ArcaneTimes Concept Art

Scarlet Specter?

2012-01-19T20:37:00.000-08:00

Here is a sneak peak at my next project. I'm doing an 8 page short story for a Superhero Noir collection and this guy is my main character. The Scarlet Specter -- at least that's what he's called right now. I'm still taking suggestions for a better name.

Current other suggestions

The Mist - Ian Hollaway
The Fog
Doctor Fog

- keep 'em coming

Frog of the Dead

2011-10-27T15:35:00.001-07:00

A little Halloween gift....

Who is Persuading Who?

2011-09-30T19:19:00.000-07:00

An Illo I did today for a RPG product I'm working on - The piece is called "Persuasion as Seduction". I was given a lot of leeway on the 'look' of the game, and I decided to take the whole project in a very Jim Steranko direction.

Drunken Octopus Pugilist Society

2011-08-06T19:02:00.000-07:00

An idea I've had for a t-shirt - finally had a moment to sit down and draw it up all fancy like.

And here it is in a nice distressed sepia

FAUST "Truth" Poster B

2011-06-08T12:47:00.000-07:00

From a series of 'backstory' posters I'm doing for the Machination game.

Mur Lafferty's Heaven

2011-04-21T10:02:00.000-07:00

I've been working on a side project with author Mur Lafferty. Mur's much lauded Afterlife Series is about to see it's first paper print edition, and as part of the production we dusted off an old idea I've been kicking around to do a set of old time luggage labels for the book. Here are some peeks at two of them.

I hope to do more such labels in the future - expanding into other universes *cough* Girl Genius *cough*

50 Fathoms: Blades of the Burning Sea

2011-03-27T20:51:00.000-07:00

I found an old sketch I did for 50 Fathoms. Just a thumbnail that never got turned into anything. Now it has. This took about 3 days - done in Photoshop Cs5 on a 21Ux Cintiq

The Exclusive FAUST Kickstarter badge

2011-03-04T19:59:00.000-08:00

Here is a look at the exclusive FAUST kickstarter badge which will only be available to the folks that pitched in $24 dollars or more to the Machination Project before the deadline - which at the time that I write this is in 42 hours (Sunday, March 6 @ 5:08pm).

We are trying to hit $1000 over our goal - doing so will let us release the game on both the iPad and Android devices at the same time.

The badge will be made of a silvery metal (Zinc actually) with a dark and ominous black enamel color fill. Once the deadline arrives there will be NO OTHER WAY to get this version of the badge. I will make only enough to fill the Kickstarter pledges.

Don't miss out!

50 Fathoms: DONGA!

2011-03-03T19:56:00.001-08:00

50 Fathoms: Octopon

2011-02-28T15:41:00.001-08:00

50 Fathoms: New Madrid

2011-02-26T16:37:00.000-08:00

Exodus from Five Fingers

2011-02-20T18:18:00.001-08:00

I did a speed painting today to loosen up my digital skills

I call it "Exodus from Five Fingers" - and I had a time limit of 2 hours.

50 Fathoms: New Kieran City

2011-02-16T02:04:00.000-08:00

On top of everything else, I'm still working on the color update of 50 Fathoms. One aspect of my old work that I really don't like was the cityscapes. Buildings were (and are) not my strong suit. Rather than work on everything else and save the cities to the last minute, this week I decided to tackle them head-on.

Tonight I started work on the capitol city of the Kieran empire. Here is the original peice from 50 Fathoms, Some "works in progress", And a close up detail - I'll be updating this post as I make more progress.

------ UPDATE 2-17 ----------

------ UPDATE 2-18 ----------

------ UPDATE 3-3 FINAL ----------

I realized I had too many tiers on Keira (and that it's important to go back to the original text and not depend on spotty memory about something you worked on 8 years ago)

Machination Propaganda Poster #2

2011-02-14T01:57:00.000-08:00

A sketch of one of the "Propaganda Posters" i'm working on for the Machination Kickstarter project

Machination Robot 1 - Fez

2011-02-12T16:34:00.000-08:00

Fez here is one of the robots I designed for a new iPad game called MACHINATION

We are currently trying to raise funds to get this game company off the ground - if you'd like to help, and get cool swag in the process - check out our Kickstarter site.

Merry Yog!

2010-12-31T17:01:00.000-08:00

I'm thinking this might make a good Yog-stmas card

Squid Baby

2010-12-28T17:37:00.000-08:00

Just a speed painting I did today.

Calling all Gilded Age Superheroes

2010-12-09T16:00:00.000-08:00

Membership badges to the Adventure Society are now available for a nominal fee! - Just in time for Christmas

~~the pic makes the badge look like silvery metal but in person it's much more brass tones~~ -
Update: Kaja has retaken the product image - and was able to capture it's true brassy color.
I'll still try and get some of my own pics up this weekend.

The Adventure Society Rides Again!

2010-10-27T22:57:00.000-07:00

More Steam Heroes

2010-10-27T14:30:00.000-07:00

Here are two more takes on a logo for a Steampunk superhero society.

UPDATE --- Or maybe door number 3 is the answer...

LHIS

2010-10-20T15:06:00.000-07:00

I was sucked into a twitter conversation yesterday between @cmpriest @Kambrieldesign @CupcakeGoth and @PeteVenters -- here is my response.

-- The Legion of Historically Inaccurate Superheroes --

Steamcon Badges

2010-09-28T14:42:00.000-07:00

I was contacted by the organizers of Steamcon, who asked me to design a pin-badge for them. Here is the design that we settled on. The Antique Silver badge will be available for general sale - and the Antique gold is exclusive those folks that sign up for a "patron" membership

The Politics of Horror

2010-09-26T15:50:00.000-07:00

I was chatting with my buddy Aaron Williams today. I noticed that Cafepress offers political yard signs - and with all the talk of boogeymen and witchcraft this political season I thought it would be fun to offer up some of my own canadates...

Other ideas we tossed around...

Doctor Henry Jekyll: He's got nothing to hyde!
Vote Boogeyman - bring politics out of the closet.
FRANKENSTEIN - Bringing the Spark Back
Elect Ichabod Crane: Your Dark Horseman Candidate!
Rameses III: Health Care should be Eternal.

From Facebook - Bill Dowling ‎suggests,
Jack Griffin: REAL transparency in government! (subtle)
Baba Yaga: Bringing sweeping changes- she's not chicken!
Cthulhu: Stop choosing the lesser Evil! (an oldie but a goodie)

and Payne's Magykes suggests,
Vote Feudalist. It's the last vote you'll have to make
The Feudalist Party. A place for everyone. And everyone in their place

The Kraken comma release

2010-09-24T14:38:00.000-07:00

Kehanna

2010-09-24T14:33:00.000-07:00

Please do not tap on the glass.

R!

2010-09-19T12:22:00.000-07:00

just in time for Talk Like a Pirate Day

F.A.U.S.T.

2010-09-15T15:02:00.000-07:00

Next up in my production line, we will be shining a little light on the nefarious villains society "The Fraternal Alliance of Unethical Steam Technologists" or more commonly known as...

FAUST!

If anybody as had any run-ins with the Agents of FAUST this editor would like to hear your account. And if there are any members of FAUST out there lurking - we urge to change your sinister ways and once more walk the path of good.

Um... Dude

2010-09-06T20:04:00.001-07:00

ME: ...that's Mr. "Two Time Hugo Winner" if you don't mind.
DUDE: I asked "Do you want fries with that"?
ME: Oh - Yes... (two time)
DUDE: Two Fries?
ME: No. Just the one order - thank you.

'GIRL GENIUS' wins 2nd Hugo Award for best graphic story

and this time we have video ---
Hugo Awards Ceremony 2010 - Best Graphic Story

Perdition's Flame

2010-08-27T20:35:00.000-07:00

Another from my 50 Fathoms revisit project. The before and after of the horror ship - "The Perdition"

Revisiting Caribdus

2010-08-20T21:21:00.000-07:00

I was recently tasked to go back and make color versions of all the art I did for 50 Fathoms. A daunting task, but if they all turn out half as good as my first piece here -- I''ll be happy

Villianous Verbosity

2010-06-17T20:24:00.000-07:00

Lich - Final

2010-06-15T18:53:00.000-07:00

JoCo is Buffering

2010-06-05T15:03:00.000-07:00

or maybe this variant

Coulton is God

2010-06-02T15:01:00.000-07:00

An idea I had for a Jonathan Coulton t-shirt in the style of a retro Eric Clapton shirt.

Rippers Cartoon Design

2010-06-01T12:29:00.000-07:00

some characters I was working on for a "Rippers" comic strip story

Stone Figure Design

2010-05-31T15:23:00.000-07:00

More from the vaults. Part of a set of 28mm figure designs for Deadlands I did in 2005 - at this point I don't think this will ever get produced.

It turns out I have the worst luck with figure projects making it all the way to release. At least two other sets made it all the way to the sculpting stage, taunting me with advance peeks at the figs. Then getting dumped. *sigh*

Zombie Love

2010-05-29T18:54:00.000-07:00

Things got super busy around here as I work on finishing the last few color pages of Girl Genius vol 1 - so I dug out something from the vaults to tide you over.

This was a commission piece for a couple...

Work in Progress - Lich King

2010-05-15T16:39:00.000-07:00

This is just what I'm working on today - a Lich. Sketched and in the the process of being inked (both in illustrator). The final will be colored in photoshop halfway between a comic and full painted style

SpoOoky Girl Monster Pin-up #4 - The Bride

2010-05-14T11:29:00.000-07:00

Already available on T-Shirts!

My Original design gave this a tag line "For Better, or Elsa" but either no one got it - or they just didn't find it a funny as I did. So I dropped it. (Elsa Lanchester was the actress that played the Bride in the original 1935 film Bride of Frankenstein)

Know Your Killer Robots Vol 1

2010-05-07T11:46:00.001-07:00

No Hu-Man's Land

2010-05-01T18:46:00.000-07:00

Iron clad riverboats fixed with cannons patrol the Mississippi with an ever vigilant eye on the far shore. The West Bank is littered with the wreckage of robots that have failed to make the crossing. These places are called "No Hu-Man's Land"

Tesla Rangers Enlist! poster

2010-04-30T19:38:00.001-07:00

Ok here's another experiment. A recruitment poster. making this actually helped me hash out the backstory for the Tesla Rangers -

... in 1873 the railroads replaced their workers with automatons, but when John Henry died in his fateful contest with a robot pile-driver, the robots learned what happens to things that become "obsolete". They promptly turned on their human masters.

With no weapons able to overcome the robot menace, the bloodshed and loss of life was too massive for the young country already reeling from the civil war. Eventually president Grant, weary of war, ceded everything west of the Mississippi to the robots.

Then in 1886, a young scientist named Nikola Tesla invented a new kind of pistol. the Tesla Electron Bolt Thrower. Armed with this new weapon the "Tesla Rangers" were formed to re-take the west.

Start to Finish Completed in 2 hours 30 min

Tesla Ranger Dragoon

2010-04-30T16:10:00.001-07:00

A little speed painting I did to try and loosen up. This is how I'd repaint a Nerf Maverick to be a Tesla Ranger Dragoon

A Very Steampunk Christmas

2010-04-07T16:44:00.000-07:00

While digging though an old file tree, I found this invitation I made for a Christmas party in 2008. Sadly the party was snowed out that year - but the invite continues to make me happy that I made the effort. Also - should anyone wish to license "Danger Corset" or "Utili-Corset" have your people call my people...

Corset Inspectors Badge

2010-04-07T16:05:00.000-07:00

The next idea I had for a badge. We have just sent the design off to the pin makers for a quote. What do you think? Would you buy one?

Tesla Rangers

2010-03-16T16:59:00.000-07:00

Here is the original design for the Tesla Rangers badge - Now available not only on t-shirts

but also as a beautiful metal pin

Get Up Hicks

2009-09-13T11:04:00.000-07:00

Extra Effort

2009-09-12T21:27:00.000-07:00

I did 3 more cards today -- here is the first of them

Here comes the Cavalry

2009-09-02T17:00:00.000-07:00

ok - so the only comments I get are on what I spelled wrong. Nice.

Arcane Insperation

2009-09-01T13:18:00.000-07:00

I could not get to sleep last night, so rather that lay in bed I got up and painted this between the hours of 3 and 5 AM

Secret Project #137 - Our Heroes

2009-08-31T21:06:00.000-07:00

This ends my secret project triptych.

Another peice from Secret Project #137

2009-08-27T14:43:00.001-07:00

Work in Process: Angry Mob

2009-08-22T14:39:00.000-07:00

I'm treating this one with a technique I learned in my oil paining classes. Starting with a very dark canvas I gradually lighten the image to create form and shape.

here is the original line work

and what I hope to be the final piece (just have to run it past the Art Director)

Ronan Lynch - Color

2009-08-21T20:19:00.000-07:00

This started out as a *very* rough pencil sketch. I scanned it in and set about redrawing over it in Adobe Illustrator.

After getting the line-work to a happy place in Illustrator I was able to take that over to Photoshop and paint this sucker in 4 hours.

Ronan Lynch! and others...

2009-08-20T16:19:00.000-07:00

Ronan Lynch for the Adventure Deck card "Let's Settle This"

others...

Podcast Logo

2009-08-18T21:45:00.001-07:00

Just finished a logo for a podcast that should be going live tomorrow

New Adventure Deck Art

2009-08-17T11:24:00.000-07:00

Here are some pieces I'm working on for a new Savage Worlds adventure deck.

Secret Project #137

2009-08-10T12:54:00.000-07:00

I've said too much already

Bombshells Away!

2009-06-11T16:18:00.000-07:00

I just got the nod from the powers that be to announce what those last three pin-up are actually for.

This summer Pinnacle Entertainment is revamping (see what i did there?) it's "Weird Wars 2" setting. For those that don't remember, "Weird Wars 2" is a WWII Horror RPG setting, originally published for d20 but now is making it's Savage Worlds debut.

Think Band of Brothers vs. Dracula, and you get the main idea.

For one of the support products, they wanted to make a set of poker chips. I pitched my idea of using SpoOoky girl bomber art. Each one was dressed up to look like something you'd see painted on the nose of a B1 - I call them my "Bloody Bombshell Beauties"

I don't have any product shots - or a link to send you to right now; Nothing is "out" yet. But I will make another a big noise once I have somewhere to point you and your valueless unspent cashy money

Ice Witch

2009-06-11T11:17:00.001-07:00

and here's that last of the ones I have "ready to post" a Russian Ice Witch (a clue maybe?) the others I have, reside only in my sketchbook (for now). A she-creature from the black lagoon, wolf-woman, vampires, mummies, grim reapers, Frankenstein brides... etc. All to come

Devil Girl

2009-06-10T15:33:00.001-07:00

Here's a Devil girl - originally done for that same unannounced project that I wish I could talk about (but still can't). This one was heavily influenced by Betty Page, and the pop-art styling of Coop!

Banshee

2009-06-09T12:50:00.000-07:00

I have had this idea for sometime to do a whole line of spoOoky girl pin-ups. A recent *unannounced* product finally got me off my butt and working on it. Here is my first. A wailing Banshee...

PixelVixen707

2009-06-02T18:13:00.000-07:00

Still working on my "pin-up" style. Today I did a pic of video game fanatic and Suicide Girl columnist Rachael Webster. Hopefully she is not too tweaked by it

The entire piece from sketches to "ink" was drawn in Adobe Illustrator on my 21" Cintiq, then I copied the line work to Photoshop, turned it into a PSD. Brought that PSD into a long abandoned product called streamline where I turn it back into a vector graphic

I do this because Streamline has an amazing "Smooth Paths" function that takes all the jitter out of my line work. So after I run that a few times I save the art as an EPS which I open back up in Photoshop and begin to color. Whew!

Dr. Sketchy's Logo

2009-05-27T21:29:00.000-07:00

I've started attending a monthly artist gathering in Seattle called "Dr. Sketchy's anti-art school". Every month the Dr. Sketchy's crew brings in burlesque dancers to pose as figure models. It's a lot of fun.

They are currently holding a design us a logo contest, and I had a little free-time this afternoon so I banged one out.

and here is a close-up of the girl

GTA 1820

2009-02-26T12:31:00.000-08:00

This is inspired by recent talk in Girl Genius about Gil being an Airship Pirate

A Vote for Horribleness

2009-02-18T11:07:00.000-08:00

So round one of the voting has begun for the "Horrible Awards", a celebration of Dr. Horrible fan art - I am up for awards in two categories, "Best Art" and "Best Artist"

here is the link to the voting.

While it is unseemly (and expressly countermanded) that I vote for myself, It is perfectly kosher for interested third parties to follow that link and vote in the manner their conscious dictates. (Note - voting in the manner your conscious dictates will account for 90% of your grade).

and please, do not allow my ability to build a death-ray have any bearing on your decision.

to reiterate, Vote your conscious - zap zap *wink*.

here is a link to the art that got me nominated

The Horrible Awards

2009-01-13T21:30:00.000-08:00

So it looks like I've been nominated for a Horrible award.

According to the Live Journal site...

The Horrible Awards were created to celebrate the amazing creative spirit that swept through the internet, inspired by Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog. Videos were made, songs were sung, fics were written and many, many costumes were worn.

The email I received announcing this says I've been nominated in categories of...

Fanart Categories: Best Art
General Categories: Best Artist

All this of course comes from the Dr. Horrible fan art I posted here last year

Finally, some recognition for my horrible plan. I'll keep you updated as this story unfolds.

Nyrlathotep - Final

2009-01-10T22:30:00.001-08:00

"Tomes"

2009-01-10T21:41:00.001-08:00

Deep ones - color

2009-01-10T02:27:00.000-08:00

Another Lovecraft peice

2009-01-06T22:57:00.000-08:00

Some Lovecraft Sketches

2009-01-03T13:42:00.000-08:00

My first take on the "Deep ones"

and Nyarlathotep

2008-08-23T11:16:00.000-07:00

TThe "nudity poll" is closed with 91 votes. The winner is "tastefull" whith a 38% share, followed by a tie between "Tits!" with 25%, "Tenticles" with 25%, and lastly "Clean" with only 6 votes

So clearly people like sexy - and here I am wasting all this government money to prove it. I think I figured out a happy solution

Don't Click on this link if you voted for "Clean"

Captain Hammer: Corporate Tool

2008-08-10T14:20:00.000-07:00

Whew! -- Enjoy!

Bad Horse, He's Bad

2008-08-07T00:05:00.001-07:00

The Full Text Reads

BAD HORSE
Make the Bad Horse gleeful, or he'll make you...
ya' know what? Just trust us on this one.

Seriously

Wil Wrocks

2008-08-06T19:30:00.001-07:00

Nuff' Said

Ok -- more to say... Folks love the shirt. Folks want to buy the shirt Here you go Enjoy!

Penny Wallpaper

2008-08-05T22:03:00.001-07:00

I couldn't decide on what quote or phrase to put on this one. Any Suggestions?
-- Thanks for the comments, I like the simplicity of "Everything Happens"...

Felicia Day as "Penny"

2008-08-05T21:22:00.001-07:00

Dr. Horrible Wallpaper Red

2008-08-02T12:15:00.001-07:00

Dr. Horrible Wallpaper White

2008-08-02T12:13:00.000-07:00

Dr. Horrible in red

2008-08-01T12:22:00.000-07:00

Dr. Horrible

2008-07-31T12:18:00.000-07:00

Based on Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog -- as if you didn't know, you cheeky little monkeys

Uncle Dirtnap - Finished

2008-06-27T00:17:00.000-07:00

Zombie Cowboy

2008-06-26T00:15:00.000-07:00

Mount Saint-Michel

2008-06-25T12:01:00.000-07:00

Nipple Ripper Batman

2008-06-24T12:01:00.000-07:00

This one takes' some 'splainin'. so, I'll let Warren Ellis do the honors...

Warren Ellis:

It occurs to me that an awful lot of trouble in Gotham City could have been averted a long time ago if Batman had just ripped the Joker’s nipples off.

I mean, treatment doesn’t work, does it? They stick the Joker in the nuthatch, he comes out again and does the same things.

A man with the nipples ripped off him does not make the same mistakes twice...

Read the Rest

Wyld West -- Elf Babe

2008-06-23T12:01:00.000-07:00

New Avatar

2008-06-22T12:01:00.000-07:00

playing around with a concept for a new "me" pic

I lied

2008-06-21T12:01:00.000-07:00

I forgot about this guy -- ok NOW I'm done

The last Scorpion costume

2008-06-20T12:01:00.000-07:00

I promise

Note: I knew this project might be in trouble when I got the design notes for this outfit. "this design is awfully fascist SS looking" I said, "I don't think that your GERMAN rock stars really want to wear pseudo-Nazi outfits on stage" I warned.

But do they listen to me? nooo.

Another Scorpion costume

2008-06-19T12:01:00.000-07:00

More Scorpions costumes

2008-06-18T12:01:00.000-07:00

James Kottak - all white

2008-06-17T12:01:00.000-07:00

so i was contacted one day to do some costume designs for the Scorpions. Yes THE Scorpions. they had a new album coming out and wanted to work on an image makeover I went through many different takes based on the Blade Runner/Matrix notes the designer sent me.

I don't know what ever happened to this plan -- but I do know one thing. I never got paid.

Lady Bone

2008-06-16T12:01:00.000-07:00

Something I did for a convention sign-up sheet. It was to promote some gaming sessions for "Empire of Bone" in which players adventure in a Victorian world where the living work, live, die (and sometimes come back) right alongside the undead. Undead who's shear staying power and eventual lack of needs like food, tend to put them into position of being the ruling class. Look for more of this stuff in the future.

Shadytown

2008-06-15T12:01:00.000-07:00

Firefly Rocker Patches

2008-06-14T12:01:00.000-07:00

Designs I have for a set of embroidered patches that could be worn under the triangular Browncoat (Independents) patch from Firefly. I want a set but so far the cost of a one off set make them an as yet unrealized dream.

Fantasy Western ~ Ranger

2008-06-13T12:01:00.000-07:00

Ship of the Line

2008-06-12T12:01:00.001-07:00

A flying ship design I did for the Savage Worlds: Sundered Skies Map. Only it appears very small on the page -- too small to see well. Here is a close-up

Monkey Pope

2008-06-11T12:01:00.000-07:00

Monkey Pope - nuff said

Alton Brown Comicbook mock-up

2008-06-10T12:01:00.000-07:00

This was to be a companion shirt to the another I did for AltonBrown.com.