WiP of The Day - Seamonster Progress

Kept painting my seamonster today. Now it looks like this:

(Click for full view)

Fanart For an Online Art Challenge

My latest finished one is my entry for the June Challenge at ImagineFX, "Favourite NES Scene". A WiP for this one was posted earlier.

(Click for full view)

Good Ole Days (2009)

A1 - Another abstract painting

The next finished one was also an abstract.

(As always: Click for full view)

A1 (2009)

In The Valley of Coping - Uncertainty

The next painting I finished a while ago was another abstract one.

(Made with ArtRage 2,5 FV. Click for full view)

In The Valley of Coping - Uncertainty (2009)

(Spoiler!) Dream Theater's "Black Clouds & Silver Linings" - First impressions

As I've mentioned before, one of my favorite music genres is Progressive Metal. And my favorite progressive metal band is Dream Theater. Therefore, it was with much joy and excitement I received their brand new studio album in the mail today.

After listening to it once, these are my first impressions and reflections (spoiler alert!):

- Beautiful artwork by Hugh Syme. Feels more like "traditional Dream Theater". Less dark and chaotic compared to the previous one ("Systematic Chaos"). Actually has much in common with the "Awake" cover. That blue sky in the opened door resembles the sky in the mirror of their 1994 album. The sand, an eye, planets, clouds, the logotype in the sand. Many things that can be found on the "Awake" cover. Gives a sense of recognition and nostalgy - which fits the albums themes well.

- Great intro with the thunder and rain for first song, "A nightmare to remember". Great double bass drumming throughout this one. Probably the best "drum track" of the record (I'm a drummer myself...)

- Rudess' sometimes use almost too many effects in some solos, almost drowns the virtuosity of his playing (at least for me, not being a keyboardist).

- Don't remember very much from the 2nd one ("A rite onf passage" - believe it was one of the first singles, but the 3rd one "Wither" is another beautiful DT power ballad.

- "The shattered fortress" is about the final steps of Mike Portnoy's "12-step program" suite. Like a medley containing bits from previous parts and a great conclusion of the series.

- Then comes "The best of times", the song that struck me as a lightning bolt. Not for it's insane virtuosity or insane time signature. But because of it's beauty. This may be the most beautiful song DT has written so far. And seeing in the booklet that it is actually a dedication from Mike to his father Howard, who passed away this year, makes it even more powerful. A moving and beautiful statement and the song that made the strongest impression during my first spin of the record.

- The sixth and final, "The count of Tuscany", is a typical great DT epic, making me think of "A change of seasons" as well as "Octavarium", much because of Jordan's wonderful continuum solo.

- And that was it! Six songs and it felt like time just flew by, leaving me longing for more. Which must be a good thing. One last thing I noted was that one song reminded me of the song "Surronded", where it picks up speed after the slow intro. But I'm not quite sure which one it was. Better listen to this great album again. May turn into one of my favorites...

Sketch of The Day AND WiP of The Day

Began another RL digital drawing this morning. Here's a first quick WiP (Artrage 2,5):

WiP of The Day - Zelda Fan Art For IFX Challenge

Latest WiP of my Zelda piece "Good Ole Days", that is my entry for the ImagineFX June Challenge "Favorite NES Scene":

(Click for full view)

WiP of The Day - Work In Progress

Today I began another painting. Here's the first WiP version of it:

(Click for full view)

Elementaria

Next finished painting was somewhat inspired by the four traditional elements Earth, Wind, Fire and Water.

(Click for full view)

Elementaria (2009)

Barbarianne - Comic Heroine Challenge Entry

The next one was painted for the May "Comic hero/heroine" Challenge at ImagineFX. It's an original character that I called "Barbarianne".

(Click for full view)

Barbarianne (2009)

Within A Forest

Next painting is one I made as an assignment for a workshop online (thanks, Carly!). It's inspired by a text about a person walking through a forest. I took the title from the second line of Dante's inferno:

Midway upon the journey of our life
I found myself within a forest dark,
For the straightforward pathway had been lost.
(translation by Longfellow)

Within a forest (2009)

Painting Inspired By Nature

Next painting is painted from real life - through the window of my house.

(click image for full view)

THROUGH A WINDOW IN MAY (2009)

Sketch Of The Day - Wandering

Since I am really into drawing and painting fantasy art, I want to post more of my works here. I have decided to not just post finished paintings here, but also sketches, speed paintings etc. that I've made the same day as I post them. In other words: Making this blog into something a Fantasy Art Sketchbook and Exhibition as well (in addition to everything else it is). Maybe I will even eventually start using this blog as a way to share what I have learned so far about drawing and painting fantasy art.

My first daily sketch will be something drawn very quickly that I started last night and kept drawing this morning. Just a very rough idea of a character and an environment. I temporarily call it WANDERING.

I don't have access to any scanner at the moment and apologize the quality of my digicam pictures.

(Note: Click it for full view)

Another Abstract Painting

Here is another digital painting I did last month. About the challenges life forces us to face.

(Just a part of the painting - click for full view)

IN THE VALLEY OF COPING (2009)