Fred Gambino
Fred Gambino  ·  2 months ago

Content Warning

2024 was the year that I went back to working traditionally in a big way after decades of digital. Some of it was personal, some of it for my Dark Shepherd project and debut novel. I have been lucky in that I sold every piece of art I created. So here are my nine picks of the year, both digital and traditional, none are AI.

Happy New Year to you all and all the best for 2025.

#DarkShepherd  #book  #writing  #concept  #SciFi  #illustration  #art  #digitalart  #spaceships  #visdev

Michael Whelan
Michael Whelan  ·  2 months ago

Content Warning

CHANUR'S HOMECOMING (1986)
Acrylic on Watercolor Board - 30" X 18"

This is one of my all-time favorite cover paintings. 1/3

#sciencefiction#scifi #scifiart #sff #illustration #cjcherryh #hani

A tall alien in dark hooded robes points across a cavernous, futuristic space, giving directions to a group humanoids with cat-like heads. The Kif has gray skin, a long dragon-like snout, and red eyes. The Hani have muzzles like lions and ears pointed back. The hair draping from their cheeks forms modest manes, falling flat at shoulder length. The most prominent Hani stands with regal bearing while the rest of the group is poised for action on the ramp behind it. Exposed from the waist up, the lithe musculature of the Hani is covered in short golden fur. Its red pants are cuffed above the calf, and it holds a snubbed nosed laser pistol at its thigh. Accents of gold can be seen in a simple thin band around its upper arm and a thicker bracelet around its wrist. A dark furred ape-like humanoid stands above the pack with eyes lost in thought, closely following the directions of the Kif, while a bearded blonde human glances sideways toward the viewer.
A tall alien in dark hooded robes points across a cavernous, futuristic space, giving directions to a group humanoids with cat-like heads. The Kif has gray skin, a long dragon-like snout, and red eyes. The Hani have muzzles like lions and ears pointed back. The hair draping from their cheeks forms modest manes, falling flat at shoulder length. The most prominent Hani stands with regal bearing while the rest of the group is poised for action on the ramp behind it. Exposed from the waist up, the lithe musculature of the Hani is covered in short golden fur. Its red pants are cuffed above the calf, and it holds a snubbed nosed laser pistol at its thigh. Accents of gold can be seen in a simple thin band around its upper arm and a thicker bracelet around its wrist. A dark furred ape-like humanoid stands above the pack with eyes lost in thought, closely following the directions of the Kif, while a bearded blonde human glances sideways toward the viewer.
A tall alien in dark hooded robes points across a cavernous, futuristic space, giving directions to a group humanoids with cat-like heads. The Kif has gray skin, a long dragon-like snout, and red eyes. The Hani have muzzles like lions and ears pointed back. The hair draping from their cheeks forms modest manes, falling flat at shoulder length. The most prominent Hani stands with regal bearing while the rest of the group is poised for action on the ramp behind it. Exposed from the waist up, the lithe musculature of the Hani is covered in short golden fur. Its red pants are cuffed above the calf, and it holds a snubbed nosed laser pistol at its thigh. Accents of gold can be seen in a simple thin band around its upper arm and a thicker bracelet around its wrist. A dark furred ape-like humanoid stands above the pack with eyes lost in thought, closely following the directions of the Kif, while a bearded blonde human glances sideways toward the viewer.
Lemon
Lemon  ·  6 months ago

Content Warning

Been on the fence about joining Mastodon for a while. Jumped off of it, finally. Hi :]

I'm a character artist, spent a lot of time drawing OCs but also made some Solarpunk stuff, including that one "we would call it Solarpunk" post.

Here's some illustrations I did for the Solarpunk Prompts podcast, with more to come

#introduction #art #solarpunk #hopepunk #illustration #ukraine#myArt

A TV studio recording a cooking show, with a clearly distressed cook standing in front of a table full of vegetarian / vegan ingredients, their hands raised placatingly. The audience in front of them is clearly outraged, waving protest signs demanding meat.
A TV studio recording a cooking show, with a clearly distressed cook standing in front of a table full of vegetarian / vegan ingredients, their hands raised placatingly. The audience in front of them is clearly outraged, waving protest signs demanding meat.
A TV studio recording a cooking show, with a clearly distressed cook standing in front of a table full of vegetarian / vegan ingredients, their hands raised placatingly. The audience in front of them is clearly outraged, waving protest signs demanding meat.
Digital illustration. The scene is set on a spring morning. A middle-aged woman is standing in the centre of the frame, holding a miner's helmet in one hand and in the other - a flyer, close to her chest. Before her is a statue of two people, one of which is pulling the other out of a hole while holding onto a small wind turbine. A discarded pickaxe is lying on the ground. The woman looks uncertain, but there's a hopeful glimmer in her eye. In the background is a building the second floor of which looks drastically different from the first: it's much more colorful and imaginative. The text on the building reads "Community Center"
Digital illustration. The scene is set on a spring morning. A middle-aged woman is standing in the centre of the frame, holding a miner's helmet in one hand and in the other - a flyer, close to her chest. Before her is a statue of two people, one of which is pulling the other out of a hole while holding onto a small wind turbine. A discarded pickaxe is lying on the ground. The woman looks uncertain, but there's a hopeful glimmer in her eye. In the background is a building the second floor of which looks drastically different from the first: it's much more colorful and imaginative. The text on the building reads "Community Center"
Digital illustration. The scene is set on a spring morning. A middle-aged woman is standing in the centre of the frame, holding a miner's helmet in one hand and in the other - a flyer, close to her chest. Before her is a statue of two people, one of which is pulling the other out of a hole while holding onto a small wind turbine. A discarded pickaxe is lying on the ground. The woman looks uncertain, but there's a hopeful glimmer in her eye. In the background is a building the second floor of which looks drastically different from the first: it's much more colorful and imaginative. The text on the building reads "Community Center"
Digital illustration of a vibrant cafeteria scene. We can see through the faraway window that the building is situated somewhere high up in the mountains, likely next to a research station. Visitors are going about their day in the background, and the walls are covered in art. In the foreground, two people are having a conversation over a vegetarian meal. The person on the left is playfully leaning in, probably asking the other one a question. The second person is gesturing in frustration. To their right is a notebook covered in scribbles, indicating possible creative troubles.
Digital illustration of a vibrant cafeteria scene. We can see through the faraway window that the building is situated somewhere high up in the mountains, likely next to a research station. Visitors are going about their day in the background, and the walls are covered in art. In the foreground, two people are having a conversation over a vegetarian meal. The person on the left is playfully leaning in, probably asking the other one a question. The second person is gesturing in frustration. To their right is a notebook covered in scribbles, indicating possible creative troubles.
Digital illustration of a vibrant cafeteria scene. We can see through the faraway window that the building is situated somewhere high up in the mountains, likely next to a research station. Visitors are going about their day in the background, and the walls are covered in art. In the foreground, two people are having a conversation over a vegetarian meal. The person on the left is playfully leaning in, probably asking the other one a question. The second person is gesturing in frustration. To their right is a notebook covered in scribbles, indicating possible creative troubles.
Digital illustration of a rooftop vegetable garden under a semi-transparent solar panel, lit by the morning sun. Behind it we see a vibrant residential tower, and yet further - a park still bathed in gentle shadows, as well as a train bridge. Three people are in the foreground next to the raised garden beds. A grandmother is sitting on a stool, explaining something to the curious child who's crouching nearby. To the left, a girl, clearly in the middle of doing something, appears to have zoned out and is now looking into the distance, fiddling with her necklace. A watering can is dripping on the thin stone-tiled path nearby.
Digital illustration of a rooftop vegetable garden under a semi-transparent solar panel, lit by the morning sun. Behind it we see a vibrant residential tower, and yet further - a park still bathed in gentle shadows, as well as a train bridge. Three people are in the foreground next to the raised garden beds. A grandmother is sitting on a stool, explaining something to the curious child who's crouching nearby. To the left, a girl, clearly in the middle of doing something, appears to have zoned out and is now looking into the distance, fiddling with her necklace. A watering can is dripping on the thin stone-tiled path nearby.
Digital illustration of a rooftop vegetable garden under a semi-transparent solar panel, lit by the morning sun. Behind it we see a vibrant residential tower, and yet further - a park still bathed in gentle shadows, as well as a train bridge. Three people are in the foreground next to the raised garden beds. A grandmother is sitting on a stool, explaining something to the curious child who's crouching nearby. To the left, a girl, clearly in the middle of doing something, appears to have zoned out and is now looking into the distance, fiddling with her necklace. A watering can is dripping on the thin stone-tiled path nearby.
Michael Whelan
Michael Whelan  ·  3 months ago

Tasteful nudity, non-sexual

SPIRIT OF ENDURING HOPE (2016)
Acrylic on Mat Board - 12" x 9"

I turned a smear of paint on my drawing table cover into a tree. Other marks suggested rocks and became an island to which I added a figure. I started to paint in clouds but stopped because the image was getting boring.
1/3

#art #fantasy #illustration #leftoversandpalettegremlins

A tiny female figure stands beneath a pair of tall, uneven evergreen trees rising off a rocky outcrop of shore. The sky is cloudy gray except for a warm band of dull orange defining the horizon. As tall as the massive trees, a monotone female figure floats nearby draped in cloth and holding out her hand. A ring of ginkgo leaves hovers nearby. Her hair is wild and wind tossed. The cloth covers only one shoulder exposing her other breast. Her knee is raised suggesting upward motion as if she is lifting off the shore.
A tiny female figure stands beneath a pair of tall, uneven evergreen trees rising off a rocky outcrop of shore. The sky is cloudy gray except for a warm band of dull orange defining the horizon. As tall as the massive trees, a monotone female figure floats nearby draped in cloth and holding out her hand. A ring of ginkgo leaves hovers nearby. Her hair is wild and wind tossed. The cloth covers only one shoulder exposing her other breast. Her knee is raised suggesting upward motion as if she is lifting off the shore.
A tiny female figure stands beneath a pair of tall, uneven evergreen trees rising off a rocky outcrop of shore. The sky is cloudy gray except for a warm band of dull orange defining the horizon. As tall as the massive trees, a monotone female figure floats nearby draped in cloth and holding out her hand. A ring of ginkgo leaves hovers nearby. Her hair is wild and wind tossed. The cloth covers only one shoulder exposing her other breast. Her knee is raised suggesting upward motion as if she is lifting off the shore.
Michael Whelan
Michael Whelan  ·  3 months ago

Content Warning

PEEKABOO FUZZIES (1983)
Acrylic on Watercolor Board - 16" x 22"

The Fuzzy Sapiens created by H. Beam Piper first appeared in the early 1960's and they were a welcome contrast to the menacing aliens that seemed to dominate science fiction of the day. 1/2

#sciencefiction#scifi #scifiart #sff #illustration#hbeampiper

A pair of adorable furry creatures poke their heads out from the cover of dense tropical vegetation. Their huge eyes are strikingly green, cat-like and glossy so that the treetops reflect in the light. Their noses lie long, wide, and flat. Their mouths aren't pronounced like an ape, but thin lips and the slit of their mouths does seem ape-like. Long tufts of light brown hair sweep outward around the eyes like a flaring mane, giving their faces a disproportionately wide countenance. Hair over the pate is smoothed back of their heads. Cat-like ears—soft rounded triangles—are set above and just outside their big eyes. One thick-fingered paw, lacking claws or nails of any sort, extends as if pushing the alien foliage aside.
A pair of adorable furry creatures poke their heads out from the cover of dense tropical vegetation. Their huge eyes are strikingly green, cat-like and glossy so that the treetops reflect in the light. Their noses lie long, wide, and flat. Their mouths aren't pronounced like an ape, but thin lips and the slit of their mouths does seem ape-like. Long tufts of light brown hair sweep outward around the eyes like a flaring mane, giving their faces a disproportionately wide countenance. Hair over the pate is smoothed back of their heads. Cat-like ears—soft rounded triangles—are set above and just outside their big eyes. One thick-fingered paw, lacking claws or nails of any sort, extends as if pushing the alien foliage aside.
A pair of adorable furry creatures poke their heads out from the cover of dense tropical vegetation. Their huge eyes are strikingly green, cat-like and glossy so that the treetops reflect in the light. Their noses lie long, wide, and flat. Their mouths aren't pronounced like an ape, but thin lips and the slit of their mouths does seem ape-like. Long tufts of light brown hair sweep outward around the eyes like a flaring mane, giving their faces a disproportionately wide countenance. Hair over the pate is smoothed back of their heads. Cat-like ears—soft rounded triangles—are set above and just outside their big eyes. One thick-fingered paw, lacking claws or nails of any sort, extends as if pushing the alien foliage aside.
Michael Whelan
Michael Whelan  ·  3 months ago

Content Warning

THE DARK TOWER: KA-TET (2003)
Oil on Panel - 28" x 18"

Throughout the Dark Tower series, Stephen King portrayed Roland's group of fighters known as the Ka-Tet as a circle. 1/2

#horror #horrorart #fantasy #sciencefiction #sff #illustration #darktower #stephenking#rolanddeschain #eddiedean #susannahdean#jakechambers #oy #billybumbler

In the gruesome aftermath of the Battle of Devar-Toi, Roland huddles with his Ka-Tet, circling with arms reaching out to each other. Strewn about the bricked street are corpses of Vampires and Low Men, the latter depicted with various animal heads. They lay still, an afterthought of the violence reaped by the now joyous gunslingers. Susannah is seated on her bronze, balloon-wheeled ATV. An army star is painted on the fender. Jake and Roland stand in profile with the striped billy bumbler Oy straddling their arms. The high angle view of the Ka-Tet centers on Eddie Dean, who faces front, smiling for the moment. He stands out in his light blue shirt, unbuttoned to expose a darker t-shirt beneath and the shiny buckle of his gun belt.
In the gruesome aftermath of the Battle of Devar-Toi, Roland huddles with his Ka-Tet, circling with arms reaching out to each other. Strewn about the bricked street are corpses of Vampires and Low Men, the latter depicted with various animal heads. They lay still, an afterthought of the violence reaped by the now joyous gunslingers. Susannah is seated on her bronze, balloon-wheeled ATV. An army star is painted on the fender. Jake and Roland stand in profile with the striped billy bumbler Oy straddling their arms. The high angle view of the Ka-Tet centers on Eddie Dean, who faces front, smiling for the moment. He stands out in his light blue shirt, unbuttoned to expose a darker t-shirt beneath and the shiny buckle of his gun belt.
In the gruesome aftermath of the Battle of Devar-Toi, Roland huddles with his Ka-Tet, circling with arms reaching out to each other. Strewn about the bricked street are corpses of Vampires and Low Men, the latter depicted with various animal heads. They lay still, an afterthought of the violence reaped by the now joyous gunslingers. Susannah is seated on her bronze, balloon-wheeled ATV. An army star is painted on the fender. Jake and Roland stand in profile with the striped billy bumbler Oy straddling their arms. The high angle view of the Ka-Tet centers on Eddie Dean, who faces front, smiling for the moment. He stands out in his light blue shirt, unbuttoned to expose a darker t-shirt beneath and the shiny buckle of his gun belt.
SciFi/Fantasy Magazine Covers
SciFi/Fantasy Magazine Covers  ·  3 months ago

Content Warning

Worlds of IF (September 1962)

I can't tell if those are ships or satellites and whether they're moving or not, but I love how the planet is above and the empty space is below.

I have searched in vain for a trace of the used book shop whose stamp is on this. I can practically smell the place!

Original magazine: https://archive.org/details/1962-09_IF

#Magazine#MagazineCover#PulpMagazine#PulpFiction#ScienceFiction#Fantasy#Horror#Art#Illustration

Victoria Maderna
Victoria Maderna  ·  3 months ago

Content Warning

You can peruse the whole book thanks to the Internet Archive, it's truly wonderful:
https://archive.org/details/publicprivatelif00stahrich

#illustration #grandville

Victoria Maderna
Victoria Maderna  ·  3 months ago

Content Warning

A few more illustrations by Jean-Jacques Grandville (1803-1847) from "Public and private life of animals".

I really enjoy his insects and other animals that are not often drawn anthropomorphized. So much character in these!
#FromTheInspirationFolder

#illustration #grandville

Victoria Maderna
Victoria Maderna  ·  3 months ago

Content Warning

Some of the marvelous illustrations by Jean-Jacques Grandville (1803-1847) from "Public and private life of animals", written by P. J. Stahl.
#FromTheInspirationFolder

#illustration #grandville

Michael Whelan
Michael Whelan  ·  3 months ago

Content Warning

LAST LOOK BACK (1989)
Acrylic on Watercolor Board - 36" x 24"

The way to the far horizon can only be made by transcending the red hill...beyond is only sky. 1/4

#sciencefiction#scifi #scifiart #illustration #robertheinlein

Portrait of author Robert Heinlein standing boldly in profile to face the twilight of an alien world. White hair recedes back on his forehead. A thin mustache traces his upper lip. He looks debonair, with the air of a mystic as shadow falls across the back of his coral robe. He holds a cane loosely in his right hand; his weight doesn't rest on it. Baked by strange light, papers and a half buried book lie discarded on the rippling sand behind him. A shiny silver rocket, suggesting a Hugo award, points skyward. Caught in a moment—either taking flight or landing, with wings unfurled—an owl curls its talons about a curl of branch set on a plaque. Just beyond the shore where Heinlein stands, pearlescent blue water undulates and churns. A pair of islands, flanking him on either side, sit the horizon. A striped moon hangs over a mountainous peak on one isle; a square arch sits on a longer stretch of land to his right. Higher up, two gibbous craggy moons hang overhead.
Portrait of author Robert Heinlein standing boldly in profile to face the twilight of an alien world. White hair recedes back on his forehead. A thin mustache traces his upper lip. He looks debonair, with the air of a mystic as shadow falls across the back of his coral robe. He holds a cane loosely in his right hand; his weight doesn't rest on it. Baked by strange light, papers and a half buried book lie discarded on the rippling sand behind him. A shiny silver rocket, suggesting a Hugo award, points skyward. Caught in a moment—either taking flight or landing, with wings unfurled—an owl curls its talons about a curl of branch set on a plaque. Just beyond the shore where Heinlein stands, pearlescent blue water undulates and churns. A pair of islands, flanking him on either side, sit the horizon. A striped moon hangs over a mountainous peak on one isle; a square arch sits on a longer stretch of land to his right. Higher up, two gibbous craggy moons hang overhead.
Portrait of author Robert Heinlein standing boldly in profile to face the twilight of an alien world. White hair recedes back on his forehead. A thin mustache traces his upper lip. He looks debonair, with the air of a mystic as shadow falls across the back of his coral robe. He holds a cane loosely in his right hand; his weight doesn't rest on it. Baked by strange light, papers and a half buried book lie discarded on the rippling sand behind him. A shiny silver rocket, suggesting a Hugo award, points skyward. Caught in a moment—either taking flight or landing, with wings unfurled—an owl curls its talons about a curl of branch set on a plaque. Just beyond the shore where Heinlein stands, pearlescent blue water undulates and churns. A pair of islands, flanking him on either side, sit the horizon. A striped moon hangs over a mountainous peak on one isle; a square arch sits on a longer stretch of land to his right. Higher up, two gibbous craggy moons hang overhead.
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