It's Time for a Change!!

Waiting in line at the polls to vote was just the start of a day in anticipation. I anticipated while I worked, while I ate and even while I rested. This type of anticipation didn't just start today though, but last Wednesday when I e-mailed the art director of Night Shade Books my final painting for my first fantasy book cover. I got it to him on time, but waited everyday to hear back by phone or by e-mail. I hadn't heard anything and was worried that maybe it didn't go through or he hated it. I heard from him tonight that he got it and he really liked it, so that put me at ease. Then watching the television and seeing Barrack Obama win the President Election was even more great news that put me at ease. His ambition for this country and his ideals is a change that I think everyone needs. Eight years of Republican leadership under George Bush made people very unbalanced and doubtful about where this country is headed. What needs to be fixed and how to fix it were questions that were tossed around. What needs to be done? For a while I felt like nothing was working for me and I doubted what I was doing would actually get me anywhere. Fantasy is one genre that I focus on heavily and want to do, but there's so much different kinds of fantasy that I don't do. Dark fantasy, modern fantasy, classical . . . romanticism . . . medieval. The list goes on. The book cover I did for Night Shade Books was for the American version of "The Lee's of Laughters End" by Steve Erikson. It's very different from my other work as you will see. It's darker in tone and color, has a limited palette, no dragons, no women, nothing medieval about it and has an interesting composition! You can go view the painting at www.iankirkpatrickart.com/laughtersend.html . Maybe I should do darker stuff like this more often, or just different stuff in general to get more book covers. It's time for a change, not only in my artwork but for the country as well!

I've fallen for "Fallen"!

So I went to go check out the Carlos Huante and Jose Fernandez show, "Fallen", in San Francisco at the Varnish Gallery last night and let me say that it was AMAZING!!!!! I already knew that Carlos was a great artist but realizing the scope of how detailed and how much you can pick out and appreciate in his pieces was staggering. If you have seen his previous book "Monstruo", expect some different type of paintings here. These are more reflective on the human will and spirit rather than twisted, grotesque monsters. He wrote poems to go along with a lot of his pieces that compliment them very well. I got to talk to him for a bit and I was asking him about how it was as an artist in the film industry. He said he loved working for films but he strove to have more of the artists being recognized in the movie production, like in movie guides, that's why he first came out with "Monstruo". He also talked about some of his influences, which I found a few surprising. He would integrate a lot of fine line quality and shapes inspired from Alphonse Mucha and Gustav Klimt, pick out the negative spaces like J.C. Leyendecker and choose adventurous subjects like N.C. Wyeth. He was a very down to earth guy and really nice, and I enjoyed meeting him. Jose Fernandez of course is an incredible sculptor! All his pieces never seemed to be static, there always was some type of fluidity in them and looked malleable. He was telling me how he worked with Jordu Schell, along with Carlos, on a little movie called "Men in Black" and I really couldn't imagine Jose sculpting little aliens and creatures because all his sculptures were epic and weren't really grotesque. Again, Jose was a very nice guy and down to earth, and he offered me a piece of his gum! *swoon* ha ha. Anybody who is in San Francisco needs to go check out this show! Varnish Gallery 77 Natoma st. @ 2nd. Be There!

First Fantasy Book Cover . . . FINALLY!!!!!

So, I recently finished some card illustrations for Fantasy Flight Games and posted above. They were based off one of my favorite fantasy book series, "A Song of Ice and Fire" by George R.R. Martin. The were quite pleased with them, as always (add modest laugh here). I also recently got assigned a book cover for Steven Erikson's "The Lee's of Laughter's End". I'm gonna be doing the American Cover version, Which I will post on my website once it's finished. This is a great opportunity, plus Something I've been gearing my portfolio for since I've been painting. I have always, always wanted to do books, especially covers!!!! So I'm very happy this opportunity has come to me.

Summer's final days

Looking back at how enthusiastic I was of summer's coming and at how much I wanted to do before it ended, I really didn't do as much as I wanted to. A lot of times I felt lazy, or I was distracted at looking too hard for work and not doing what was necessary to get that work like doing samples etc. Ah, the trials and tribulations of being an artist!!!! Well, here's a sketch of something I'm working on digitally. I sketched it while on a plane to Louisville to visit a friend and thought it might be a good concept art piece. I have another traditional painting in the works, but will post it later when it's finished. Enjoy!

The whole sketch n' kadoodle

The summer has started off pretty well! I went back to work as an apprentice to Eric Joyner and am enjoying it so far. Being able to work in a very laid back environment in a nice cozy studio beats working at a starbucks (which I may have to do later on in the summer, but pretend I didn't say that so shhh . . . quiet). I've been working with him on and off for about 2 years, he's a masterful painter and I enjoy watching him do his brush magic. His book "Robots and donuts: The Art of Eric Joyner" is coming out early August, so look out for it! I've included some sketches and doodles, so enjoy!

random sketches and site update!

Here are some sketches of people in a cafe and other random ones. I'm trying to sketch more as much as possible, I reeeaaaaly need the practice! Oh, and I updated my site so that when people go to see my illustrations, there's a link to buy prints of them (wink wink)! Share the love, people! I'll return the favor . . . maybe.

An Elephant off my shoulders!

So, Graduation has come and gone and I can now focus all my time on getting work! This past year has been very difficult balancing time between freelance work and school, and doing my own personal paintings. I am happy with what I have accomplished though. I don't like to boast but having 2 art shows in lounges, one in october and the second in may, makes me feel accomplished. Having doing freelance at top ad agency Goodby, Silverstein & partners was a great experience! Illustrating 6 cards for fantasy flight games puts my foot in the door. Getting work with a graphic designer and illustrating marketing and label designs for Corte Clean, Avery and Solovue broadens my style. I got a small storyboard job with an indy director within the past 3 weeks! All this while going to school in the past year and getting ready for graduation, man I'm tired! The spring show at my school was fantastic, and being able to display my work with all my talented peers was an honor. I've included a work in progress picture of a personal painting I'm working on for my portfolio. The sketch I posted below, and it's gone a long way from that.

passing of a legend

My most recent memory of Barbara Bradley is when I heard of her retirement and I went to tell her I will miss her teaching full time at the Academy of Arts. She looked up at me with her pleasant smile and reassured me that she will be back for small workshop sessions and talks. That made me feel better to know that she will still pass on her immense knowledge to other students. I took her class once, and then was a teacher's assistant to her for a couple more semesters. She gave me a gift for helping me out, even though I thought she owed me nothing because I learned so much. I felt like I couldn't take her class enough because every time I learned something new. She passed away on Friday, May 2nd from a car accident. I will sorely miss her and will take her lessons to heart. We love you Barbara!

painting sketch

Here's a sketch for my next painting I'm going to be doing! I felt like I needed a painting that shows emotion and a kind of situation that you wouldn't normally see in fantasy, medieval painting. I also need a grand opus and a new cannon to my portfolio, so I'm going to spend a lot of time on this one and make sure it comes out right. I'm planning on the title to be "parting sorrow". Yeah I'm a big softie, so what!

Brand New Blogger

Hey everyone!!! Welcome to my new blog site. If you came here from my new website design, please let me know what you think of it! If you happen to stumble upon this blog, thanks for visiting and make sure to check out my site at www.iankirkpatrickart.com . It feels good to get a re-design done and I feel it serves my work a lot better. Hopefully I'll get my name out there and get some assignments for books. I finished some illustrations I did for Fantasy Flight games last week and sent them in. They're for playing cards based on H.P. lovecraft stories. They liked them and I think they're gonna use them, hopefully. Feel free to contact me with any comments or just to say hi!