“GIRLS & FLOWERS” Drawing Event at Gallery GODO with Craig Elliott

June 1st, 2012

RSVP at:
http://www.facebook.com/events/443200992375960/

My pal Jennifer (who I have ben drawing since my 1st day at Art Center) has invited me to host, draw and help those who wish it all evening with the Gallery Girls. The girls will be all dressed up (and partly not dressed up) in flowers made by another awesome artist, Theron Milton Nelson.

I will also have some goodies with me for sale, including my new book, and some new prints!

Come to this FUN 3 hour Drawing Workshop with...* 2 Models on 2 stages (EVERYONE GETS A GOOD SEAT!)
* Fun Music * Free Snacks * Drinks

Theme is "GIRLS AND FLOWERS"

2 Models (Jennifer & Russia) - drawing benches & chairs 

And Flowers by Theron Milton Nelson (Plant Guru)

Music by Jason Savvy www.jasonsavvy.com/dj

DATE: Friday, JUNE 1st
TIME: 10pm to 1am
COST: *** ONLY $20 *** for 2 models!!!! ***
Cash Bar
Gallery Godo
6749 San Fernando Road #C Upstairs
Glendale, CA
www.gallerygodo.net
(818) 641-4369

Forest Awakening Print now available~

Here is a new print that will be available for the first time at Spectrum Live! 

"Forest Awakening" is a very large painting that will be in a show at Arcadia Fine Arts in NY on June 16th. Soon, I'll be posting more info as well as some images of the process involved in making this large piece.

Commission Sketches Samples~

Here are 2 sketch commissions from the recent Wondercon show in Anaheim California. I have a commissions list for the upcoming Spectrum Live show this weekend May 18-20 in Kansas City. Commissions for the show can be purchased ahead of time for delivery at the show HERE. 

The angel is a sketch in my book "The Art of Craig Elliott" and is done in colored pencils on the inside cover of the book.  

The girl with the tiara is a sketch of Deja Thoris for a fan of the books and movie-  "John Carter"

Frazetta curiosity

About 10years ago I found a painting that had a figure in it from one of Frank Frazetta's first paintings "Conan the Destoyer" I recently asked James Gurney if he knew the name of the artist because the old book I got the image from never had a credit for the artist (tisk, tisk).  Lo and behold the Genius of James Gurney came through!  He found the artist, and a bit more info on the painting.  Jim has posted a bit on it on his blog if you are interested. The artist is French orientalist Jean-Jules-Antoine Lecomte du Nouÿ. The name of the painting in English is "The Slaying of the Unpropitous Messengers"  or in French "Les Porteurs de Mauvaises Nouvelles"

Below is the comparison I found to the Frazetta figure:

Here is the original painting:

Spectrum Live show appearance May 18-20

I wanted to let you all know that I'll be at the spectrum live show in Kansas city booth nuber 608, along with Kurt Huggins and Zelda Devon!  

I will have prints, cards, new art, originals and be signing my book and taking sketch commissions.  You can get sketch commissions ahead of time and get to be first on the list through my website at this link:

/comissions/

Ralph McQuarrie portrait~

Last night, I did a portrait of illustrator and concept designer Ralph McQuarrie, for a little show that will be at the Industrial Light and Magic shop in the next few days.  A friend of mine, Christian Alzmann, in the art department there asked me if I would paint something that he and the other artists there could give to Ralph's Widow as a show of appreciation for how much Ralph meant to us, and how much he as inspired us all. Other artists and former artists from the ILM art department are also doing pieces for the show- it should be pretty cool!

Here, I am posting the final painting as well as a composite of the 3 hour painting process. There was probably another 3 hours of prep time involved beforehand. 

-Enjoy! 

I'm now an "alt" artist...

The big alternate culture/ art magazine from the UK - "Bizarre"  has done an article on me, thanks to the endless energy of publisher Bob Self at Baby Tattoo Books.  Bob writes art-centric articles for the magazine and has even featured my friend and co-worker from Disney Brian Kesinger and his Tea Girls art available at Fine Art America.

my only beef with the article is that my first name is spelled wrong in the big tagline.  I know they didn't mean it though.

Workshop by Craig Elliott in Imagine FX #82

The folks over at Imagine FX have just released Issue #82 in Europe and the UK.   I know it is always about a month late here in the US, so let this serve as a pre- warning to keep an eye out for this issue. The workshop is a break down of how I painted Lady Sylvanas from the World of Warcraft TCG.  

It looks like there is also an article on Ralph McQuarrie and Moebius in this issue as well.  A couple of my art heroes for sure.  I had the pleasure of meeting Moebius at CTN-x once, and he used my pencils to draw a demo! He even tried to buy some of my art, but I insisted that he take it.  It was the least I could do for all his inspiration.

Ralph McQuarrie has always inspired me since I saw his art in those first Star Wars art books.  It was pretty late that I saw the books though- I was in college, but I could immediately tell his skill.  My best experience of his art was at the Star Wars art exhibit in San Franciso, where his creature drawings were displayed. NONE of the books or reproductions I have seen have ever come close to the real drawings.  There is such subtlety in them and such beauty, the printing always misses these fine points.  I even have the huge book on him, and even that one doesn't come close. I guess the best art is always at its best in person! 

New Orleans Burlesque and Music Prints now available!

Due to some overflow demand from Wondercon last weekend, I have been persuaded to add the New Orleans Burlesque and Music prints to the store-  Now you can get them on the web, and don't have to attend a convention! 

Sketch Commissions for Wondercon- ONLY 2 days left!

We are getting close to the opening day of Wondercon 2012, so be sure to order your sketch commissions soon!  I can deliver sketch commissions at the show if you order before the 16th of May.  The list may fill up at the show if you wait til then, so this is the best way to guarantee that you will get a sketch. 

Here is a link to the commissions oder page to get on the list:

Commissions Order Page

Some Sample commissions form CTN- expo:

CTN Commission $100 CTN Commission $100CTN Commission $100

Wondercon 2012~ in Anehiem this year!

Come out this coming weekend March 16th- 18th and visit my booth, see my new book, browse prints or just to chat!  I enjoy the company~  

I'll be taking commissions early again this year, as my list can fill up quickly at the show, and I want to have the time to fit all of them in.  I will do my best to have any commissions ordered before the 16th ready at the show for you to pick up, but you may keep ordering them after the 16th, of course. 

to order a commission click the link below, and you will be able to choose the type of commission, and at the paypal stage give me a description of what you would like me to draw:

Click here to order a commission for delivery at Wondercon 2012

I have a great spot this year- the best EVER at a convention I think. Thank you guys at Comicon International!  I am just to the left of the front entrance past the big DC booth, right next to Stuart Ng's booth...  You CAN'T miss me!

see you all there~
Craig

The Lorax, Visual Development/ Concept art!

Illumination Entertainment and Universal have been kind enough to let me post some images of the concept art that I did for "The Lorax"  which has opened this weekend! 

The Lorax concept art- Village

Here is a first shot concept of the city- this was back at a time when the city was not totally artificial and some real foliage was part of the town.  Through all the changes my colors and mood remained, and can easily be seen in the look of the final town. 

 

Here are a sketch and final concept painting for the Lurkim, the Onceler's "House"  or what is left of it. The parts that are crumbling were meant to be remnants of the old factory that originally was attached to the living quarters. 
The Lorax- Lurkim painting by Craig ElliottHere is a second, alternate design of the Lurkim I came up with that shows more of the crumbled factory than the original book did.  I tend to like this design the most, but the first painting was more how it looks in the final film. I was really trying to infuse the Seussian style in everything I painted, every cloud and blade of grass had the feel of his style.  

More to come..!

Imagine FX review

Even more reviews of the book are coming in, here is the latest in the Januray (USA) issue #78 of ImagineFX magazine!

Animation insider interview~

Animation Insider has just done a nice little interview on me over on their very extensive online magazine!  There are some fun questions posed I have never answered before, hopefully they can give some insight into the animation industry and at least the career of one artist!  

There are quite a number of interviews to look through, so have some fun and read up on some of my friends in the industry as well!

http://www.animationinsider.com/2012/01/craig-elliott/

Nice endorsement by Dave Dorman~

Dave Dorman recently posted a little review and mention of my new book on his blog!  I have known he and his wife Denise for some time now, and get to see them every year at comicon.

I have worked on various projects with them together, including the Vampire Huntress concept art book based on the writing of the recently passed L. A. Banks.  We both won spectrum medals for that project! 

Alla Prima oil painting demo video

Here is a short narrated video of me sketching in oil on canvas.  The painting is about 9 x 12 inches and was painted in about 2 hours. The oils were thinned wth a medium of 1 part stand oil to 5 parts turpentine, and occasionally thinned with just turpentine.  

Enjoy~

Craig

Stuart Ng books signing event

If you haven't heard already, I will be at Stuart Ng books  signing and sketching for his customers on Saturday February 11th.

Stuart has a special anouncement page for the event on his website:

http://stuartngbooks.com/craig-elliott-signing-saturday-february-11.html

Hope to see you there!

Update on 2012-02-09 21:00 by Craig Elliott

Reminder that the Stuart Ng books sigining is this Saturday Feb 11th! stop by and say hi and get a book signed or a sketch!  :) 

Flesk Publications interview

There is a very nice interview with me on the Flesk Publications website.  The interview is centered on my new book, but also goes into other areas of my art and life etc.

http://fleskpublications.com/blog/

~Enjoy!

Art of Craig Elliott complete video tour

I put together a full video tour of the "Art of Craig Elliott" book for those of you who haven't had a chance to look through it yet.  The video covers all the pages, the variant covers and the jacketless cover! 

Enjoy,
~Craig

The first transport is away!

I just sent the first batch of book orders out, and they all include free sketches!  You all should be getting your books in 2-9 days (according to USPS)  Thanks again for the orders, and keep them coming!

Remember, the books are still shipping with sketches on signed bookplates, but this won't last forever.