Illustrators Division

The Dieselpunk Anthro Fantasy World of Reagan Lodge

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From the Illustrators Division

I've known Reagan for years. We go back to the ​FLIGHT​ days. He's an incredibly skilled artist and is pouring all of that ability into WYIT a 200+page graphic novel that should be on your radar.

Reagan's style is a harmonious combination of Franco Belgian comics aaand something I can't quite put my finger on...like 1960-70s-Disney-Anthropomorphic-Milt-Kahl.

It looks great, and I can't wait to read this thing when it comes out.

Check out Reagan's Website: ​LINK​

All his socials here: ​LINK​

-Jake

If Michelangelo made Pulpy Sci-fi Adventure Comics

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From the Illustrators Division

LOOK AT THIS MAN'S ART. You guys, I'm feeling a little woozy and I'm not joking.

Lewis LaRosa is an comics and paleo-artist based in Georgia, USA. He's one of those artists that make you want to pick up a pen and hone your craft. Sometimes, though you just gotta put the pen down and soak in his tones and lines.

These drawings are for a project he just kickstarted called TANKERS: LINK​

You can see much more of his work here:

Instagram: LINK​

X: LINK​

-Jake

Exotic Alien Fauna of Lestoide

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From the Illustrators Division

Chinese concept artist, Lestoide, is absolutely blowing me away with his creative vision. This is what happens when you see Avatar at a young age, then grow up learning all about animal anatomy and painting.

Though the designs look inspired by Avatar, I think he's bringing a lot to the table on his own. Gorgeous work.

More here: LINK

-Jake

"THE LITTLE BRAVE TAILOR" by Olga Dugina & Andrej Dugin

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From the Illustrators Division

No doubt you've seen the art of German based illustration duo Olga Dugina & Andrej Dugin around the library or online. They are known for their intricate and fantastical illustration style. The two seamlessly work together to create detailed and bizarre renaissance style art.

I recently came across their work again and revisited it with a fresh eye and had to share it here.

You'd expect this type of art to be hanging in obscure pop galleries in Europe, which it has, but you'd be forgiven if you didn't expect these two illustrators to apply their trade to the world of children's books, which they have.

They make the kind of books that ignite imaginations no matter what age you are. I love that they take the medium seriously.

More here:

Behance: LINK Nice big images

Website: LINK Bad small images

-Jake

Anything can be a dragon if you're Gomalemo

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From the Illustrators Division

Japanese based creature designer Gomalemo has a gift. Not only does he possess a solid understanding of animal anatomy and physiology across all species, but he can combine those elements and make truly unique and captivating creature designs.

The thing that gets me is the wild combinations. Like, who would've thought to make a reindeer dragon? Yet it really works.

I got one of his books a while back and it's just a delight to flip through every now and then, when I need a little creative boost:

Much more here:

Pixiv: LINK​

X: LINK​

Instagram: LINK​

Tumblr: LINK​

-Jake

The Artistic Alchemy of Joy Ang

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From the Illustrators Division

I've been following Joy Ang's work for over a decade, when I first saw her cover illustration for The Anthology Project:

Since then she's become known worldwide for her distinctive and captivating style, particularly in the realm of illustration and character design.

Ang's art often exudes a sense of whimsy and playfulness. Her characters, whether they are humans, animals, or fantastical creatures, often have lively expressions and dynamic poses. I love it.

She doesn't post often, but when she does she always suprises me with where she takes things next. recently she posted these character designs for a personal project she's cooking up:

Really curious wha this is all about.

I'm not sure what alchemy she's using to make her art, but it sure is magical.

You can see much more of her work here:

Website: LINK​

Instagram: LINK​

Twitter/X: LINK

-Jake​

The Wandering Wonder of Lee White

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From the Illustrators Division

Colorado based illustrator Lee White makes these wonder inspiring watercolor paintings that make me feel like a kid again.

What I love about his work is he's been able to straddle the fence that stands between decorative art and imaginative illustration. It's really a nice balance that works well for picture books and something like greeting cards or interior design.

Not only have I been a fan of Lee White for over a decade, but I've been lucky to call him a friend. We work together on SVS and the 3PP podcast so I get to talk to him almost every day.

You can find more of Lee's work here:

Website: LINK​

Instagram: LINK​

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Lee also has a new water color brush set he just released. If you're wondering how he gets this lovely watercolor textures and looks it's from these brushes he custom made.

I've started using them for some experiments I've been doing privately and these brushes are some of the best I've ever used.

Get the brushes here: LINK

-Jake

The Insane World Building of Tanner Staheli

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From the Illustrators Division

Tanner Staheli is a Utah based artist who's built and incredible universe he calls "Immortalize." His world is as meticulously fleshed out as the hyper-detailed crosshatched drawings he's made for it.

The website he's put together has all the regions of the world with drawings and descriptions, dozens of characters, over a dozen different organizations, and even fauna.

But Staheli isn't just caught in the world building trap, he's begun writing a drawing stories for this world. You can get the first comic he's made here: LINK (sadly it's out of stock, but you can get a digital copy for $5.)

Website: LINK​

Instagram: LINK​

Shop: LINK

-Jake

Emerson Tung's Tankhead

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From the Illustrators Division

Kindred spirit and formidable hard surface artist Emerson Tung has just launched his new book: TANKHEAD.

I've been watching Emerosn post these tank mech designs for close to a decasde now and it's exciting to see them collected in a world building book.

You can order the book here: LINK​

Check out the rest of Emerson's work here:

Website: LINK​

Instagram: LINK​

Twitter: LINK​

Artstation: LINK

-Jake

The Kinetic Ghibli Fan Art of Art Veider

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From the Illustrators Division

Art Veider is a St Petersberg based artist who excels in energetic action comic style art. His characters are typically drawn from the waist up in a dynamic pose that exude creative electricity. I've been a fan for years.

Recently he's drawn a trio of Ghibli fan art pieces that I love to death.

You can see more of his work here:

Instagram: LINK​

Twitter: LINK

-Jake​

Alex Braun's Magic Paintbrush

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From the Illustrators Division

Wanted to point your attention to a new up-and-comer I found on Twitter, then had the pleasure of meeting briefly at Lightbox: Alex Braun.

It was the gecko archer that initially caught my eye and I had to see more, and BOY was there more. I love the DnD world he's building out, the dinosaurs, the colors and rendering. I think he found a magic paintbrush or something, becasue his work is beautiful. Good stuff. Keep an eye on this guy.

Website: LINK​

Twitter: LINK​

Instagram: LINK

-Jake

Search for the Eagle's Eye

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​From the Illustrators Division

Cool new book alert. I love indie book projects, especially the world building kind that's going on with Search for the Eagle's Eye.

This is by Arizona based artist Tate Parker, who, if the last name wasn't a give away, is my son.

He was in California for a couple years doing missionary work and carried this little sketchbook with him everywhere he went. He'd do drawings in it inspired by what he saw and was doing. The result was this epic adventure of three kids as they search for the Eagle's Eye.

I love how raw and honest the book turned out. Tate's an empathetic Gen Z storyteller that makes me excited for this new generation of creators.

You can pre-order the book here: LINK​

Tate's Instagram: LINK

-Jake

The Primary Color World of Linzaoyu

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From the Illustrators Division

I'm just so charmed by these colorful, dreamlike, and enchanting drawings by Japanese artist Linzaoyu.

I would love to see this in an oversized coffee table book, with some kind of narrative in the margins. Seems like there's way more going on in these images than what the pictures show us.

Very little info about the artist online. They're mostly active on instagram. Check out A LOT more of this kind of thing there: LINK

-Jake​

Dream Quest by Alfred Liu

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From the Illustrators Division

Australian artist Alfred Liu is a master of miniature marvels. There's enough detail and story happening in each of his intricate illustrations to fill a book.

Here's his artist's statement:

In the land of dreams, portals open and close leading to different times and places throughout the universe.

Karzelek monks travelling through the east to spread the holy word; the Ixian gate opens; adventurers, creatures and familiars make their way to distant lands. A wise cat rides a donkey helping all those he comes across or playing tricks on them.

As these portals fade, another opens and a mysterious red robed figure beckons you to come in.

RAD.

You can see more of his work over on his website: LINK​

Instagram: LINK​

And at the Outre Gallery who is hosting a show of his until September 17: LINK

-Jake​

Adam Murphy's Tin Tin Indy Mashup

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From the Illustrators Division

This is great, because I heard it said that Spielberg's Tin Tin movie is the third best Indy film he's made.

After seeing Adam Murphy's Tin Tin and Indy mash up all I want now is some French publisher to hire him to write and draw an Indiana Jones bandes dessinée.

Murphy is a veteran of the animation world working for all the top studios, so no wonder this looks so pro.

Check out more of his work on Instagram: LINK

-Jake​

The paper magic of Guy Pradel

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From the Illustrators Division

Every once and while you see something that's such a genius idea yet so simple you wonder why you didn't connect the dots yourself.

French artist Guy Pradel didn't do it just once, but twice.

First, with this amazing choose your own adventure folded comic:

And second with this choose your own adventure map:

Pradel is one of those individuals with imagination AND work ethic. It seems like he's always coming out with a new zine, comic project, or some fun paper thing like what I shared above.

Please check out more of his work on his website: LINK​

Instagram: LINK​

Tumblr: LINK​

Twitter: LINK

-Jake

Jean-Frédéric Waldeck's 19th Century Illustrations of Mesoamerica are phenominal

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From the Illustrators Division

I found some nice clean scans of an 1866 tome filled with illustrations by 19th century French artist Jean-Frédéric Waldeck.

I believe these are lithographs, which is a brilliant solution for mass producing art before their was photography and scanners. The Met has a nice breakdown on their website of how this was done here: LINK​

In my mid twenties my wife bought me a year pass to the Dallas Museum of Art and a few days a week I would go there on my lunch break and draw artifacts in my sketchbook.

I loved doing that so much that this kind of illustration always makes me stop and daydream about what it would've been like to travel to the jungles of central america and just fill sketchbooks with artifact and architecture drawings like these.

You can see more of Waldeck's illustrations from "Palenqué et autres ruines de l'ancienne civilisation du Mexique" here: LINK

-Jake​