Portfolio

The works in this gallery involve further efforts than most of my quick sketches require. Some were designed as works to be sold at various affairs; others were taken from my college experiences. A few are just gifts given to dear friends. They are the works that were suited to a more professional setting and presentation.

Often times the artist working professionally complains of a limited sense of freedom. They feel they are compromising in some small way by falling to the needs of a client or to an artistic audience that they are looking to sell themselves and their work to and are thus losing a vital sense of expression. However, if the artist truly knows themselves and what they are working for such needs can be satisfied even within the limits of a specific assignment. Sometimes those limits even encourage more creative work. That is part accepting the challenge set by those limits. Can the artist deliver a certain image within these bounds by this time? Those types of challenges have always been hard for me to resist. In high school and college I looked forward to each new assignment with eagerness, ready to take on the next endeavor. That is the spirit behind these works, the spirit of a challenge heard and answered.

Fantasy Illustration

Aekold This image was done as a character portrait of Jason Cromley. Jason requested a rendering done of his High Elven Warlock from Mystic Realms. He left the design of it all up to me, so I gave it some thought and quickly came up with this image. A friend worked independently on a different version of the same subject matter and we both came up with strikingly similar works. Just one of those strange coincidences in art.

Bird of Ill Omen This piece is a collage image of sorts. It was meant as a surprise gift for a person very dear to me. The image is of the Lady Delearia, a modern creature of mythic lore. She is a woman with the ability to take on the attributes of a raven. The model for this image was the lovely Kelly Niedzialek, for whom the final piece was made for. The actual image of the lady was done in pen and ink. The feather was taken from a set of costumed back angel wings. The quote is taken from a song by the musical duo known as "Booth and the Bad Angel" and is a favorite of the model. I found the quote to be especially appropriate for the nature of the work. The edges of the paper were burned and scuffed. Torn black paper was added to give the background substance. This was my first attempt at this kind of collage type work.

Brutal Lord This was a piece intended purely for display and sale at Mystic Realms events. I just was interested in doing a bit of fantasy art so I made this green skinned, heavily armored monstrosity. The piece is still up for sale. Price is negotiable.

Elven Beauty This piece was design for a specific type of audience. It was meant for sale at one of the many Mystic Realms events. As such I went with a fantasy illustration for a subject matter. The piece was originally a black and white piece solely. I later added a small amount of color to help the image stand out more. The torn paper was also included to give an image a more dynamic look. I enjoy the stern but otherworldly look of the subject matter.

Hidden Treasure This piece was also for sale at most Mystic Realms events. It was also an originally black and white image done in pen and ink. Later, I took colored pencil to it. The torn paper look was added here to give the image a more spontaneous feel. It does have a certain playful quality that I enjoy very much.

Michael This piece was a gift for my friend Mr. Greg Curley who sometimes has a rough time surviving life in a corporate environment. This collage piece was meant to be reminder of his more creative side, just in case work ever got to be too much for him. Torn black paper was used as a base. The ink sketch was done by me, an image of Greg's less tamed side. The Celtic knotwork and animal images were photocopied from various sources. The text is lyrics from the Warren Zevon song "Lawyers, Guns, and Money".

Satyr with Pan Flute This image was done as sort of a "thank you" for Dr. Steve Grabania for all the effort he put in on my behalf. Steve has a vested interest in mythology and was most pleased with this surprise gift. I was pleased with the stark black & white imagery. The body stance came easily and seemed most relaxed. The whole effect is one that has lots of personality.

Designs

Shadow of Rowan This was a premiere piece that appeared in my student show in the spring of 1998, just before my graduation from Rowan. It was the first of a series done as part of an independent project. The idea behind the series was to render views of the Rowan University campus in charcoal with intense emphasis to be done on shadow and shade. Many of the locations were well known by students but few that came to the show were able to recognize them at first. It was an alternative viewpoint of that which was mostly familiar and how that viewpoint can easily make the "well known" into the "strange and unknown". I was very pleased with this piece and it is still my favorite of the series.

Tattoo designs These designs are the black & white and color versions of a tattoo concept made for one Sean McGarry, friend and client. His specifications were that he wanted a Chinese style dragon entwined within a G-clef musical symbol. I sent him many revisions via email and he in turn sent me his thoughts on the progress of the design. This was the final design that I worked out and he satisfactorily approved (and paid for).

[Main] [Mystic Realms] [Changeling] [Sketchbooks] [The Endless]

Aekold	This image was done as a character portrait of Jason Cromley. Jason requested a rendering done of his High Elven Warlock from Mystic Realms. He left the design of it all up to me, so I gave it some thought and quickly came up with this image. A friend worked independently on a different version of the same subject matter and we both came up with strikingly similar works. Just one of those strange coincidences in art.
Bird of Ill Omen	This piece is a collage image of sorts. It was meant as a surprise gift for a person very dear to me. The image is of the Lady Delearia, a modern creature of mythic lore. She is a woman with the ability to take on the attributes of a raven. The model for this image was the lovely Kelly Niedzialek, for whom the final piece was made for. The actual image of the lady was done in pen and ink. The feather was taken from a set of costumed back angel wings. The quote is taken from a song by the musical duo known as "Booth and the Bad Angel" and is a favorite of the model. I found the quote to be especially appropriate for the nature of the work. The edges of the paper were burned and scuffed. Torn black paper was added to give the background substance. This was my first attempt at this kind of collage type work.
Brutal Lord	This was a piece intended purely for display and sale at Mystic Realms events. I just was interested in doing a bit of fantasy art so I made this green skinned, heavily armored monstrosity. The piece is still up for sale. Price is negotiable.
Elven Beauty	This piece was design for a specific type of audience. It was meant for sale at one of the many Mystic Realms events. As such I went with a fantasy illustration for a subject matter. The piece was originally a black and white piece solely. I later added a small amount of color to help the image stand out more. The torn paper was also included to give an image a more dynamic look. I enjoy the stern but otherworldly look of the subject matter.
Hidden Treasure	This piece was also for sale at most Mystic Realms events. It was also an originally black and white image done in pen and ink. Later, I took colored pencil to it. The torn paper look was added here to give the image a more spontaneous feel. It does have a certain playful quality that I enjoy very much.
Michael	This piece was a gift for my friend Mr. Greg Curley who sometimes has a rough time surviving life in a corporate environment. This collage piece was meant to be reminder of his more creative side, just in case work ever got to be too much for him. Torn black paper was used as a base. The ink sketch was done by me, an image of Greg's less tamed side. The Celtic knotwork and animal images were photocopied from various sources. The text is lyrics from the Warren Zevon song "Lawyers, Guns, and Money".
Satyr with Pan Flute	This image was done as sort of a "thank you" for Dr. Steve Grabania for all the effort he put in on my behalf. Steve has a vested interest in mythology and was most pleased with this surprise gift. I was pleased with the stark black & white imagery. The body stance came easily and seemed most relaxed. The whole effect is one that has lots of personality.