More sketches...

Here are some more sketches. Each of these took me longer to do compared to the previous group of thumbnail sketches.

Environment Sketches

Here's a bunch of environment sketches done for James Paick's online masterclass. Each set of 4 took me between 90 min and 120 min to complete. It's a very good exercise in trying to focus on the essential parts of the image and not getting lost in details. I still have a lot to learn, but it's a very entertaining and fun process.

Retreat

Same inspiration as my previous painting: monsteries in Greece.

Monastery

Putting to use my new aquired knowledge from James Paick's online masterclass. Based on a photo of the "Holy Monastery of Rousanou" in Greece.

Sci-Fi Power Plant

Here is an assignment I did for an online course I am taking with James Paick as instructor. I am loving it and learning a lot.

Lost Thoughts

Blade Runner is just one of those movies where everything was done right. The mood portrayed in this movie is just so unique and captivating that sometimes you wish you could lose your thoughts in that futuristic city...it is almost soothing, although there is nothing really "attractive" about it.
This painting was very much inspired by said masterpiece and I wanted to share my admiration for it.

Lego Atlantis

Here's an image I did last year for Lego's Atlantis toy line.

Waking Light...first post of 2011, although I finished this one in 2010. It is based on a 2 year old concept.

The Gathering

This is based on a thumbnail sketch I did almost 2 years ago. (http://www.andreasrocha.com/gallery/scene_rough/090126_4_concepts.htm). Again, you can make up any story you like as I believe that is what fantasy is all about. It could be a gathering of monks, a satanic ritual, a portal...whatever you like.
I hope you like it...and Merry Christmas and wishes of a Great 2011!

Crashing Waves

For this painting I used a similar technique as my previous one -Dry Winds- It's a great exercise trying to reach a pleasing balance between different textures, moods, values, etc. I also wanted to create some kind of "dialogue" between the wet, cold, hard foreground and the warm, soft background.
Let me know your thoughts and thanks for watching.

Dry Winds

A more conceptual approach to painting a fantasy landscape. I tried to achieve a balance between detailed and rough areas, where the brushstrokes are still visible.
Inspired by the amazing rocky formations found in Utah's National Parks. I've never been there but it must be something amazing to behold.

I've always been a Dungeons&Dragons art fan since the 80s...I have a special admiration for Jeff Easley's work. This paiting was a tryout to do something in the genre. I used a photo of myself for reference and also one of Alec Guiness as Obi-Wan. I wanted to give the background much more clutter but everytime I added something it seemed to disrupt the balance of the image, hence the overall lack of detail.

Silent Shadows

This painting is based on a sketch I did 2 years ago ([URL]http://www.andreasrocha.com/gallery/scene_rough/080204into_light.htm[/URL]). I wanted to give it the same degree of finish as my previous painting "Warm Mist".
I leave a suggestive title hoping that you make up your own story behind it...for me it could be a party of deadly warriors silently emerging from the morning mist about to suprise the enemy.
Again, Peder Mork Monsted was a great source of inspiration.

Warm Mist

Commissioned painting. The aim was to portray a magical forest. I drew inspirations from a lot of places but I believe Fangorn and Sintra, fictional and real, are what influenced me the most. I love forests...fantasy is inherent to them. I don't know if it's the green tones, the wind blowing through the trees or the fresh air...there is just something special about them.

I also took a lot of inspiration from the beautiful paintings by master painter Peder Mork Monsted
Let me know your thoughts.

More...

Arcade From Hell

Being somewhat displeased with one of my previous paintings which was supposed to be an homage to arcade games from the 80s I decided on a different approach (technique-wise) to a similar theme. The idea was quite disparate (if there even was an idea!), but I just thought about mixing an arcade cabinet, medieval motifs, elements from horror movies and heavy metal music...and this is the result. It's probably one of the weirdest stories I came up with, but then again, arcade games usually had really simple ideas behind them which was one of their charms, I suppose.

Dream Machine

My personal homage to the magical arcade games of the 80s. At the time, you just had to get out to experience the best in video games and those crowded halls full of flashing lights, loud beeping noises that were nostalgically unclean were magical places. Although nowadays everything is cleaner and better looking, I feel that something has been lost.
I don't think I was particularly succesful with the overall composition especially in terms of composition and colors, but I do hope that it will bring back memories in some of you.

Provocateur

Erotic themed paintings are way off from what I do mostly, but it is good to change subject and technique once in a while. Credit for original photo goes to Miss Audrey aka DecoGoddess. You can check it out here:
[link]

Winter Sanctuary

I started this one several weeks ago and then I let it rest for a while. Sometimes it can be frustrating coming back to a painting and realizing the crap I was creating. That is what happened to me today when I went back to this painting. So, I made some overall changes and just had to call it finished...no use lingering on this one anymore.

Commissioned environment.

Submission for Exotique 6