Commissions are a tricky business for me. I don't do many of them, mainly because my work load from my "bread and butter" clients is usually full. I can't upset my regular clients by turning down work to complete a commission. They are a long term relationship that will hopefully provide an income for as long as I'm doing freelance illustration. So the opportunity to take on private commissions is slim. I just don't like to promise a collector that I'll get a painting done when it could take several months if not longer.
I was approached by a collector who was commissioning artists to produce paintings based on a specific idea he had. There were already several artists who had produced paintings for him- Donato, Matt Stewart, Julie Bell, Raoul Vitale, and others. I felt honored he would ask me to be a part of such an elite collection of artists. The only requirements the collector gave was that the painting needed to have 3-4 women, a companion dragon, and a dog. It could be any setting, any story, and any culture of people.
I went with a fantasy Mongolian-ish culture in a snow scene where they are caught out in the open by a hungry dragon. Their companion dragon fends off the much larger and more powerful dragon giving them time to escape. The original is 30x40 oil on masonite. I will have the painting on show at Spectrum Live. If you're at the show, please stop by and say hi.
Here are some detail shots:
Holy shit that is awesome...
ReplyDeleteAwesome painting, Lucas! I do love your dragons so. If you don't mind the crit, I don't think the green reads as a companion. It looks like the two scenes are unrelated. Villagers on their way home are suddenly caught in a dragon fight. Something like a green stone medallion of a dragon around the lead girls neck would tell me they are related, like maybe from a tribe of dragon worshipers or something. But, that's just my opinion and may not be what you were going for. :)
ReplyDeleteGreat piece man, I really like the way you handle dragons. They have a real substance to them and I really dig the way you handle scales.
ReplyDeleteThanks everyone. Forest- I've been back and forth with that idea, though not a necklace. That probably would have solved the issue well. Originally I had a harness on the dragon, and then rings, and then painted design....in the end none of it really worked. I was hoping the greenish color of the girl in the foreground would have linked them better. Thanks for your input.
ReplyDeleteDamn that is insane, I think you have a new best painting ever!
ReplyDeleteLove love love this
ReplyDeleteSpectacular job Lucas! It has a great sense of movement and the expressions on the womens' faces really emote.
ReplyDeleteThanks guys!
ReplyDeleteNicely done Lucas,It seems like these commissions have somehow pushed every one that worked on them.
ReplyDeleteColors are very harmonious and work well with the mood!!
Thanks Raoul! You did one of these commissions, didn't you?
DeleteYeah, I did one after Donato called Scouts, then a few more. Matt did Waterfall dragons and dragon forge. all in all there are probably about 13 of us that have done these commissions. I just saw Todd lockwood's last week and I'm not sure if Mark Zug has finished his.
ReplyDeleteI'm not going to make it to Spectrum , but I hope to see it in person
some day!
Dude Lucas I remember you from high school and had heard a couple years ago that your art was something else. I just found your blog the other day and I must say your work is inspiring as an artist. By the way my name is Josh Hagins and will be following your blog. Keep up the great work!
ReplyDeleteHey Josh! I remember you. Thanks for the compliments. I checked out your photography blog. Some amazing work!
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