February 12, 2016

Arboreal Dreams: The Forest

“In Olden Times” Emily Fiegenschuh - Gouache
"Old Woman of the Wood"  Vinod Rams - Watercolor
If you happen to be in the Seattle area this weekend come by Krab Jab Studio for the opening of Arboreal Dreams group show on Saturday, February 12th. The show opening is from 6 to 9pm. Both Emily and I have pieces in the show. We’ll both be there for the opening.

More info here:
http://www.krabjabstudio.com/
https://www.facebook.com/events/970495559707584/

Arboreal Dreams: The Forest
Opens February 13th, 6 - 9 pm

Trees have entranced the minds and hearts of man since before our kind could trace time. They served us for food, shelter, clothing, and warmth. They delighted us in their marking of the seasons, their marking of fertile grounds in desolate lands, and the marking of our own fallen comrades (as a natural headstone). They are featured in every religion, every community, every social structure, mystifying us, strengthening us, nurturing us. And finally, they are often the unsung stars in our artistic endeavors, whether they set the scene for an epic battle of good and evil, or whether they themselves serve us, the artists, in the form of wood blocks, totems, painting panels, sculptures, or paper. Without the mighty tree, we would literally die.

In this group show, artists were asked to explore their own connection to the nature of trees. Whether they hail from the Pacific Northwest or as far as Belgium, these participating artists visually narrate an arboreal song that weaves together almost seamlessly. The result is as ethereal as it is solid, drawing into the depths of our communal consciousness.

This show will run through both February and March, opening February 13th at Krab Jab Studio.

Artists Featured: Braden Duncan, Stephanie Pui-Mun Law, Olivier Villoingt, Bastien Lecouffe Deharme, Iris Compiet, Virginie Ropars, Yuko Ishii, Mark Poole, Drew Tucker, Emily Fiegenschuh, Vinod Rams, Elijah Evenson, Greg Spalenka, Rovina Cai, Jeff Menges, Yvette Endrijautzki, David Gray, Tara Larsen Chang, and Dan Chudzinski.

(I'll be writing a larger post about my painting later)

November 7, 2015

SOTW 446

Zaira the hill witch of the northern plateau.
She is a woman of such overwhelming beauty that any one who
gazes at her face will instantly become hypnotized into....
Since 2007 I've been posting a sketch/doodle/whatever every week on my site. I'll be continuing this trend here on my blog and on my site:
http://www.vinodrams.com/sotw/

November 5, 2015

SOTW 445

Grand Vizir Ilrahim, he'll be happy to take your
bribes and payoffs. Office hours are 9am to 6pm 
Since 2007 I've been posting a sketch/doodle/whatever every week on my site. I'll be continuing this trend here on my blog and on my site: http://www.vinodrams.com/sotw/

November 3, 2015

Spectrum 22


 
I just received my copy of Spectrum 22! I was fortunate to have two pieces accepted this year. This time my personal piece "The Green Man" and a cover to Imagine FX titled "Go Gigantic" were published in the book. "Go Gigantic" was a digital painting on which I collaborated with my friend and fellow Motigan Devon Cady-Lee featuring some of the characters from our game.
Here's how the pieces appear in the book:

Across from a Tony Diterlizzi painting!
Got a nice full page!

Our cover has a nice splash of color on this spread.
Go Gigantic!
Once again I'm honored to be included. A few years ago I had a concept piece I did for a LOTR game get in, but this time I'm happy that one of my gouache paintings was selected. I feel more attached to my traditional art, especially since this painting was more of a personal piece.

Thanks to the judges for picking my stuff! It's always nice to be a part of such a great art community.

September 30, 2015

SOTW 444

Rough drawing for a friends commission.
DaVor, the map-making half Orc! Bet you never thought a
half orc could make maps. Racist!
Since 2007 I've been posting a sketch/doodle/whatever every week on my site. I'll be continuing this trend here on my blog and on my site:
http://www.vinodrams.com/sotw/

September 28, 2015

SOTW 443

Some out of practice zoo drawings. Not a big fan of the zoo... so I'll probably
always be out of practice!
Since 2007 I've been posting a sketch/doodle/whatever every week on my site. I'll be continuing this trend here on my blog and on my site:
http://www.vinodrams.com/sotw/

July 24, 2015

SOTW 442

Usually when Xenobia's happy, someone else is very, very sad.
Since 2007 I've been posting a sketch/doodle/whatever every week on my site. I'll be continuing this trend here on my blog and on my site:
http://www.vinodrams.com/sotw/

July 8, 2015

SOTW 441

Some roughs for a commission of a fan's D&D character.
DaVor, the cartographer.
(but he also carries a nasty spear/hammer weapon... y'know for making maps.)  
Since 2007 I've been posting a sketch/doodle/whatever every week on my site. I'll be continuing this trend here on my blog and on my site:
http://www.vinodrams.com/sotw/

July 1, 2015

SOTW 440

Moto-rolla Dipololla. He's one of those crazy- tech heads
that thinks if he wanders the wasteland long enough
he'll find that long lost frequency. His brain is fried, but he's friendly.
Since 2007 I've been posting a sketch/doodle/whatever every week on my site. I'll be continuing this trend here on my blog and on my site:
http://www.vinodrams.com/sotw/

June 12, 2015

SOTW 439

Sopli, the reluctant pilot of the wasteland. He'll get you
where you need to go... I GUESS.
Since 2007 I've been posting a sketch/doodle/whatever every week on my site. I'll be continuing this trend here on my blog and on my site:
http://www.vinodrams.com/sotw/

June 4, 2015

SOTW 438

Bathsheba Weatherbury, dutiful keeper of the compost.
Since 2007 I've been posting a sketch/doodle/whatever every week on my site. I'll be continuing this trend here on my blog and on my site:
http://www.vinodrams.com/sotw/

May 23, 2015

Fury Road

A road warrior-ey sketch from 2010
Saw Fury Road this past weekend!
I’m a huge Mad Max/Road Warrior fan and while I think Road Warrior was a “tighter” movie overall, I think Fury Road is probably the best action movie to come along in years. I think the movie is a sci-fi/fantasy nerd’s dream since it opens up the world and gives you little glimpses  of story without explaining a ton. In that way it still feels like an 80′s fantasy movie as opposed to one of the current (boring) superhero blockbusters that seem to come out every other week.

Part of that may have come from the fact that one of the writers is also one of the artists! (Brendan McCarthy. His site’s down right now but here’s some of his work for Fury Road from 1997. (movie’s been in production for a loooong time) Here's some of his work for the movie:





Also I loved the character of “Furiosa”. She belongs up there with other amazing action movie women like Ripley and Sarah Connor!

The art direction for the movie was a healthy mix of Road Warrior, Brom and Heavy Metal (comic or music, pick one! Or both!) Furiosa’s makeup and the “War Boys” were very reminiscent of Brom’s paintings for the Dark Age RPG. Oh and throw in a little dash of Phil Hale’s pale jumping guys in there as well.

Here's some of Brom's work that reminded me of some of the imagery in Fury Road:










Anyway, I highly recommend it! It's a rare occurrence that a reboot/sequel of a series from 34 years ago is actually good!

May 22, 2015

SOTW 437

Lord Knossos finds your cute little weapons to be quite silly.
Would you like to be beaten to a bloody pulp now,
or after you visit with your friends and family?
Since 2007 I've been posting a sketch/doodle/whatever every week on my site. I'll be continuing this trend here on my blog and on my site:
http://www.vinodrams.com/sotw/

May 21, 2015

Live drawing on the Gigantic stream today!


If you want to see me draw a community created "Gigantic" character on the fly then tune in to our stream today around 3pm PST. Here's the link:

http://www.twitch.tv/gogigantic

Here's the reddit thread talking about the stream:
http://www.reddit.com/r/gigantic/comments/36iyl3/the_next_gigantic_stream_a_heros_tale_there_and/

Should be fun! (or nerve wracking)

UPDATE!
Here's a link to the now archived video stream so you can watch it at your leisure. It went well, designed some fun/goofy characters, talked about art, and of course our game.
http://www.twitch.tv/gogigantic/b/661426254 

May 18, 2015

SOTW 436

Mozo’s pretty happy.
She stole three new wands from some boring bearded
mages at a hipster wizard coffee shop. 
Since 2007 I've been posting a sketch/doodle/whatever every week on my site. I'll be continuing this trend here on my blog and on my site:
http://www.vinodrams.com/sotw/

May 8, 2015

SOTW 435

Catmandu, stealthiest assassin this side of the Kyber pass.
Make a stupid cat meme out of him and he'll claw your face off.
Since 2007 I've been posting a sketch/doodle/whatever every week on my site. I'll be continuing this trend here on my blog and on my site:
http://www.vinodrams.com/sotw/

May 5, 2015

SOTW 434

Sincur the shifty. Hire him for your dirty work. You won't be sorry. And if you
are he won't care.


Since 2007 I've been posting a sketch/doodle/whatever every week on my site. I'll be continuing this trend here on my blog and on my site:
http://www.vinodrams.com/sotw/

May 3, 2015

SOTW 433


Letcher Nymphoi, giving satyr and fey folk a bad name since...
well... forever, honestly.
Since 2007 I've been posting a sketch/doodle/whatever every week on my site. I'll be continuing this trend here on my blog and on my site:
http://www.vinodrams.com/sotw/

April 21, 2015

SOTW 432

Methanus Unger isn't happy with the way you're looking at his stink lines.


Since 2007 I've been posting a sketch/doodle/whatever every week on my site. I'll be continuing this trend here on my blog and on my site:
http://www.vinodrams.com/sotw/

April 20, 2015

SOTW 431

Does anyone speak Wrakbesh?
'Cause this thing either wants to ask me out on a date or disintegrate my innards.
SLOWLY.
Since 2007 I've been posting a sketch/doodle/whatever every week on my site. I'll be continuing this trend here on my blog and on my site:
http://www.vinodrams.com/sotw/