This is my progress on my John Carter Illo. So far I have all the elements in place, now all I need is to add detail to the jewelry, ship, etc.

Progress on my new John Carter Illustration. As you can see, I still have to separate the planes as well as finish up Carter and add detail to the place itself ( an airship)

Final value study for a John Carter Illustration. Held captive on an airship, Dejah Thoris turns to her captor and seems to say, " Oh, what would you know. My husband just jumped all the way from the ground and is now here. Nice knowing you". I am going to approach this painting with a limited palette using only four colors: Titanium White, Yellow Ochre, Terrarosa, and Ivory Black. Since I can get a rich (and neutral) palette out of those colors, I hope I can produce a balance Illustration that conveys a little drama.

I showed this to an artist friend of mine for a critique and he told me that while it was a decent composition, it had some problems. Mainly the tangents in John's foot and his sword as well the way is upper arm is bent. Also Dejah and her captor's faces are at the wrong angle. So I did some additional sketches on how to solve this problem. Not quite there yet, but I think I have an idea on how to solve the problem.

So here I put Dejah as a prisoner aboard a flying machine, with John jumping to the rescue in the background. It is a better idea, but I am not happy with how small John is in the picture. So I made him larger by making him stand on the ship's railing, as if he had just landed.

Trying to find a composition for a new "John Carter" Illo, I thought at first to make a portrait of Tardoss Mors, Dejah Thoris Grandfather, For a background, I wanted to portray a Martian city and landscape with a few flying machines in the air. My first attempt was too much similar to the 2012 movie promotional poster, and my second wasn't too attractive either. So then I decided to add Dejah to the mix, so I made a quick color sketch of her. This wasn't good enough either, but it gave me an idea for a whole new composition.

Progress on my Conan Charge Illo. I added embers using Photoshop in order to add drama to the narrative. Otherwise, it is oil on canvas board, 16" x 20"

I dug up these two sketches I did for class a couple of years ago. It shows a playful Conan, taking a break from all the pillaging and plundering and enjoying a beer or two at a local tavern. I am going to base my next Illo in these studies. Maybe I'll add a wench in the equation.