Michael Whelan

Fine artist of Imaginative Realism. Illustrator of Science Fiction and Fantasy. Winner of 15 Hugo Awards. Inducted into the SF Hall of Fame in 2009.

Website: https://www.michaelwhelan.com

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Last Notes

2024-06-18 16:25:47

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Most of the time, I know what the painting is about before I do them, but I can’t say that I consciously have an idea where they come from.
https://www.michaelwhelan.com/galleries/world-of-light-and-shadow/
3/3
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodonart/media_attachments/files/112/638/081/144/843/588/original/0a54654c112cb102.jpg
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodonart/media_attachments/files/112/638/081/475/298/284/original/f7616145845f705c.jpg

2024-06-18 16:25:02

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I don’t know where they come from, but they feel important. When the concept comes to me, I feel that it has to be me that paints it. 2/3
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodonart/media_attachments/files/112/638/078/035/431/535/original/859076b64d39d060.jpg
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodonart/media_attachments/files/112/638/078/449/992/547/original/94f56691e3064ba7.jpg

2024-06-18 16:24:13

A WORLD OF LIGHT AND SHADOW (2011)
Acrylic on Gessoboard - 20” x 40”
I’m as surprised as the next person when some of these ideas come to me and tell me that they need to be painted, especially the ones that come in my dreams. 1/3
#personalvisions #imaginativerealism #fineart
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodonart/media_attachments/files/112/638/075/381/476/740/original/1882b8fae03e9a4f.jpg

2024-06-17 17:18:57

DRAGONFLIGHT (1978)
Acrylic on Masonite - 20" X 30"
For the first book in Anne McCaffrey's now legendary Dragonriders of Pern series, I wanted to create a literal visualization of the title. I selected an aerial point-of-view and tilted the horizon to simulate the dizzying sensation of flight. 1/4
#sciencefiction #scifi #scifiart #sff #illustration #annemccaffrey #pern
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodonart/media_attachments/files/112/632/627/516/905/049/original/7b0166aa69dabba1.jpg

2024-06-17 00:00:06

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She's definitely a keeper! 😊 🙌

2024-06-16 15:27:47

CRISTATE 2 (2018)
Oil on Canvas - 12" x 9"
Executed with leftover Raw Umber oil paint, this is a riff on painting from 2009 called CRISTATE. Both sprang from my fascination with the shapes made by Cristate cacti.
I fancy trying a third that will be more along the lines of the original, which was larger and somewhat more ambitious. Perhaps the next time I have leftover paint and a surface to put it on.
https://www.michaelwhelan.com/galleries/2018-leftover-11/
#leftoversandpalettegremlins
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodonart/media_attachments/files/112/626/526/678/006/528/original/44fdcd3ed783df7f.jpg
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodonart/media_attachments/files/112/626/528/232/206/964/original/b05ed158ea753c19.jpg

2024-06-15 16:57:30

THE DARK TOWER: WALTER (2004)
Oil on Panel - 12" x 9"
I rarely use people I know as models, but one night my friend Jack Koffman was visiting the studio and I noticed that when the light hit Jack a certain way, he looked like a perfect model for the character Walter in THE DARK TOWER VII. 1/2
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodonart/media_attachments/files/112/621/219/922/947/472/original/da8379dd31d89413.jpg

2024-06-14 23:05:15

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Old school DAW! 😃 🙌

2024-06-14 16:23:49

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Cover illustration for THE BANE OF THE BLACK SWORD by Michael Moorcock (DAW)
https://michaelwhelan.com/galleries/king-of-dead/
3/3
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodonart/media_attachments/files/112/615/424/533/938/719/original/b63a5caf3e46f947.jpg

2024-06-14 16:23:07

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After all these years, the cover illustrations have remained fan favorites, taking on new life through secondary rights for role playing games and heavy metal album covers. 2/3
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodonart/media_attachments/files/112/615/422/224/399/623/original/82b5301bea64ece7.jpg

2024-06-14 16:22:31

KING OF THE DEAD (1977)
Gouache on illustration board
I had the good fortune of working on Elric early in my career. The books by Michael Moorcock have proven to be enduring classics in fantasy. 1/3
#fantasy #fantasyart #sff #illustration #michaelmoorcock #elric
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodonart/media_attachments/files/112/615/417/221/974/147/original/ca521e419e0524e7.jpg

2024-06-13 15:47:31

THE FOURTH CRUSADE (2002)
Acrylic on Panel - 12" x 12"
The Virtue of Faith. Constantinople burns in the background....a chance to reread some history lessons.
https://www.michaelwhelan.com/galleries/fourth-crusade/
#personalvisions #imaginativerealism #fineart #virtues
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodonart/media_attachments/files/112/609/618/019/198/020/original/d6c2567f80de8873.jpg
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https://cdn.masto.host/mastodonart/media_attachments/files/112/609/618/713/224/103/original/b082c510f6fcc47e.jpg

2024-06-12 20:37:25

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I've had a lot of intentions to get back to things over the years. It doesn't always happen. 😅

2024-06-12 19:03:12

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Someday I'll paint the boogeyman I imagined when I was young, which I still remember. As funny as it sounds, he was shaped like a big turkey drumstick!
https://www.michaelwhelan.com/galleries/boogeyman/
3/3
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodonart/media_attachments/files/112/604/726/740/693/308/original/cebd96d3e6fa9345.jpg

2024-06-12 19:02:32

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This painting was pure fun. I had always wanted to do a boogeyman, and had submitted the idea to DAW Books years earlier for a previous cover. It wasn't chosen, but I kept the sketch and resubmitted it with other concepts every year after that, until it was finally chosen for this anthology. 2/3
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodonart/media_attachments/files/112/604/724/641/610/401/original/d8caad0c7d891e1f.jpg

2024-06-12 19:02:02

BOOGEYMAN (1986)
Acrylic on Watercolor Board - 28" X 17"
I love doing covers for anthologies, and I especially enjoy doing covers for horror anthologies. This piece was commissioned for one of DAW Books' annual collections of The Year's Best Horror Stories. 1/3
#horror #horrorart #illustration #yearsbesthorrorstories
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodonart/media_attachments/files/112/604/722/325/598/131/original/7908e25f60fdba31.jpg

2024-06-11 15:00:12

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😃 🙏

2024-06-11 14:55:11

THE INEXORABLE EQUATION (1997)
Acrylic on Canvas - 48" x 36"
The window contains a beautiful but threatening view, seen from a place of illusory refuge.
https://www.michaelwhelan.com/galleries/inexorable-equation/
#personalvisions #imaginativerealism #fadedstar #fineart
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodonart/media_attachments/files/112/598/083/528/926/823/original/36ca496370cb1153.jpg

2024-06-10 16:59:58

ELISTE (1991)
Acrylic on Watercolor Board - 28" x 38"
I'm used to being pigeonholed by my clients, who often hire me to paint only certain kinds of subjects. So I admit I was thrown when I started reading Paula Volsky's novel ILLUSION. 1/5
#sciencefiction #scifi #scifiart #sff #illustration #paulavoslky
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodonart/media_attachments/files/112/592/917/901/029/005/original/382349b3ddccc1ed.jpg

2024-06-08 16:23:54

THE GUNSLINGER FOLLOWED (2005)
Oil on Canvas - 25" x 40"
The second painting based on the famous opening line of The Dark Tower books by Stephen King: "The Man in Black fled across the desert and the Gunslinger followed." 1/3
#fantasy #fantasyart #sff #illustration #stephenking #darktower #gunslinger
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodonart/media_attachments/files/112/581/450/778/106/108/original/45db394189f879eb.jpg

2024-06-07 17:35:59

THE GUNSLINGER: THE MAN IN BLACK (2005)
Oil on Canvas - 25" x 40"
"The Man in Black fled across the desert and the Gunslinger followed."
Ever since I read that first line of the first Dark Tower book by Stephen King, I was waiting for the opportunity to paint it. 1/2
#fantasy #fantasyart #sff #illustration #stephenking #darktower #gunslinger
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodonart/media_attachments/files/112/576/072/032/896/214/original/536447d8e6d3ec7a.jpg

2024-06-05 16:30:04

DAETRIN (1990)
Acrylic on Watercolor Board - 21" X 29"
The most unusual aspect of this commission is that it was largely painted while I was being videotaped for a local TV show. I was taking a big risk in allowing this to happen. 1/5
#sciencefiction #scifi #scifiart #illustration #csfriedman
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodonart/media_attachments/files/112/564/468/637/499/763/original/d7c3e50638244e9a.jpg

2024-06-04 16:43:08

MOON'S WINDOW (2007)
Acrylic on Panel - 7" X 5"
This window was suggested by shapes at the Whitby Abbey, Lincolnshire England. (Nothing to do with the painting, but Whitby is where Count Dracula landed when he arrived in England...)
https://www.michaelwhelan.com/galleries/moons-window/
#personalvisions #imaginativerealism #fineart #portals #whitbyabbey
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodonart/media_attachments/files/112/558/861/295/125/466/original/76ffac4e238bc435.jpg

2024-06-03 19:47:12

DEATHWING (2010)
Acrylic on Canvas - 48" x 36"
The general concept for this work was spelled out to me by my art director and contact at Blizzard, Jeremy Cranford. 1/6
#fantasy #fantasyart #illustration #dragon #deathwing #blizzardentertainment #worldofwarcraft
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodonart/media_attachments/files/112/553/782/512/522/517/original/4e28dacd0ba2ac0a.jpg

2024-06-02 16:04:41

THE TIDES OF KREGEN (1976)
Acrylic on Illustration Board - 18" x 16 ⅝"
A cover and B&W interior illustration from very early in my career, this is one of three Dray Prescot novels I worked on. In total, there were 52 books in the series by Kenneth Bulmer writing as Alan Burt Akers.
https://www.michaelwhelan.com/galleries/tides-of-kregen/
#fantasy #sciencefiction #sff #illustration #drayprescot
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodonart/media_attachments/files/112/547/398/100/169/239/original/8aa0a73b861ae4d2.jpg
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2024-06-01 16:14:44

BEE TAXI (2016)
Acrylic on Gessobord - 12" x 16"
The painting HARBINGER had a lot of yellows in it. When I finished, I covered the palette with a yellow ocher gesso so I could use it again. 1/2
#fantasy #fantasyart #sff #leftoversandpalettegremlins
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodonart/media_attachments/files/112/541/779/276/867/959/original/8b52628b0f171ae0.jpg

2024-05-31 16:52:38

THE GUNSLINGER: THE DEAD TOWN (1982)
Acrylic on Illustration Board - 20" x 14"
Throughout most of my career as an illustrator, I took the unusual approach of rarely using models. 1/3
#horror #horrorart #sff #illustration #stephenking #gunslinger
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodonart/media_attachments/files/112/536/266/023/002/955/original/8b8f80575d49f872.jpg

2024-05-30 15:27:30

THE END OF NATURE VII (2005)
Acrylic on Panel - 25" x 40"
Up until this point in my End of Nature series, I had portrayed the people who represent humanity in general as somewhat oblivious to the support that nature was providing for them. 1/2
#personalvisions #imaginativerealism #endofnature
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodonart/media_attachments/files/112/530/268/364/719/570/original/4c2687abcbf46fcd.jpg

2024-05-29 15:43:09

DRAGONSBANE (1985)
Acrylic - 28" x 18"
I loved this book—the protagonists and dragon are very engaging and held my interest right from the start. 1/4
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodonart/media_attachments/files/112/524/667/863/488/016/original/0023c5837558a585.jpg

2024-05-28 15:34:52

MEMORY OF A DISTANT SEA (1999)
Acrylic on Canvas - 20" x 16"
Whenever someone asked me what I do for myself, up until 1987 my answer was always my illustration because that’s what I chose to do. That’s all I envisioned myself doing, but something happened. 1/3
#personalvisions #imaginativerealism #fineart
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodonart/media_attachments/files/112/518/972/173/618/979/original/da7938bca78ea9ee.jpg

2024-05-27 16:26:30

THUVIA, MAID OF MARS (1979)
Acrylic and Gouache on Illustration Board - 20" x 25"
Another cover from The Martian Tales by Edgar Rice Burroughs. I had to be careful with Thuvia, as everyone on Barsoom goes nude, and yet full-frontal nudity was unacceptable for the cover. 1/4
#sciencefiction #scifi #sff #scifiart #illustration #edgarriceburroughs #mars #barsoom #thuvia
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodonart/media_attachments/files/112/513/513/885/043/704/original/186b366cd51c7ac9.jpg

2024-05-26 19:37:08

HIGH FLIER (2018)
Acrylic on Illustration Board - 16" x 12"
On a whim, I added the figure to a study for a Tad Williams cover recently completed at the time.
https://www.michaelwhelan.com/galleries/2018-leftover-1/
#leftoversandpalettegremlins
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodonart/media_attachments/files/112/508/599/886/217/348/original/e80b53143d8fc521.jpg
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodonart/media_attachments/files/112/508/600/220/715/524/original/c511289e125c0a75.jpg

2024-05-25 16:36:11

Preliminary art for ELRIC DEMONSLAYER (1980) for The Vanishing Tower by Michael Moorcock (Archival Press)
https://www.michaelwhelan.com/galleries/elric-demonslayer/
#fantasy #fantasyart #sff #illustration #elric #stormbringer #michaelmoorcock
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodonart/media_attachments/files/112/502/224/837/449/407/original/435e4f0e4d16daf5.jpg
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodonart/media_attachments/files/112/502/225/183/678/371/original/c164e63daf47b714.jpg
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodonart/media_attachments/files/112/502/225/536/732/728/original/19fa5a50fb1ad945.jpg

2024-05-23 18:16:19

WING (1992)
Acrylic on Canvas -42" X 60"
I was the Artist Guest of Honor of the Australian National Science Fiction Convention in Sydney in 1992. After the convention, my family and I spent some time traveling around the country. 1/4
#personalvisions #imaginativerealism #fineart #ayersrock
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodonart/media_attachments/files/112/491/296/805/310/253/original/df4a53132f78b418.jpg

2024-05-22 20:18:58

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There is so much of interest to illustrate in Julian May's “Pliocene Exile” series that I'm amazed at not finding more art derived from her books in science-fiction convention art shows. 3/4
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodonart/media_attachments/files/112/486/116/765/230/693/original/485aa68467c1ac1e.jpg

2024-05-22 20:18:17

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Sometime later I decided that I should have used acrylics instead. The mult-hued splendor of the costumes and events in this book might have been more appropriately recreated with the intensity of acrylics than with the subtle tones of watercolors. 2/4
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodonart/media_attachments/files/112/486/112/866/740/389/original/90f4023bfc2d0eab.jpg
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodonart/media_attachments/files/112/486/113/194/820/264/original/b8092748153bb3aa.jpg

2024-05-22 20:17:20

THE NONBORN KING (1983)
Acrylic on Watercolor Board - 28" x 18"
Once or twice a year, for a change of pace, I work in watercolors as I did in this painting. 1/4
#sciencefiction #scifi #scifiart #sff #julianmay #plioceneexile
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodonart/media_attachments/files/112/486/109/050/868/931/original/6eeb6af19e114a27.jpg

2024-05-21 15:12:11

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Eventually I realized I had to use my art as a way to climb out of the mood I was in. By devoting time to this personal project, I found my way out of the hole, and when I went back to the assignment I was able to find the answer to the problem and move on. 2/2
https://www.michaelwhelan.com/galleries/passage-red-step/
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodonart/media_attachments/files/112/479/247/444/926/931/original/51bc1b30f8907fa5.jpg

2024-05-21 15:11:38

PASSAGE: THE RED STEP (1988)
Acrylic on Canvas - 44" X 33"
I was probably clinically depressed when I painted this. Stymied by the first serious artistic block in my illustration career, I felt helpless to do anything but fret for a couple of weeks. 1/2
#personalvisions #imaginativerealism #fineart #passage
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodonart/media_attachments/files/112/479/244/738/819/388/original/91cdb4300d534512.jpg

2024-05-20 16:21:08

DRAGON LAKE (1988)
Acrylic on Watercolor Board - 30" x 20"
"Some come easy, some come hard," said Norman Rockwell, when someone asked him how long it took for him to complete a painting. Like him, I'm somewhat of a perfectionist. 1/4
#fantasy #fantasyart #sff #illustration #melanierawn #dragon
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodonart/media_attachments/files/112/473/813/347/459/868/original/70c6abe5710eafa6.jpg

2024-05-19 17:27:08

EYE OF THE NEEDLE (2015)
Acrylic on Canvas - 10" x 8"
Preliminary for a future painting. I was inspired by a trip to Southwest and saw many of rock formations as vantage points for imagining.
#personalvisions #imaginativerealism #preliminaryconcept
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodonart/media_attachments/files/112/468/452/413/484/178/original/c475badb71cb5363.jpg

2024-05-16 15:32:36

BEANSTALK (2001)
Acrylic on Panel - 12" x 12"
A small painting from "The End of Nature" subset of my personal work.
https://www.michaelwhelan.com/galleries/beanstalk/
#personalvisions #imaginativerealism #fineart #endofnature
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodonart/media_attachments/files/112/451/014/415/205/801/original/19aaf03db1737224.jpg

2024-05-14 15:59:44

WARMING HER WINGS (2012)
Acrylic on Panel - 11" x 14"
In fall, the sun sets on the west side of our property to shine through the trees. On a humid day, the light seems suspended in the thick air, spreading against the dark shapes of the trees, fanning golden brilliance across the green lawn. 1/4
#personalvisions #imaginativerealism #fineart #portals
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodonart/media_attachments/files/112/439/797/421/847/311/original/d59811f0c32637a3.jpg

2024-05-13 16:18:30

DRAGON ABOARD (2013)
Acrylic - 18" x 24"
Anne McCaffrey often reminded readers that her Pern novels were science fiction. This scene from ALL THE WEYRS OF PERN did exactly that and was originally chosen for the cover. 1/3
#sciencefiction #scifi #scifiart #sff #illustration #annemccaffrey #pern
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodonart/media_attachments/files/112/434/210/151/063/460/original/d6a9e62de3c3aafa.jpg

2024-05-12 17:43:10

Interior illustrations from NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC PICTURE ATLAS OF OUR UNIVERSE by Roy A. Gallant. This particular section was a whimsical "what if" look at possible alien life in the solar system.
EUROPA
MARTIAN DAWN
PLUTONIAN ZISTLES
1/3
#sciencefiction #scifi #scifiart #sff #illustration #nationalgeographic #ouruniverse
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodonart/media_attachments/files/112/428/878/731/870/909/original/33104591b06615bf.jpg
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodonart/media_attachments/files/112/428/879/359/226/556/original/0d31cb9e148c380f.jpg
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2024-05-11 16:43:23

THE DARK TOWER: CALLAHAN (2010)
Oil on Panel - 10" x 8"
A portrait of Father Callahan for Discordia: A Dark Tower Online Experience by Stephen King.
https://www.michaelwhelan.com/galleries/dark-tower-callahan/
#horror #horrorart #sff #illustration #stephenking #darktower #discordia
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodonart/media_attachments/files/112/422/926/471/537/824/original/834d1b96ee96a713.jpg

2024-05-10 17:03:04

SARRA (1994)
Acrylic on Watercolor Board - 30" x 22"
For an epic book, a simple approach is often best as was the case for my cover for EXILES: RUINS OF AMBRAI by Melanie Rawn, a painting rich in symbolic detail. 1/4
#fantasy #fantasyart #sff #illustration #melanierawn #exiles
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodonart/media_attachments/files/112/417/396/938/475/871/original/a49286d06cb5ab02.jpg

2024-05-09 15:58:00

BROKEN CHAIN (1998)
Acrylic on Watercolor Board - 24" x 15"
A simple composition with a fairly simple message. On our way to the next plane, we leave behind earthly pleasures and some small marks on our environment.
https://www.michaelwhelan.com/galleries/broken-chain/
#personalvisions #imaginativerealism #passage #fineart
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodonart/media_attachments/files/112/411/471/533/477/672/original/1f1d5afcd0d1c4d1.jpg
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2024-05-08 15:51:35

NOR CRYSTAL TEARS (1981)
Acrylic - 30" x 19”
A favorite theme of mine is the depiction of human-alien interactions. This book deals with the subject so wonderfully that I wanted to make it the focus of attention for the cover painting. 1/4
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodonart/media_attachments/files/112/405/776/770/364/336/original/7997cff937f7deb9.jpg

2024-05-07 15:34:31

TIME AND TIDE (2009)
Oil - 24" x 18"
This painting started out to be just a morning exercise, kind of a companion idea to TIME'S PASSING. But once I added the water, I was drawn into the scene—pardon the pun—and it ended up being a finished work.
https://www.michaelwhelan.com/galleries/time-and-tide/
#personalvisions #imaginativerealism #fineart #portals
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodonart/media_attachments/files/112/400/059/870/906/181/original/f8de33bc801ca2a2.jpg
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2024-05-06 16:26:30

STORMBRINGER (1977)
Acrylic on Masonite - 30" x 20"
This is probably my most famous painting of Michael Moorcock's legendary anti-hero Elric of Melnibone. 1/4
#fantasy #fantasyart #sff #illustration #michaelmoorcock #elric
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodonart/media_attachments/files/112/394/605/580/414/271/original/249760df7aeb37d5.jpg

2024-05-05 17:09:40

THE LOST CITY (2017)
Acrylic on Watercolor Board - 14" x 7 ½"
A board used as a palette which became a scene reminiscent of a Lovecraft story...not so much of a palette gremlin as a palette snowscape.
https://www.michaelwhelan.com/galleries/2017-leftover-8/
#fantasy #fantasyart #sff #leftoversandpalettegremlins
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodonart/media_attachments/files/112/389/112/350/702/077/original/e65e04f089724082.jpg

2024-05-04 15:32:47

SHOWDOWN AT END WORLD (2005)
Acrylic on Canvas - 8 ¼" x 12"
Alternate cover concept for THE DARK TOWER by Stephen King
https://www.michaelwhelan.com/galleries/showdown-at-end-world/
#fantasy #fantasyart #sff #illustration #stephenking #darktower
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodonart/media_attachments/files/112/383/062/863/649/433/original/9c20c80d4113f286.jpg

2024-05-03 17:25:06

ASSASSIN'S APPRENTICE (1995)
Acrylic on Watercolor Board - 28" X 20"
Painted almost 3 decades ago, the cover for the first book of the Farseer Trilogy by Robin Hobb remains a personal favorite. 1/3
#fantasy #fantasyart #sff #illustration #robinhobb #farseertrilogy
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodonart/media_attachments/files/112/377/848/040/050/419/original/6b76cef23b15fe21.jpg

2024-05-02 16:01:03

RUST NEVER SLEEPS (2010)
Acrylic on Panel - 10" x 12"
Move along. Nothing to see here.
https://www.michaelwhelan.com/galleries/rust-never-sleeps/
#personalvisions #imaginativerealism #signofthetimes #firstamendment #freedomtoassemble
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodonart/media_attachments/files/112/371/850/604/509/359/original/8b90bb27fb2eb6fb.jpg

2024-05-01 18:10:16

THE LONG WAY HOME (1978)
Acrylic - 24" x 16"
#sciencefiction #scifi #scifiart #sff #illustration #poulanderson
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodonart/media_attachments/files/112/366/698/865/078/084/original/b5ce0856840e5858.jpg

2024-04-30 15:39:27

THE SCALE OF ETERNITY (1999)
Oil on Gessoboard - 25" x 40"
On close examination the linear form the man is climbing is marked with gradations like a ruler. At the time I painted SCALE, I was thinking a lot about our innate drive to quantify, judge or rate aspects of our collective human experience. We can't seem to overcome our need to define the best, the prettiest, the most powerful or the biggest.
https://www.michaelwhelan.com/galleries/scale-of-eternity/
#personalvisions #imaginativerealism #fineart #fadedstar
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodonart/media_attachments/files/112/360/443/605/528/509/original/9c9dc4f4f07079d0.jpg
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2024-04-29 15:27:55

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Unlike my other concepts for this book, this scene features the protagonist, Killashandra, front and center, in an emotionally charged scene where she is transported into a sort of harmonic ecstasy via the black crystal. 2/4
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodonart/media_attachments/files/112/354/739/028/787/436/original/77cbe56aa7606f92.jpg

2024-04-29 15:27:25

CRYSTAL SINGER (1981)
Acrylic - 20" x 30"
Most of my sketches for this cover dealt with the interrelationship between the protagonist Killashandra and the black crystals she has a special affinity for. 1/4
#sciencefiction #scifi #scifiart #sff #illustration #annemccaffrey
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodonart/media_attachments/files/112/354/736/325/890/575/original/70804fea7a48c339.jpg

2024-04-27 17:15:37

THE MAN WHO COUNTS (1977)
Acrylic on Masonite - 30" x 20"
At first glance, tackling the cover art for the reissue of an an old-fashioned SF novel would seem like a boring job for a new illustrator hot to conquer the field, but I looked at reissues as a challenge. I had to outdo whatever was on the original cover so that a new generation of readers would buy it. 1/3
#sciencefiction #scifi #scifiart #sff #illustration #poulanderson
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodonart/media_attachments/files/112/343/831/063/286/869/original/3ff029d9970b32a1.jpg

2024-04-26 18:29:00

LEGENDS: THE GUNSLINGER (1998/2000)
Acrylic on Watercolor Board - 36" x 24"
Stephen King doesn't describe the tower in the early books of the Dark Tower series, but many of the main characters experience dream visions of the object of their quest. 1/3
#fantasy #fantasyart #sff #illustration #stephenking #darktower #gunslinger #rolanddeschain
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodonart/media_attachments/files/112/338/463/350/364/254/original/fa5a36838b621b42.jpg

2024-04-25 16:04:09

CLIMBER (1992)
Acrylic on Canvas - 42" X 31"
On the day I finished this, I brought the painting to the frame shop to show it to Audrey. She was busy with a client, so I left the painting on a table and went to get some lunch.
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodonart/media_attachments/files/112/332/232/127/259/020/original/061500618bcb9e75.jpg

2024-04-25 05:55:47

A new light in my sky:
Our new grandson:
Rowan Sky - 5 days old!!
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodonart/media_attachments/files/112/329/836/459/818/724/original/e2d27a4b02d83ea6.png

2024-04-22 15:22:03

TARRANT'S REALM (1990)
Acrylic on Watercolor Board - 32" x 20"
C.S. Friedman creates fascinating characters and I've brought many of them to life. Here is Gerald Tarrant at the height of his power on the first book of the Coldfire Trilogy.
Cover illustration for BLACK SUN RISING by C.S. Friedman (DAW)
https://www.michaelwhelan.com/galleries/tarrants-realm/
#fantasy #fantasyart #sff #illustration #csfriedman #coldfire #geraldtarrant
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2024-04-21 18:16:21

Remarque in the Archival Press edition of THE VANISHING TOWER by Michael Moorcock.
#fantasy #fantasyart #illustration #remarque #elric #michaelmoorcock
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodonart/media_attachments/files/112/310/101/608/972/854/original/f404a7cf209271ec.jpg

2024-04-18 16:27:48

DOORWAY TO THE WEST (2006)
Acrylic on Panel - 12" x 9"
Another search for the light. Creating the illusion of texture in paint, the process of actually painting it, can be an act of meditation. 1/2
#personalvisions #imaginativerealism #fineart #portals
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodonart/media_attachments/files/112/292/688/642/943/207/original/9ff1bdb5aaca7853.jpg

2024-04-16 15:46:00

THE ULTIMATE SANDBOX (1984)
Acrylic on Canvas - 15" x 24"
A whimsical portrait of my daughter Alexa that remains one of my all-time most popular images—and a personal favorite!
https://www.michaelwhelan.com/galleries/ultimate-sandbox/
#sciencefiction #scifi #scifiart #pigsinspace
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2024-04-15 18:09:49

STONE OF FAREWELL (1989)
Acrylic on Canvas - 21" X 46"
The main problem in doing what is called a wraparound cover-cover art that wraps around from the front to the back of the book-is in trying to avoid pieces that look like 2 different paintings stuck together. 1/4
#fantasy #fantasyart #sff #illustration #memorysorrowandthorn #tadwilliams #simonsnowlock
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodonart/media_attachments/files/112/276/101/793/872/143/original/69923eb5a26d7014.jpg

2024-04-13 17:23:00

With tax day rapidly approaching, every dragon is surely busy this weekend tallying up their hoard.
#fantasy #fantasyart #remarque #dragon
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodonart/media_attachments/files/112/264/594/009/075/913/original/62752ffdb00ca68b.jpg

2024-04-01 17:43:05

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Cover illustration for CROWN OF SHADOWS by C.S. Friedman (DAW) 4/4
https://www.michaelwhelan.com/galleries/crown-of-shadows/
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2024-04-01 17:42:36

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Surrounded by an energy field sensitive to human thought and subject to constant seismic activity, the planet Erna itself serves as antagonist as detailed in the hostile alien environs on each cover. 3/4
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2024-04-01 17:41:42

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So it went with Gerald Tarrant in C.S. Friedman's Coldfire Trilogy. His prolonged life, gained through tragic means, dominates a dark fantasy set on an alien world more than a millennia after colonization. 2/4
https://cdn.masto.host/mastodonart/media_attachments/files/112/196/716/699/835/634/original/82ed5ba7940c381f.jpg
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2024-04-01 17:39:57

CROWN OF SHADOWS (1995)
Acrylic on Panel - 28" x 22"
There's something in the complexity of an anti-hero that grabs the attention of readers. Such rich characters naturally provide an illustrator with opportunity to revel in the shadows. 1/4
#fantasy #fantasyart #sff #illustration #csfriedman #coldfiretrilogy
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