Sidebar interview~

The folks over at Sidebar have been kind enough to interview me about art, life and such!  

Have a listen if you get a chance!

http://sidebar.typepad.com/my_weblog/2012/07/podcast-episode-195-craig-elliott.html

Mentorship application DEADLINE is TODAY!

Mentorship applications DEADLINE is TODAY!!  

Anyone interested in having me as their mentor for the fall don't forget to apply today!

Motivarti.org

T- Rex! Grrrrrr....

Here is a sweet T- Rex (maybe the only one in history?) and his gal-pal collecting some fruit up in a tree.... 

Watercolor and pencil on Arches paper. 8 1/2" x 12"

Comicon 2012 booth #4713

Comicon 2012 is here!  

Craig Elliott Gallery will be set up at booth #4713 again this year, in the "fantasy Illustrators" area of Hall "G"

I'll have my new book, many new prints, originals, I'll be doing painting demos and taking sketch commissions. The booth has been redesigned, all new and fresh! Stop by and say hi! 

Original watercolor and pencil painting, available at Comic-con 2012

Motivarti fall 2012!!

It's "That" time again folks! If you would like to have a one -on-one 10 week mentorship with me, and have me help you learn more about anything you want this is the time and here is the info! 

Feel free to post any questions you may have about the program, I'll answer whatever I can. :)

Click the image to open the site or here:

http://www.motivarti.org

Winged fairy sketch~

Here is a little colored Pencil sketch commission a few months ago- Enjoy!

Sur-Realism show at Arcadia Fine Arts June 16th - 29th

I have a big painting in NY right now at Arcadia Fine Arts- SoHo.  If you are in the area and want to see a grea group show check it out!  The whole show is available now for viewing on the Arcadia web site - Just go to the "Exhibitions" area and Choose "SoHo"  you will be able to scroll through all the works available! 

Nature Goddess~

Nature Goddess! 

Pencil and gouache on paper...

Waterfall sketch~

Here is a new piece done for Mark Theolosen of the Netherlands~  Pencil and watercolor on toned printing paper. 

Painting Demo from "Girls and Flowers" drawing event at Gallery Godo

This is a 50 minute painting demo I did for the "Girls and Flowers" event last night.  The model is Jennifer Fabos Patton of Gallery Girls fame~  

This is an oil painting on a new traditions oil primed linen panel.  The painting is in about the middle stage that I go through when creating a finished painting.  I have already painted the shadows and done the main lay-in in thin oil.  I use just turpentine for thinning the paint, or straight oil paint in that first stage.  

Here, in the second stage, there is also the beginnings of the more opaque colors in the cheeks, nose and parts of the hair. This second stage is where I make my color choices for the various tones on the skin.  After this stage, if I were to continue, I would continue to add the opaque paint, in the highlights especially, and smoothly blend it into the shadows and other opaque paint areas. The final stage creates a continuous, smooth and mor realistic skin tone.  

Sketches from "Girls and Flowers" workshop with the Gallery Girls!

Here are a couple of sketches of Gallery Girls  Jennifer Fabos Patton, and Russia Hardy from the even on June 1st at Gallery Godo!   

We had wonderful costumes for the models, great music to be inspired by and lots of amazing artists working- I think there were 40+people at this event!  

Thank you Jennifer for organizing the event, and thanks to all those who came out to listen to me babble on about art and draw!  

 

“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!