#Tag · bonfire.cafe

EMPIRE'S HORIZON (1989)
Acrylic on canvas - 36" x 24"

John Brizzolara's novel is about a confrontation between extraterrestrials and humans, and humankind's attempt at domination. 1/4

#sciencefiction #illustration #johnbrizzolara #dawbooks

Michael Whelan

@MichaelWhelan@mastodon.art · 3 days ago

EMPIRE'S HORIZON (1989)
Acrylic on canvas - 36" x 24"

John Brizzolara's novel is about a confrontation between extraterrestrials and humans, and humankind's attempt at domination. 1/4

#sciencefiction #illustration #johnbrizzolara #dawbooks

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Michael Whelan

@MichaelWhelan@mastodon.art · 2 weeks ago

RED AS BLOOD (1982)
Acrylic on Watercolor Board - 30" x 22"

I have fond memories of the cover art for Tanith Lee's novel RED AS BLOOD simply because the act of creation was so enjoyable. I still regret selling the painting. 1/3

#fantasy #horror #illustration #tanithlee #dawbooks

A ghastly pale woman with raven hair and blood red lips reclines lazily on the stone stoop at the entrance to a cottage. Behind her a hag proffers a perfect red apple. The stones wall is weathered and mossy green. The roof is an arch of overgrown branches. Weight resting on one hip, the woman props herself up with arm extended. Embroidered with red flowers, the square neckline of her simple white dress plunges deeply, exposing the hint of her areolae. As she rests back with legs at an angle, her big toe teases the eye socket of a skull set in the lush green vegetation on the ground.

Michael Whelan

@MichaelWhelan@mastodon.art · 2 weeks ago

RED AS BLOOD (1982)
Acrylic on Watercolor Board - 30" x 22"

I have fond memories of the cover art for Tanith Lee's novel RED AS BLOOD simply because the act of creation was so enjoyable. I still regret selling the painting. 1/3

#fantasy #horror #illustration #tanithlee #dawbooks

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Michael Whelan

@MichaelWhelan@mastodon.art · last month

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 #dawbooks

Doves flutter outward as a woman emerges from a tower built of uneven stones. The opening framing her is keyhole-shaped, bordered with pounded copper plates. Trellises dense with yellow roses climb either side of the steps leading up the entrance. Her dress is gorgeously detailed, azure blue split down the front to reveal complimentary yellow to match her wavy hair. Her jacket is open revealing intricate flourishes beneath which are in turn covered at the waist by a layered sash. Her sleeves end with modest ruffles at the elbows giving way to patterned gloves, close to skin-tone suggesting lacy transparency. Stoically standing guard beside the steps, a robed figure with ebony skin and white hair rests hands on the hilt of his sword. The emblem of a sword piercing a circle is pinned high on his chest.

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Michael Whelan

@MichaelWhelan@mastodon.art · last month

CHANUR’S HOMECOMING (1986)
Acrylic on Watercolor Board - 30” X 18”

The biggest challenge painting alien creatures is finding ways to communicate information about the way they think via gestures available to their peculiar forms. The more humanoid the alien, the easier the job because everyone has innate knowledge of the subtleties of human nonverbal expression. 1/3

#sciencefiction #scifi #scifiart #illustration #cjcherryh #dawbooks

A tall alien in dark hooded robes points across a cavernous, futuristic space, giving directions to a group humanoids with cat-like heads. The Kif has gray skin, a long dragon-like snout, and red eyes. The Hani have muzzles like lions and ears pointed back. The hair draping from their cheeks forms modest manes, falling flat at shoulder length. The most prominent Hani stands with regal bearing while the rest of the group is poised for action on the ramp behind it. Exposed from the waist up, the lithe musculature of the Hani is covered in short golden fur. Its red pants are cuffed above the calf, and it holds a snubbed nosed laser pistol at its thigh. Accents of gold can be seen in a simple thin band around its upper arm and a thicker bracelet around its wrist. A dark furred ape-like humanoid stands above the pack with eyes lost in thought, closely following the directions of the Kif, while a bearded blonde human glances sideways toward the viewer.

Michael Whelan

@MichaelWhelan@mastodon.art · last month

CHANUR’S HOMECOMING (1986)
Acrylic on Watercolor Board - 30” X 18”

#sciencefiction #scifi #scifiart #illustration #cjcherryh #dawbooks

Michael Whelan

@MichaelWhelan@mastodon.art · last month

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 #dawbooks

Michael Whelan

@MichaelWhelan@mastodon.art · 2 months ago

EMPIRE OF GRASS (2018)
Acrylic on Gessobord - 20” x 32”

Over three decades, I spent countless hours exploring Osten Ard, the epic fantasy world of Tad Williams that began with THE DRAGONBONE CHAIR. 1/4

#bookcover #illustration #fantasy #tadwilliams #dawbooks #lastkingofostenard

Grass and ivy have overgrown ancient ruins, but the delicate artistry of the Sithi can be see in the still standing pillars and arches bathed in the golden light of sunset. A solitary statue kneels among the ruins. She holds a bow one-handed with an arrow knocked. In the other, she lightly grips a long spear with the tip angled down. In the foreground left, stairs wind up to another level of the ruins. A long sword and shield lay discarded there. Another skull and a dagger rest on the step above. Clearly, the remains are non-human based on the central ridge of spikes along the crown and the wing like projections from either edge of the skull.

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Michael Whelan

@MichaelWhelan@mastodon.art · 2 months ago

DARKNESS OVER HAYHOLT (2016)
Acrylic on Gessobord - 24” x 36”

When DAW contacted me 35 years ago about illustrating the cover for a high fantasy novel by Tad Williams, an amazing relationship began with THE DRAGONBONE CHAIR. 1/5

#fantasy #fantasyart #sff #illustration #tadwilliams #ostenard #dawbooks

Constrained view of a castle courtyard as seen at night through a stone archway lit from behind the viewer. On the right, the Tower of Hjeldin rises with wide narrow, barred slits at the top glowing red. The statue of an angel stands on the left with one arm raised. Tall bushes obscure the entrance through an inner wall leading to the keep. Above is a mix of starry dark sky and layers of clouds illuminated by a glowing crescent moon.

Michael Whelan

@MichaelWhelan@mastodon.art · 2 months ago

DARKNESS OVER HAYHOLT (2016)
Acrylic on Gessobord - 24” x 36”

When DAW contacted me 35 years ago about illustrating the cover for a high fantasy novel by Tad Williams, an amazing relationship began with THE DRAGONBONE CHAIR. 1/5

#fantasy #fantasyart #sff #illustration #tadwilliams #ostenard #dawbooks

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Michael Whelan

@MichaelWhelan@mastodon.art · 2 months ago

CHANUR’S BREAKOUT (1991)
Acrylic on Watercolor Board - 30” X 22”

An opportunity to paint C.J. Cherryh’s catlike Hani was always welcome. I was fortunate to have done several covers for this popular series, yet for CHANUR’S LEGACY I came up with more new concepts than ever before. 1/5

#sciencefiction #scifi #scifiart #illustration #cjcherryh #hani #chanur #dawbooks

A leonine alien pauses in the buckled gap of a bulkhead door with finger on the trigger of its shiny laser pistol which is pointed up but at the ready. The metal above him is cool purple while lower in the frame yellow laser beams cross, kicking sparks where one intersects metal. Dozens of rings pierce the Hani’s ears and gold bangles hang from furry wrists. Two more Hani lurk in shadows of the space behind. Above them rises a tall alien with long dragon-like snout protruding from its hooded robe. It grips a long gun by the stock and clip.

Michael Whelan

@MichaelWhelan@mastodon.art · 2 months ago

CHANUR’S BREAKOUT (1991)
Acrylic on Watercolor Board - 30” X 22”

#sciencefiction #scifi #scifiart #illustration #cjcherryh #hani #chanur #dawbooks

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Michael Whelan

@MichaelWhelan@mastodon.art · 2 months ago

DRAGON FIRE (1989)
Acrylic on Watercolor Board - 32” x 20”

After I submitted my concept sketch for the cover of SUNRUNNER’S FIRE by Melanie Rawn, I realized that the anatomy of the dragon’s wings was inconsistent with the structure on the other covers I had done for the series. 1/3

#fantasy #fantasyart #sff #illustration #melanierawn #dragon #dawbooks

Michael Whelan

@MichaelWhelan@mastodon.art · 2 months ago

DRAGON FIRE (1989)
Acrylic on Watercolor Board - 32” x 20”

#fantasy #fantasyart #sff #illustration #melanierawn #dragon #dawbooks

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Michael Whelan

@MichaelWhelan@mastodon.art · 2 months ago

HORN CROWN (1981)
Acrylic - 29” x 18”

Another long established series that I worked on early in my career. This was my third and final cover for Andre Norton’s Witch World, but the first chronologically detailing how humans arrived on the planet. 1/3

#fantasy #fantasyart #sff #illustration #witchworld #andrenorton #dawbooks

Dressed in yellow leathers, an enchantress with long blonde hair throws her head back and extends her arms with wild grace. The pose could be the steps in a choreographed dance, but more evidently the rapture of casting an enchantment. Behind her a huge white tiger snarls protectively. Its piercing green eyes focus on a crossbowman perched on a rock below. The man in domed helm and glittering chainmail is seemingly caught in a moment of surprise. The low angle point of view provides a majestic view of a green and gold forest in autumnal transition.

Michael Whelan

@MichaelWhelan@mastodon.art · 2 months ago

HORN CROWN (1981)
Acrylic - 29” x 18”

#fantasy #fantasyart #sff #illustration #witchworld #andrenorton #dawbooks

hypebot boosted

Michael Whelan

@MichaelWhelan@mastodon.art · 2 months ago

ELRIC OF MELNIBONÉ (1976)
Oil on Canvas Board - 24” x 18”

Originally published in 1972 as THE DREAMING CITY, this novella was later reprinted by DAW and would be the first of my Elric covers. 1/2

#fantasy #fantasyart #sff #illustration #elric #michaelmoorcock #dawbooks

Elric raises Stormbringer over his head, with one hand gripping the hilt and the other the end of the blade. His white hair spills out beneath a black winged helm. He wears dark brown leather with a sinuous dragon on the front of his tunic. His ornate bracers are encrusted with jewels. The buckle of his belt is the face of a demon. Behind him rendered in purples and blues are deformed creatures of chaos.

Michael Whelan

@MichaelWhelan@mastodon.art · 2 months ago

ELRIC OF MELNIBONÉ (1976)
Oil on Canvas Board - 24” x 18”

Originally published in 1972 as THE DREAMING CITY, this novella was later reprinted by DAW and would be the first of my Elric covers. 1/2

#fantasy #fantasyart #sff #illustration #elric #michaelmoorcock #dawbooks

Michael Whelan

@MichaelWhelan@mastodon.art replied · 2 months ago

Wearing his iconic dragon helm, raising Stormbringer defiantly, the last emperor of Melniboné stands at the forefront of Chaos as represented by a legion of demons.

Cover illustration for ELRIC OF MELNIBONÉ by Michael Moorcock (DAW) 2/2

#fantasy #fantasyart #sff #illustration #elric #michaelmoorcock #dawbooks

2 media

Figure detail from ELRIC OF MELNIBONÉ featuring the albino sorcerer with white hair spilling out from under his iconic black dragon helm. He wears a dark brown, form-fitting tunic with a gold dragon with its head framed in red on his chest and sinuous body curling down his abdomen. His thick belt spots a buckle with a demonic head. His ornate scabbard is empty as he wielding Stormbringer overhead, gripping with one hand and holding the tip with his other.

Book cover for ELRIC OF MELNIBONÉ by Michael Moorcock, published by DAW Books

Michael Whelan

@MichaelWhelan@mastodon.art · 2 months ago

ELRIC OF MELNIBONÉ (1976)
Oil on Canvas Board - 24” x 18”

Originally published in 1972 as THE DREAMING CITY, this novella was later reprinted by DAW and would be the first of my Elric covers. 1/2

#fantasy #fantasyart #sff #illustration #elric #michaelmoorcock #dawbooks