"j." is for genius

The Long Walk

2012-01-11T14:42:00.000-08:00

Just finished this up and I'm loving it.
Used 2.35x1 aspect ratio to get that big epic film feel.
It's hard fighting the temptation to crop tighter and show some more of the character and detail, but I like the narrative and composition with the big negative space...

The Beast of Gévaudan

2012-01-09T11:57:00.000-08:00

This is a recent personal piece I did inspired by "The Beast of Gévaudan" legend.
Basically there was a giant wolf-like beast killing and eating people in mid 1700's France.
I like to think it was a werewolf.

Mage Knight Heroes

2011-12-06T10:35:00.001-08:00

The Mage Knights...

Mage Knight

2011-12-06T10:19:00.001-08:00

Wizkids new boardgame is coming out tomorrow and here is some of the art I did for it!

I think I did something upwards of 70 pieces for it in 8 weeks!

Check out the game at...

http://wizkidsgames.com/mageknight/

http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/96848/mage-knight-board-game

Admittedly, there are some that would benefit from a bit of extra attention, but considering just how many I turned out in such a short amount of time...

I'm pretty happy with the result.

Dwarf vs Hook Horror

2011-12-04T21:54:00.001-08:00

Here is a new piece I just finished up.
It's a Dwarf who just got his last lick in before being gored by a Hook Horror.
That's how I like my heroes... doomed.
Ha!

Originally this started as an "Artorder" project, but I didn't have time to do more than a rough at the time.
Put in some more work and here we go...

Steady and True

2011-12-02T16:46:00.001-08:00

Another Illustration for Nevermet Press' "Stories from the Ether"

The story can be read here...

http://nevermetpress.com/steady-and-true-by-michael-burnside#.TtlxQXP2wnU

Iron Butterfly

2011-08-27T14:02:00.000-07:00

( Edited here to say the short story is now live at...http://nevermetpress.com/iron-butterfly-by-marie-andrews )

This illustration is for Nevermet Press' "Stories from the Ether" project, and one of it's short stories, "Iron Butterfly".

I've been recently experimenting and changing my working style and this reflects where that has been taking me.

I'm really happy with it! :)

Interview!

2011-07-07T19:38:00.000-07:00

I was interviewed by Nevermet Press!

Fun stuff... :)

http://nevermetpress.com/artist-spotlight-j-lonnee

Quarriors Reviewed!!

2011-06-20T13:08:00.000-07:00

Quarriors has been reviewed at Boardgamegeek and the initial response is great!
Be sure to check it out!

Review at Boardgamegeek

Summoned

2011-04-27T15:15:00.000-07:00

Here is something I did a week or so past.

It was going to be an illustration for a short story but I don't think that will be happening now.

It's cool though.

Pen and Ink

2011-03-05T15:13:00.000-08:00

I've been doing a bit of Pen and Ink lately.
Some of it is for interior illustrations for Nevermet Press' " Dead Queens Of Morvena".
Some of it will be available as Stockart. I will fill you in on details when I know more, but in the meantime, here are a few of those pieces.

Colour Sketches

2011-02-18T14:30:00.000-08:00

I thought I had posted these already but no...

I knocked these few sketches out in a day last week.

Sometimes things come easy...

Quarriors!

2011-02-11T10:10:00.000-08:00

I just saw this online so I can start talking about it!
http://wizkidsgames.com/quarriors/

I have recently just finished up this project for Wizkids called "Quarriors".
It's a campy fantasy card and dice game that should be out soon.
It will come in a tin box and comes with grips of dice!
I did all the card art and packaging for it!
I am really stoked about it!

I will post some artwork once I get the official go-ahead, but in the meantime, check the link and have a look!

It's super kewl!

Edit to say...

I got the okay to post some images, so here you go!
There are more too, but you'll have to wait for those...

Jules Verne

2011-02-08T15:52:00.000-08:00

I was going through some old images and came across this one.
I spent a couple minutes cleaning it up a bit this morning, but it's still not much more than a sketch.
Eventually, I'll get around to finishing out these concepts, but since today is Jules Vernes Birthday it seemed like it should go up.

Dead Queens of Morvena

2011-01-22T17:51:00.000-08:00

This is a new illustration I just completed yesterday for Nevermet Press' upcoming release " The Dead Queens of Morvena".
The book is very nearly complete and I am getting excited to see the end result.

I just picked up James Gurney's book " Color and Light" recently, and it is incredible. I was able to put some of the concepts to immediate use in this illustration, so I feel like I learned a lot in process.

Today is also my birthday. I've successfully made it around the sun one more time, which is great!
Hurray for me!

Hydra

2010-12-08T15:44:00.000-08:00

Here is another Illustration I just finished up for Nevermet Press.
HYDRA!

Nevermet Press

2010-12-02T17:07:00.000-08:00

I've recently begun contributing to a micropress that develops supplements for various RPG systems.
They are called Nevermet Press, and are currently working on a Horror-Fantasy adventure called "Dead Queens of Morvena".
You can check them out at... http://nevermetpress.com/

These are the first two pieces of art I have done for them.
I'd forgotten how much I enjoy doing watercolour black & whites.

Hex Slide 10,000

2010-11-18T10:17:00.000-08:00

Wow! It has been awhile since I've been here.
I think a lot of my posts start that way! heheh.

I have several projects in the works at the moment.
I am working with Wizkids again, which is really exciting. I can't say much about it just yet, but that's been keeping me busy.

I've also started contributing art to an RPG company. I'll save the details on that for the moment...

The big news is that I have a game available now in the I-tunes Store.
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/hex-slide-10-000/id399170206?mt=8

It's called Hex Slide 10,000 and it is by Tiny Bites Games. It is a twist on the wooden block puzzle schtick, but it has thousands of levels, is only 99 cents, and looks great!
I did all the art assets. :)
This is my first "Non-Tabletop" game I have been involved with, so this is pretty cool to me, and a milestone of sorts.
I just discovered there is a video to show it off here...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Rx5Ecl0D88

I'm currently working on another title for Tiny Bites, that is a bit more ambitious, so I will be sure to let you know about that when it's available.
We're shooting for February.

Blood!

2010-08-04T08:58:00.000-07:00

This is something I whipped up at my friend Travis' request.

He showed me a couple images of stuff he liked and said he just wanted it "more evil", and I just went at it.

I like commissions like that!

Post Apocalyptic ish

2010-07-26T13:37:00.000-07:00

A bunch of new stuff I have been churning out in the last week or so...

Big Gun Mech

2010-06-29T17:54:00.000-07:00

I like the big guns...

The Sunny Giant

2010-04-12T08:43:00.000-07:00

Where would a giant go to get out of the weather?

It seems they would really appreciate the sun breaking through the clouds...

Fat Monster Sketch

2010-04-11T00:00:00.000-07:00

Here is a quickie I turned out the other night...

Robo-Tank Suit

2010-03-14T23:09:00.000-07:00

I like robots.

Hero Studies

2010-02-16T10:46:00.000-08:00

Here are a couple sketches based on thumbnails in the "99 Heroes" study.
Obviously I could spend more time on the render, but that isn't really the intent at this stage, right?! :)

99 Heroes (almost)

2010-02-15T14:43:00.000-08:00

I'm revisiting an older project I started.
I had been calling it "99 heroes", but I just realized there are actually only 89!

Basically, this was just an exercise to see if I could turn out a ton of rough character concepts in a day or two.
Looks like I will have to do a few more...

I like guns... and guns like me.

2010-02-11T09:34:00.000-08:00

A couple weeks ago, for my B-day, I was at a wrecking yard with some friends.
They said, " Hey J! Do you want to shoot up that truck with the AK?"
I said," Hell Yeah, I wanna shoot that truck with the AK!!!"

What I hadn't considered was just how loud it'd be.
It's been almost a month and my ear is still whack.

Here are some guns I wish I could shoot... with ear protection.

Tieflings Bar

2010-01-04T16:38:00.000-08:00

I'm not much for resolutions, but I really have to make more of an effort to keep this blog current.

That being said, here is my first completed image for the year.

It's a self promo piece featuring some Tiefling-esque characters up to no good.

I'm trying to improve on storytelling using gestures and expression, in my work.

I think this turned out pretty well.

There's always room to improve though, so if you have any comments or critiques, I'd love to hear them.

I work alone, so it can be hard to know what's working and what isn't...

Thanks, and Happy New Year!

Hurakan, Heart of Sky, Mayan God of Storms

2009-10-11T10:58:00.000-07:00

This weeks concept challenge at Artorder has to do with the Mayan god of storms, Hurakan.

I've been reading the Popol Vuh and there is very little in the way of physical description of this god, other than him having " one-leg", and/or a "serpents leg".

The name and imagery that stuck with me the most was that of Hurakan as an aspect of " Heart of Sky", the creator god, and that this being was floating over a primordial sea with no shore. This was before the creation of men of any kind so I thought it was important to avoid human-like characteristics and go for something primitive and strange.

This "god" has a lighter than air bladder than allows it to float in the thick wet atmosphere. It's flesh is blood red and it pulses as it bellows and sucks air to propel itself through the clouds. This would account for it's description as " Heart of Sky" as well as it's association with the wind.

It's tail is scaled and plumed and it also has green feathered gill-like structures. These would have been emulated by the Mayan priests wearing the green feathers of the Quetzal bird.

They also wore an ornament on the bridge of the nose similar to what's seen on Hurakan.

Lastly, Hurakan has long spines containing electrocytes that produce the lightning seen in storms.

Here it is...

Colour version to come soon...

It's official!

2009-10-07T10:21:00.000-07:00

Arcane Legions is out today!

Be sure and check it out and help insure that " J. Stay Paid! "

Here's some concept art from the first set...

Arcane Legions Undead Sphinx

2009-10-02T14:34:00.000-07:00

This is something I'm pretty excited about.

I've been doing concepts for the new Arcane Legions game which will be available in stores on the 7th of this month.
If you are a member of their online club, you have access to limited edition figures.

This Undead Sphinx is one of them, and I designed it!

Woot! Hurray for me. :)

Filler needed...

2009-08-24T16:53:00.000-07:00

I have been really bad about keeping up with this blog.

I will do better.

These are some images I have in a folder called "sketchdump", and another called "incomplete".

You will probably see more images from these folders in the future.

Here's some filler...

Drow vs Illithid Mindflayer

2009-07-26T03:10:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it's been a month since I updated this.

I've been really busy, which is great.

I love the work. Hopefully it will keep coming. :)

Anyway... I been short on time, so here I am at 3AM wrapping up this new piece for Artorder.

This was one I didn't want to miss.

Simple instructions. Drow vs Mindflayer for a book cover. Use the template.

I'm beat.

Boardtrack Racer

2009-06-22T23:28:00.001-07:00

Another concept for Artorder.

I've been busy lately, so this doesn't have the finish I'd like, but I liked the concept challenge, so here's what I was able to fit into my week...

The concept was to take a race from the D&D universe and give it a motorcycle, but I was more interested in designing a bike I'd might actually like to build and ride, so I kept things a bit more real world and added an eleven rider just to make the conditions of the challenge.

It's a Boardtrack inspired racer built around a 750 Enfield motor.

It's not actually as small as it looks, it's just that there is a big ass elf standing behind it.

ha.

Exchange Challenge

2009-06-06T10:22:00.001-07:00

This is another of the weekly projects I have been doing for Artorder.

This project involved using a character silhouette created by someone else and developing it to completion.

I selected a design created by Dana Henderson. I was drawn to his design because it was easy to see the mass and weight behind his contour line. I also liked that it had an alternate history quality to it, which is thematically, right up my alley.

Like the last pieces I posted, I worked directly in Photoshop, and I am really happy with the way this turned out.

Gladiators

2009-06-05T13:24:00.001-07:00

I've been experimenting with "digital painting" techniques- that's to say, working exclusively in photoshop, concept to completion.

This gladiator sketch is a result of that.

I really like a lot of things about this approach, but I have some mixed feelings about it.

I feel like because it doesn't have an underlying tonal sketch, this isn't going to retain what I think may be my "signature rendering style".

That may not be a big deal, but I have been considering what it is that makes my work different than all the other talent out there.

Still working on that...

Back at it...

2009-05-15T15:27:00.000-07:00

I've been out of town for the last couple weeks, but I'm back and have been busy.

I have been experimenting with working directly in Photoshop to develop thumbnails as silhouettes.

It has been working really well for me I think.

I saw a new game that will be coming out that really caught my interest.

It got me motivated to do these airship thumbs and to develop some sketches from them.

I will be sending these off to see if I might be able to get some work, as I have been dangerously underemployed lately. :(

"The Blackouts" were done as an "Artorder Concept Challenge" but I am really looking forward to developing these further as well.

Wouldn't you love to be playing them on the xbox ?!

Yeah. I thought so.

Arcane Legions!

2009-04-22T15:18:00.000-07:00

This is the first peek at the game I have been working on recently.

It's called Arcane Legions and I am really excited about it!

I have been designing pieces for this game and it has been a lot of fun.

I can't wait to get these in my hands!

Follow the link to check it out and be sure to pick it up in a few months when it hits the shelves!

Holla! :)

vintage fantasy

2009-04-18T15:38:00.000-07:00

This is a piece I did for Artorders concept of the week, but I wanted to put a little something extra into it this week.

I kinda dig this weeks concept and the last couple I did weren't really up to pare.

I wanted to create a vintage looking sci-fi image. Something you might have seen on a book cover during the Asimov era.

The concept pitched was to take a fantasy race and make it all futuristic.

My design is inspired by the Deva, which are a new character class in D&D.

The idea behind my image is that the space station is on a trip deep into the cosmos. The Lord of the station is essentially immortal. When he dies, he is respawned in an ancient shrine contained within the station.

The winged sarcophagus is a personal transport.

The strange hairless cat-like beings look to their master as if he was a god himself and maintain the station while their lord is away.

2009-04-10T17:57:00.000-07:00

lava.

This is a little different technique for me.

Rendered in 2.5 hrs.

Weekly concept sketches: Magical Construct

2009-03-28T21:56:00.000-07:00

This weeks drawing...

"Wild" magical construct.

"These particular versions of construct are assembled using wood and wrought iron.

It's locomotion is magically driven using a system of ropes and pulleys.

Sensitive areas are protected by a chain mail 'hide'.

It's weaponry consists of two trap mouths surrounded by shearing blades ( these are often fashioned using found weapons like broad swords or axes ),

large pincer-like front limbs and smaller 'hammering' rear claws.

A single red eye pears out from the trap mouth.

The creators of these constructs often adorn them with animal skulls, pelts and other talisman, to appear more menacing. "

Weekly concept sketches: Hellpet

2009-03-28T21:41:00.000-07:00

These are my sketches for the last two Artorder concepts...

Orcus' "Hellpet".

" Covered in sores and surrounded by flies, it's presence alone spreads pestilence.

The Hellpet is used for it's ability to smell the living through the necrotic stench that surrounds Orcus and the undead.

It defends Orcus' Necropolis, and aids his deathpriests in finding new victims. "

More Mage Arks

2009-03-19T13:01:00.001-07:00

These are just a couple more arks I did.

The finished one is a Locust class Ark of the Imperial Nation of Karakum.

The sketch is a Zandeek Ark collecting water.

Mage Ark concepts

2009-03-19T12:54:00.000-07:00

The following images are a few more of the concepts I did for the Mage Ark project.

Mage Ark Battle

2009-03-17T18:16:00.001-07:00

The attached image is a piece I had done for a new IP that has sadly been mothballed.

On the plus side, I have been given the "go ahead" to show what I have been up to.

This particular image shows a confrontation between two imperial expeditionary forces.
The Mage Arks are essentially walking battle platforms that are powered by a magical stone or "Ark Heart".
When a particularly adept Battle Mage stands in the clutch, they are capable of channelling massive amounts of destructive power.
That's the gist of what's going on here.

more to come...

Art Order Concepts...

2009-03-15T13:51:00.000-07:00

I've recently started following a blog at http://artorder.blogspot.com/

Each week a new concept is pitched and artists submit their concept.

These are the ones from the last two weeks.

The first are little scavengers called Garreth, that eat the bones of fallen adventurers, and horde small treasures.

The Rooster looking thing is a modern day Cockatrice.

"The existence of the Cockatrice was believed to be a myth until they were recently discovered living in Puerto Rico, Mexico and Central America.
It has been determined that this is, in fact, the animal referred to as the Chupacabra, or "Goat Sucker".

It's most interesting physical attribute are two syringe-like appendages on each of it's front legs.
These are adapted pin feathers which allow the animal to suck it's victims blood.

Since the discovery of the Cockatrice, it has been used in pit fights, and has over taken cockfighting, and illegal dog fights in popularity in Mexico.
In Honduras, it has been alleged that trained Cockatrice have been released in slums at night to deal with stray dog and orphan "problems". "

start here...

2009-03-13T13:05:00.000-07:00

I've been dragging my feet about setting this up for some time now...

start here.

My intent is that this blog provide an easy way to show current work, get ideas down, maybe a place to site influences, rant a bit ...

hard to say exactly what this may look like once I get going.