade The Design Conspiracy had been operating and illustrate it. So, obviously, I chose 2005 - the year Doctor Who was 'regenerated' onto our screens again.

(Above)
TDC HQ, London

The exhibition was held at TDC HQ in fashionable London and we had a great time, meeting up with old friends and making new ones.

(Above)
Cheer up, Neil - it's Doctor Who!

Cheers!

A New Year - a new 2000AD cover!

A Happy New Year to you all!

Here's a teaser from a new cover for 2000AD:

(Above)
SHAKARA!

I'll be sure to put up the full image and process when the Prog is out, sometime soon!

Also, I shall endeavour to update this blog more regularly, as my attention wandered last year with the sheer workload I had - but that's a good thing right?

So fear not, True Believers, there is plenty more work to be seen...!

3DS Max 2011 Reviewed

Hello all,

My review of 3DS Max 2011 is up and over at 3D World Magazine:

(Above)
The latest release of 3ds Max
adds significant improvements,
but are they worth the price
of the application?

Go check it out - and tell them I sent you!

Catchup - Thoughtbubble 2010

Yo,

Updates are few and far between at the minute 'cos of sheer workload, so here's a quick link to mine and Graham McNeills' adventures in Leeds, at the always amazing Leeds Thoughtbubble convention, via The Black Library:

(Above)
Click on the link to read.

So, as an update proper, I'm working on a new piece for a new publisher, finishing up on a couple of logo's and I'm about to start work on a new Graham McNeill Horus Heresy cover: "Outcast Dead", oh, and a 2000AD cover to keep me company over the Christmas break.

Phew!

I think my New Years promise should be more updates, more regularly.