Fly By – Asteroids

Once again, I am posting images from my space art portfolio. This is a reworking of one of the first space art cover illustrations I attempted, but never submitted, for Analog. It was created in Photoshop as part of a new series of space art conceived as “variations on a theme” using similar elements in different ways. In keeping with the role of a concept artist, this series is supposed to demonstrate an ability to create a number of detailed proof images quickly, so each image in this series was produced in an evening or afternoon. The fact that the images all share a common origin and elements also gives them a kind of storyboard quality.

This version is closer to the original composition for the asteroids, and features a different look for the space fighter — a scout design. I think that either of these pictures would work as cover art or illustrations for a sci-fi magazine or web site. They also show that I seem to have a visual affinity for blue! Anyway, these pictures seemed like a nice end-of-the-month addition. Enjoy!

Blue Horizon

Once more, I thought it would be nice to add a little visual content to the eye of paradox by posting one of the images from my voidscape collection of space art. This is actually a pre-visualization done at a smaller scale than I normally work in Photoshop, using small Terragen renders, to help with a work in progress. To those familiar with my Art is Murder gallery as Alexandrea V. Morgan, the planets first appeared on a wallpaper graphic titled “Artemis and Athena” which was a sneak-preview of the the project I was working on. However, this piece uses the planets in the same orientation they were originally developed, rather than the vertical composition I posted on Art is Murder, to try to keep the lighting of the planets somewhat consistent with the lighting of the terrain.

When I moved on to the final version, I decided to try the vertical composition using a different rendering of the landscape, changing the lighting and atmospheric settings in Terragen to fit. The two images are different enough from each other to be seen as distinct interpretations of a theme. Because I kind of like the way this version worked out, I’m going to create a larger scale version when time permits. As a final note, it’s worth visiting my gallery on Art is Murder since the images I’ve posted here are cropped to fit the article space.

Above the Horizon

This is my first attempt to feature some of my artwork here on the eye of paradox. I have always had a strong interest in becoming a professional artist, in spite of having little time and insufficient resources to develop my skills to that level. I started out with the right intentions, pursuing an art degree, but the path I started on led down a different and darker route. I never gave up on the idea, even though it’s taken a long time to get to where I am now as an artist and a writer. In the hopes of breaking into publication creating science fiction themed cover art, I became interested in creating voidscapes, images set in outer space. I have learned enough by now to know how much more I have to learn to achieve that goal. I have continued to improve with each work, and I will post some of my more recent efforts or even works in progress as the whim strikes me. Of course, if I get some kind of response to my efforts, the whim might strike more frequently.

Funny how that works, hmm?