TOP 3 illustrations (dark and fantastical)

I have some serious doubts whether people still bother reading something as old-school as blog posts. However, I prepared a new post, just a short one. 

Not so long ago I made 24 illustrations for an upcoming fantasy card game (yay!). Nevertheless, currently I can show only 3 of them (not-so-yay). 

After long deliberations  the TOP 3 was finally chosen! Ladies and gentlemen, please let me announce: 

#3 “Infiltrate”  

Simply because most of my illustrations present only buildings. And this one looks quite mysterious (I hope).

#2 “Tsunami”  

 A combination of classic “grimdream” medieval architecture and dramatic/time-consuming waves. 

#1 “Lord of the Void” 

Because dark surrealism is my favorite genre... is there such genre as “dark surrealism”? Anyway, the color combination is nice.

Mysterious Temple

Ha! I bet that you totally forgot about my blog… I apparently did. A year and a half of silence would suggest that anyways.

The illustration below was actually made over one and a half year ago, which could confirm that I haven’t drawn anything since a looong time. But that’s not true, I swear. I’ve been just extremely busy with projects I cannot share with you… yet.

I’ll be brief (just as a busy person like myself should be).

In the beginning, I made a few concept sketches. Not real pieces of art, I know. But don’t lose hope:

Outlines drawn in pencil:

Some details in waterproof ink:

The whole building and the foreground were masked with masking fluid to protect these areas from being painted over with very liquid paint (“wet on wet” technique). Mountains were salted to achieve these textures:

Working on the sky with watercolor paint mixed with gum arabic. Previously masked areas were painted slowly and carefully:

Hmmm… looks almost like the previous step. Maybe I just wasted my time, but I actually added some extra precise shadows and highlights with ink and dense white watercolor paint:

In a Vampiric Mood

A few pen drawings for a little break from painting.  In comparison with watercolors this technique is truly relaxing :) (at least for me). You don't have to prepare an ergonomic workspace which would enable you to use  a painting palette, a jar with water, paper towels,  and several other necessary tools. Also the daylight, which wouldn't change the perception of colors, is not really required. You don't have to wait UNTIL the paint dries. You don'e have to harry up to paint something BEFORE the paint dries. And of course there is no risk that you'll put the brush into your tea or drink the water from the jar.

Dla odpoczynku od farb - kilka ilustracji piórkiem. W porównaniu z akwarelkami ta technika to prawdziwy relaks :) (przynajmniej dla mnie). Nie trzeba przygotowywać ergonomicznego miejsca pracy pozwalającego na sprawne korzystanie z palety z farbami, słoika z wodą, ręczników papierowych i kilku innych niezbędnych przyborów. Nie jest również wymagane  dobre światło dzienne (nie zmieniające odbioru rzeczywistych kolorów). Nie trzeba czekać aż farba wyschnie, lub spieszyć się z namalowaniem jakiegoś fragmentu dopóki farba rozpływa się po kartce. No i nie ma ryzyka, że zamoczy się pędzel w herbacie albo napije wody ze słoika.

This particular commission was even more pleasant because it was partly related to medieval architecture (which is one of my favorite subjects!). Illustrations (7 pieces) were made for a Manuel Cacho's book. I'll write little more about it when the book will be published.

To konkretne zadanie było ponadto o tyle przyjemne, że nawiązywało nieco do architektury średniowiecza (jednego z moich ulubionych tematów!). Ilustracje (sztuk 7) zostały wykonane do książki Manuela Cacho. Napiszę o niej trochę więcej, kiedy wszystko będzie gotowe.

1. A nice, little castle:

1. Sympatyczny, mały zamek:

2. A little less nice gibbet (it's the second gibbet in my freelancer's career :) ):

2. Nieco mniej sympatyczna szubienica (to już druga szubienica w mojej karierze ilustratora :) ):

3. A slightly shabby room of the main character with a quite clever bathtub "invented" by the author of the book:

3. Trochę obskurny pokój głównego bohatera z całkiem sprytną wanną opracowaną przez autora książki:

Details on special request :)

Na specjalne życzenie - detale :)