I have always liked 'llIustration' and tend to produce it either as Cover Art or Sequential imagery. The former is probably the more challenging because of the balance that needs to be struck between form and content, decoration and narrative. Cover Art, like the short story, gets a limited shot at indicating what lies beneath the cover. My current preoccupation has been described, and I think aptly, as 'nostalgic sci fi and pulp'. And someone also suggested that it might be a little too late to revive the 'adventure genre'.
Stylistically, I'm keen on the commercial illustration of the mid 20th Century that was made to promote 'mass' publication (especially children's annuals, pulp magazines and comics). There is so much creativity and artistic competence to found on the covers and within the pages of even the most mundane examples.
It is over the last 7 years that I have started to use, and like, digital media. My working methods are still a little too intuitive and involve the usual squinting and standing back that one associates with traditional media, but I am enjoying making imagery more than ever and would now like to explore the possibilities of illustrating written stories (preferably by working with an author).
Interests: Commercial illustration and sequential imagery of the mid 20th Century that was made to promote 'mass' publications (especially children's annuals, pulp magazines and comics).
I am here for: Artistic interests. www.mikefyles.co.uk
Mike.
Comments (17)
Ancel_Alexandre
Nice pic! the only color make the character and the title really present, that's a good idea!
zboyi
Nice image Mike, I like the use of the 'spot' colour.
MarkHirst
Always so authentic and always so excellent. Top marks.
Tracesl
fantastic look, excellent action and pulp feel
Killebrew
I can't get enough of these!
722
Great work!!!!!
drace68
Great action. Like the perspective. And you can't go wrong with The Phantom.
Lashia
wow it looks like you scanned a real magazine! (If you did, sorry for being so obvious haha) great character, starting to a great story line
gsayers
Guns, horses, dinosaurs and a masked hero in a pickle - I can't think of a more archetypal scene - a schoolboy's staple. I really like your faux brushwork on the background. Good work. Gary
Krid
perfect classical cover art !!!!
Penters
Brilliant retro style
Rorsdors
This works so well, and very dynamic!! I always found the images more exciting than the actual stories and this is right up there.
duo
Just a perfect vintage inside artwork! Perfect!
aguirre
I can image restricting the colour palette to the tones the original pulp or newspaper publishers could print those days can be hard sometimes, with the colourful 3d scene in front of you. A graphic gem.
AureliusdeMercoeur
Just like an old magazine in two colours !! Excellent !!
mmitchell_houston
I'm in LOVE with this image! You really captured the spirit of the Ghost Who Walks. The two colors really make this pop. And you even made the registration off a bit, which adds a sense of authenticity to the piece. BRAVO! The Point of View on this piece really gives it a sense of drama and urgency, as does the thundering hooves of the horse's pose. The only thing I would suggest to improve it would be to take another look at the ferns (or whatever plants those are) behind the horse. Perhaps making them a bit lighter would decrease the clutter back there and make the horse seem more isolated, alone, and vulnerable to the onrushing dinosaurs (who look suitably menacing and hungry, by the way). As usual, I'm really looking closely for suggestions on ways to improve this piece, and once again, my friend, you've made it very difficult for me. You hit this one out of the park! PS: I prefer this one to the color version (which is also very nice, by the way). I just can't help but love the more retro version of the two. Thanks again for posting it.
dshield
Excellent work. D