Category Archives: For Sale

La Maceta Unveiled! Deluxe Art Prints + Signed Pencils Offer!

Posted on by

‘La Maceta’ Loteria Grande Deluxe Art Print, featuring art by John Picacio. 14″ x 22″.

Grateful for all the love for my latest Loteria Grande Card reveal — ‘La Maceta’ (The Flowerpot). I’ll be unveiling my new website design soon, but you don’t have to wait for that to order deluxe 14″ x 22″ art prints of ‘La Maceta’ and my other Loteria Grande Card offerings. These giclees are printed on acid-free Somerset Velvet fine art paper and signed in the lower right corner. I’ll be producing prints like this for all of my Loteria Grande Card artworks so far, including the ones seen here. If you want one, now is the time to score. I’ll be doing a production run this week! 🙂

Selected Loteria Grande Deluxe Art Prints featuring art by John Picacio. Each measures 14″ x 22″.

Each deluxe art print costs $135 with FREE shipping in the domestic US ($145 if you live in Texas, to cover sales tax). For shipping beyond the domestic US, please add $25.

BONUS OFFER: ALL ORDERS FOR DELUXE ART PRINTS RECEIVED BY THURSDAY, APRIL 30TH (11:59PM CST) WILL INCLUDE AN AUTOGRAPHED PENCIL as a ‘thank you’ gift. These are pencils that I’ve drawn down to the nub, creating various cover artworks and Loteria drawings over the years. Most of them are Faber Castells which I used to use a lot until I switched over to Palomino Blackwings.

This includes not just orders placed by this Thursday for deluxe Loteria art prints, but for deluxe art prints of my ASoIaF and book cover art as well (excluding STAR TREK, X-MEN, and NINTH HOUSE). To order — please email me at john (at) johnpicacio (dot) com and I’ll help you out. And then you’ll be able to Paypal me using the same email address, and you’ll be all set. 🙂

Thanks, all! Please stay well out there!

2019 Original Art Sale

Posted on by

Heads up, Original Art Collectors — here’s a list of some of my prized original artworks available now. First come, first served. I suspect some of these will go very quickly.

Many of you are interested in the Loteria Originals. Eleven of them have already sold at the price range below, and I’m grateful that those belong in the collections they do. ‘La Campana’, ‘El Corazon’, ‘El Pescado’, and ‘El Nopal’ are available. Details below!

I also have my Tyrion Lannister Original Art available for all of you GAME OF THRONES and A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE lovers out there. 🙂

Email me at john (at) johnpicacio (dot) com if you want to score an original for your very own — OR if you have any questions.

Thanks for stopping by. On with the show!

La Campana by John Picacio. Graphite on Illustration Board.(above) LA CAMPANA (The Bell) / Original Final Drawing

Graphite on Strathmore 500 Bristol • 11″ x 18″ (drawing dimension) • 14″ x 21″ (full sheet dimension)

$5500 • Ships FRAMED AND MATTED • Includes free shipping within the continental USA • Please add $100 for shipping outside the continental USA.

To purchase, email john (at) johnpicacio (dot) com with the subject line, “Original Art”. We’ll exchange emails and I’ll give the payment info so that we can finalize the transaction via Paypal.

SOLD! (above) EL CORAZON (The Heart) / Original Final Drawing

Graphite on Strathmore 500 Bristol • 11″ x 18″ (drawing dimension) • 14″ x 21″ (full sheet dimension)

$5000 • Ships flat and unframed • Includes free shipping within the continental USA • Please add $100 for shipping outside the continental USA.

To purchase, email john (at) johnpicacio (dot) com with the subject line, “Original Art”. We’ll exchange emails and I’ll give the payment info so that we can finalize the transaction via Paypal.

SOLD! (above) EL PESCADO (The Fish) / Original Final Drawing

Graphite on Strathmore 500 Bristol • 11″ x 18″ (drawing dimension) • 14″ x 21″ (full sheet dimension)

$5000 • Ships flat and unframed • Includes free shipping within the continental USA • Please add $100 for shipping outside the continental USA.

To purchase, email john (at) johnpicacio (dot) com with the subject line, “Original Art”. We’ll exchange emails and I’ll give the payment info so that we can finalize the transaction via Paypal.


(above) EL NOPAL (The Cactus) / Original Final Drawing

Graphite on Strathmore 500 Bristol • 11″ x 18″ (drawing dimension) • 14″ x 21″ (full sheet dimension)

$5000 • Ships flat and unframed • Includes free shipping within the continental USA • Please add $100 for shipping outside the continental USA.

To purchase, email john (at) johnpicacio (dot) com with the subject line, “Original Art”. We’ll exchange emails and I’ll give the payment info so that we can finalize the transaction via Paypal.

(above) TYRION LANNISTER / Original Final Artwork from the award-winning 2012 George R. R. Martin / A Song of Ice and Fire Calendar

Graphite on Strathmore 500 Bristol • 15″ x 20″ (drawing dimension) • 17″ x 22″ (full sheet dimension)

$3500 • Ships flat and unframed • Includes free shipping within the continental USA • Please add $100 for shipping outside the continental USA.

IMG_0543IMG_0539IMG_0546IMG_0545(above) YODA: TEMPERANCE / Original Final Artwork

Graphite and gold acrylic on Strathmore Illustration Board (the gold shimmers across the whole surface, alternating through coppers and bronzes, as light shifts) • 11″ x 17″ (drawing dimension) • 18″ x 24″ (full sheet dimension) • 24.5″ x 30.5″ (framed dimension)

$3500 • Ships FRAMED AND MATTED • Includes free shipping within the continental USA • Please add $100 for shipping outside the continental USA.

To purchase, email john (at) johnpicacio (dot) com with the subject line, “Original Art”. We’ll exchange emails and I’ll give the payment info so that we can finalize the transaction via Paypal.

(above) EVERNIGHT / Original Final Drawing

2019 Chesley Award Finalist!

Graphite on Strathmore 500 Bristol • 15.5″ x 19.5″ (framed dimension)

$2500 • Ships FRAMED AND MATTED • Includes free shipping within the continental USA • Please add $100 for shipping outside the continental USA.

To purchase, email john (at) johnpicacio (dot) com with the subject line, “Original Art”. We’ll exchange emails and I’ll give the payment info so that we can finalize the transaction via Paypal.

Kingdom of the Serpent Art by John Picacio(above) KINGDOM OF THE SERPENT: DESTROYER OF WORLDS / Original Final Drawing for the cover of the Mark Chadbourn novel

Graphite on Strathmore 500 Bristol • 13″ x 18″ (framed dimension)

$2000 • Ships FRAMED AND MATTED • Includes free shipping within the continental USA • Please add $100 for shipping outside the continental USA.

To purchase, email john (at) johnpicacio (dot) com with the subject line, “Original Art”. We’ll exchange emails and I’ll give the payment info so that we can finalize the transaction via Paypal.

X-Men Colossus Art by John Picacio(above) X-MEN: COLOSSUS / Original Final Painting used for the cover of X-MEN: THE RETURN

Greyscale Oils and Acrylics on Crescent Board • 10″ x 14″

$450 • Ships flat and unframed • Includes free shipping within the continental USA • Please add $100 for shipping outside the continental USA.

To purchase, email john (at) johnpicacio (dot) com with the subject line, “Original Art”. We’ll exchange emails and I’ll give the payment info so that we can finalize the transaction via Paypal.

X-Men Nightcrawler Art by John Picacio(above) X-MEN: NIGHTCRAWLER / Original Final Painting used for the cover of X-MEN: THE RETURN

Greyscale Oils and Acrylics on Crescent Board • 7.5″ x 14″

$350 • Ships flat and unframed • Includes free shipping within the continental USA • Please add $100 for shipping outside the continental USA.

To purchase, email john (at) johnpicacio (dot) com with the subject line, “Original Art”. We’ll exchange emails and I’ll give the payment info so that we can finalize the transaction via Paypal.

X-Men Cyclops Art by John Picacio(above) X-MEN: CYCLOPS / Original Final Painting used for the cover of X-MEN: THE RETURN

Greyscale Oils and Acrylics on Crescent Board • 10″ x 10.5″

$350 • Ships flat and unframed • Includes free shipping within the continental USA • Please add $100 for shipping outside the continental USA.

To purchase, email john (at) johnpicacio (dot) com with the subject line, “Original Art”. We’ll exchange emails and I’ll give the payment info so that we can finalize the transaction via Paypal.

Sarek Art by John Picacio(above) SAREK: SPOCK’S FATHER / Original Final Drawing used for the cover of STAR TREK / MYRIAD UNIVERSES: INFINITY’S PRISM

Graphite on Crescent Board • 8.5″ x 11″

$350 • Ships flat and unframed • Includes free shipping within the continental USA • Please add $100 for shipping outside the continental USA.

To purchase, email john (at) johnpicacio (dot) com with the subject line, “Original Art”. We’ll exchange emails and I’ll give the payment info so that we can finalize the transaction via Paypal.

The Andorian Art by John Picacio(above) THE ANDORIAN / Original Final Drawing used for the cover of STAR TREK / MYRIAD UNIVERSES: ECHOES AND REFRACTIONS

Graphite on Crescent Board • 11″ x 15″

$350 • Ships flat and unframed • Includes free shipping within the continental USA • Please add $100 for shipping outside the continental USA.

To purchase, email john (at) johnpicacio (dot) com with the subject line, “Original Art”. We’ll exchange emails and I’ll give the payment info so that we can finalize the transaction via Paypal.

(above) DAVID MARCUS: KIRK’S SON / Original Final Drawing used for the cover of STAR TREK / MYRIAD UNIVERSES: ECHOES AND REFRACTIONS

Graphite on Crescent Board • 11″ x 12″

$250 • Ships flat and unframed • Includes free shipping within the continental USA • Please add $100 for shipping outside the continental USA.

To purchase, email john (at) johnpicacio (dot) com with the subject line, “Original Art”. We’ll exchange emails and I’ll give the payment info so that we can finalize the transaction via Paypal.

(above) VULCAN WOMAN / Original Final Drawing used for the cover of STAR TREK / MYRIAD UNIVERSES: INFINITY’S PRISM

Graphite on Crescent Board • 14″ x 11″

$250 • Ships flat and unframed • Includes free shipping within the continental USA • Please add $100 for shipping outside the continental USA.

To purchase, email john (at) johnpicacio (dot) com with the subject line, “Original Art”. We’ll exchange emails and I’ll give the payment info so that we can finalize the transaction via Paypal.

(above) JULIAN BASHIR / Original Final Drawing used for the cover of STAR TREK / MYRIAD UNIVERSES: INFINITY’S PRISM

Graphite on Crescent Board • 11″ x 12″

$250 • Ships flat and unframed • Includes free shipping within the continental USA • Please add $100 for shipping outside the continental USA.

To purchase, email john (at) johnpicacio (dot) com with the subject line, “Original Art”. We’ll exchange emails and I’ll give the payment info so that we can finalize the transaction via Paypal.

(above) TEROK NOR / Original Final Drawing used for the covers of the STAR TREK: TEROK NOR trilogy

Graphite on Crescent Board • 14″ x 10.5″

$450 • Ships flat and unframed • Includes free shipping within the continental USA • Please add $100 for shipping outside the continental USA.

To purchase, email john (at) johnpicacio (dot) com with the subject line, “Original Art”. We’ll exchange emails and I’ll give the payment info so that we can finalize the transaction via Paypal.

(above) MOONGLUM / Original Spot Illustration Drawing for ELRIC: THE STEALER OF SOULS

Graphite on Crescent Board • 14″ x 11″

$450 • Ships flat and unframed • Includes free shipping within the continental USA • Please add $100 for shipping outside the continental USA.

To purchase, email john (at) johnpicacio (dot) com with the subject line, “Original Art”. We’ll exchange emails and I’ll give the payment info so that we can finalize the transaction via Paypal.

(above) BURN / Original Spot Illustration Drawing for ELRIC: THE STEALER OF SOULS

Graphite on Crescent Board • 11″ x 14″

$250 • Ships flat and unframed • Includes free shipping within the continental USA • Please add $100 for shipping outside the continental USA.

To purchase, email john (at) johnpicacio (dot) com with the subject line, “Original Art”. We’ll exchange emails and I’ll give the payment info so that we can finalize the transaction via Paypal.

(above) DANCER / Original Spot Illustration Drawing for ELRIC: THE STEALER OF SOULS

Graphite on Crescent Board • 11″ x 14″

$250 • Ships flat and unframed • Includes free shipping within the continental USA • Please add $100 for shipping outside the continental USA.

To purchase, email john (at) johnpicacio (dot) com with the subject line, “Original Art”. We’ll exchange emails and I’ll give the payment info so that we can finalize the transaction via Paypal.

(above) CRUEL FATE / Original Spot Illustration Drawing for ELRIC: THE STEALER OF SOULS

Graphite on Crescent Board • 11″ x 14″

$350 • Ships flat and unframed • Includes free shipping within the continental USA • Please add $100 for shipping outside the continental USA.

To purchase, email john (at) johnpicacio (dot) com with the subject line, “Original Art”. We’ll exchange emails and I’ll give the payment info so that we can finalize the transaction via Paypal.

SOLD! (above) DEMON / Original Spot Illustration Drawing for ELRIC: THE STEALER OF SOULS

Graphite on Crescent Board • 10″ x 10″

$250 • Ships flat and unframed • Includes free shipping within the continental USA • Please add $100 for shipping outside the continental USA.

To purchase, email john (at) johnpicacio (dot) com with the subject line, “Original Art”. We’ll exchange emails and I’ll give the payment info so that we can finalize the transaction via Paypal.

SOLD! (above) MELNIBONE / Original Spot Illustration Drawing for ELRIC: THE STEALER OF SOULS

Graphite on Crescent Board • 11″ x 14″

$450 • Ships flat and unframed • Includes free shipping within the continental USA • Please add $100 for shipping outside the continental USA.

To purchase, email john (at) johnpicacio (dot) com with the subject line, “Original Art”. We’ll exchange emails and I’ll give the payment info so that we can finalize the transaction via Paypal.

SOLD! (above) ELRIC / Original Spot Illustration Drawing for ELRIC: SWORDS AND ROSES

Graphite on Strathmore • 8.5″ x 11″

$200 • Ships flat and unframed • Includes free shipping within the continental USA • Please add $100 for shipping outside the continental USA.

To purchase, email john (at) johnpicacio (dot) com with the subject line, “Original Art”. We’ll exchange emails and I’ll give the payment info so that we can finalize the transaction via Paypal.

Coming To San Antonio Pop Con!

Posted on by

2019 San Antonio Pop Con GuestsThe 2nd Annual San Antonio Pop Con is almost upon us, happening at the downtown Central Library, this Saturday, February 16th, from 9am-4pm. As you can see above, the roster of artists and authors is EPIC — ranging from legends like Michael Moorcock and Gregory Manchess to bestsellers such as Kelley Armstrong and Shea Serrano, as well as fan favorites Nicky Drayden, Gonzalo Alvarez, C. Robert Cargill, and more.

And yes, I’ll be there too — bringing my latest Loteria Grande Cards, Posters and Prints — and I know many of you have been waiting to get your hands on the new ‘La Musica’ Loteria Grande Cards. I’ll have them in stock at Pop Con along with the debut of the brand-new ‘La Palma’ Grande Card!Loteria Grande Cards by John Picacio (Published by Lone Boy)Many of you have been requesting various giclee prints of my book cover art and Loteria imagery so I’ll have a limited supply of those large prints for sale, along with my limited-run Loteria Posters. Here’s a look at the ones that I plan to have available at Pop Con. Quantities are extremely limited.Artworks by John Picacio.If you see one that you want, I highly recommend that you vouch for it in advance. OR if you see an image on my website, and you want a print of that, please let me know by Thursday, February 14th at 5pm CST, and I’ll make sure you can pick it up at Pop Con. Giclee Prints are printed on thick art paper, sleeved in an archival bag with archival backing board, and signed by me.

I normally sell these for $100 to $125, but at Pop Con, they will be available for only $75 each. If you live in the San Antonio metro area, and have been waiting to get your hands on my Loteria merchandise — this is the chance you’ve been waiting for. Apologies that I’m not able to make this offer available for mail-order sales. This is only for sales that are picked up at San Antonio Pop Con this week.

For those that don’t live in the area — don’t worry. I’ll be making the Loteria Grande Cards available online soon, and everyone on the Loteria List will receive the email alert.

See you at Pop Con this Saturday, San Antonio!

 

INFINITE WORLDS RECEPTION / AUSTIN, TX

Posted on by

ASFA President Sara Felix has done what many thought impossible — created and curated a successful science fiction / fantasy gallery event that’s not located on a coast. The show is called Infinite Worlds and the reception was this past Saturday, November 10th at the Dougherty Arts Center in Austin, TX (sponsored by The Association of Science Fiction and Fantasy Artists (ASFA)).

It will continue to run until Saturday, December 1st, so if you haven’t experienced it yet — SEE IT.

10% of the featured artworks were sold before the reception even opened its doors! And YES, COLLECTORS — almost all of the art on display is for sale. The Dougherty’s receptionists will be happy to direct you to the price list. 🙂 The reception’s attendance was robust. The artist roster is a who’s who of major sf/f artists from rising stars to masters of the field, and many of them attended the reception including Mariana Palova, Vincent Villafranca, Gary Villarreal, Tehani Farr, Priscilla Kim, Lauren Raye Snow, Dianita, Cody Jimenez, Kiri Østergaard Leonard, Mariya Prytula, Melissa Gay, Sara Felix, and yours truly.

My original art for the Wild Cards story ‘Evernight’ by Victor Milán (pictured right) is available for purchase during this show (graphite, 16″x20″, $1200), and my original Loteria art for ‘La Campana’ is also on display, although not for sale at this time.

It’s sometimes said that the middle of the US doesn’t have a big enough population of major artists and hungry collectors to support exhibitions of this caliber. Sara’s Infinite Worlds exhibition might end up being a gamechanger in that regard, especially if this becomes the first of a tradition in one of the most pop-culture savvy cities in America.

Art fans and collectors descend upon ASFA’s Infinite Worlds show in Austin, TX.

ASFA President Sara Felix delivers the opening welcome, with an assist from her daughter Eva.

Art by Tehani Farr, Vanessa Lemen, Francis Vallejo, Lauren Raye Snow, John Jude Palencar, Vincent Villafranca, and the Shiflett Brothers.

Art by Cody Jimenez, Sam Flegal, Ingrid Kallick, Eric Wilkerson, Greg Ruth, Vincent Villafranca, and the Shiflett Brothers.

Artist Cody Jimenez and his daughter. (Cody’s painting sold at the show before the Reception even opened its doors!)

Artist Dianita Ceron.

Detail of Vanessa Lemen’s ‘Time Will Tell’.

Detail of Eric Wilkerson’s ‘Alien Lives Matter’.

Detail of Tehani Farr’s ‘Ayla’.

Detail of Sara Felix’s ‘Geodes In Space’. (Sara’s piece also sold at the show before the Reception even began.)

Artist Priscilla Kim in a staring contest with my original Loteria art for ‘La Campana’.

Check out Sara Felix’s photo gallery for more views of the exhibition!

Loteria Original Art: Help Disaster Victims

Posted on by

Our fellow humans in Houston, Florida, Mexico, and the Caribbean Islands have been walloped by natural disaster in recent days — and they need our help. Earlier this month, I made available one of my much-coveted shadowbox assemblages and it sold within minutes of being posted. A portion of that sale will be going to benefit Mexican earthquake relief efforts in Oaxaca, where they were devastated by an 8.1 earthquake on September 7th.

Now, I’m parting with five of my cherished Loteria drawings to generate more donation money toward recovery endeavors. A portion of these purchases will be donated to the food bank or relief effort of the buyer’s choice. I’m partial to the Mexican relief efforts because they delivered personnel and supplies to the US when Hurricane Harvey roared through Houston, and the honorable thing to do as Americans is reciprocate. Mexico City is recovering from a horrific 7.1 disaster on September 19th and I want to do all I can to help them. That said, I have friends and family in Houston, and while I’ve already donated to the Harvey effort, I would be thrilled to see more relief funds sent directly to Houston’s food banks. And of course, Florida and the Caribbean Islanders deserve our continuing attention as well, in the wake of Hurricanes Irma and Maria.

Many of you are aware of my ongoing Loteria art series. I feel that these Loteria drawings are some of the most resonant I’ve done in my career to date. I’m 100% Mexican American, so every time I work on one of these — it’s PERSONAL. These visions are not just about me. They’re about my culture, our identity, and our dreams. There will be only be fifty-four of these final drawings when the series is completed, and several have previously sold immediately.

Here’s a guided tour of the five original works that are now available for the first time ever. Congratulations in advance to the lucky collectors that score one or more of these. I know many of you have been waiting for the chance to own one. Enjoy.


(above)  EL CORAZON (The Heart) / Original Final Drawing
I almost talked myself out of posting this one for sale because it’s a favorite. Considering so many lives are struggling right now though, maybe it’s time for it to light the way for families living through a darkest hour. Many of you have been acquiring my limited-run Loteria Grande cards, and while ‘La Sirena’ and ‘La Calavera’ sold out the fastest, this card sold out soon after. It’s probably one of the most popular icons of my Loteria series so far.

Graphite on Strathmore 500 Bristol • 11″ x 18″ (drawing dimension) • 14″ x 21″ (full sheet dimension)

$5000 • Ships flat and unframed • Includes free shipping within the continental USA • Please add $75 for shipping outside the USA • 10% of purchase price will be donated to relief effort of buyer’s choice

To purchase, email john (at) johnpicacio (dot) com with the subject line, “El Corazon”. We’ll exchange emails and I’ll give the payment contact info so that we can finalize the transaction via Paypal. I’ll then donate to your favorite food bank or relief charity — and ship your artwork to you.

 

(above)  LA ROSA (The Rose) / Original Final Drawing / SOLD
This is the first final drawing I ever did for my Loteria series — the one that started it all. It was inspired by a promotional artwork I did for San Francisco’s Borderlands Books, and I then redid the concept as the drawing you see here for ‘La Rosa’. This was the first artwork I completed after winning the 2012 Hugo Award for Best Professional Artist, and it set the course for my career ever since.

Graphite on Strathmore 500 Bristol • 11″ x 18″ (drawing dimension) • 14″ x 21″ (full sheet dimension)

$5000 • Ships flat and unframed • Includes free shipping within the continental USA • Please add $75 for shipping outside the USA • 10% of purchase price will be donated to relief effort of buyer’s choice

To purchase, email john (at) johnpicacio (dot) com with the subject line, “La Rosa”. We’ll exchange emails and I’ll give the payment contact info so that we can finalize the transaction via Paypal. I’ll then donate to your favorite food bank or relief charity — and ship your artwork to you.

 

(above)  EL PESCADO (The Fish) / Original Final Drawing
This was the second final drawing completed for the Loteria series, and it’s a favorite of Pisces lovers everywhere. This one was a turning point for me because it represented a standard for not just sheer physical execution, but a pursuit of concept that needed to be pushed with every icon. Like ‘El Corazon’ above, I almost didn’t post this one for sale because I dearly love it, but seeing so many trying to keep their daily existences afloat — it just seems like the right moment.

Graphite on Strathmore 500 Bristol • 11″ x 18″ (drawing dimension) • 14″ x 21″ (full sheet dimension)

$5000 • Ships flat and unframed • Includes free shipping within the continental USA • Please add $75 for shipping outside the USA • 10% of purchase price will be donated to relief effort of buyer’s choice

To purchase, email john (at) johnpicacio (dot) com with the subject line, “El Pescado”. We’ll exchange emails and I’ll give the payment contact info so that we can finalize the transaction via Paypal. I’ll then donate to your favorite food bank or relief charity — and ship your artwork to you.

 


(above)  EL PARAGUAS (The Umbrella) / Original Final Drawing / SOLD
This guy has lived in my dreams for as long as I can remember. He finally found shelter in our reality when I finished this drawing a few years ago. I feel like these images are messages from an ancestral past. They’re not all memories of what came before and where we’ve been, but glimpses of where we’re headed and what might lie ahead.

Graphite on Strathmore 500 Bristol • 11″ x 18″ (drawing dimension) • 14″ x 21″ (full sheet dimension)

$5000 • Ships flat and unframed • Includes free shipping within the continental USA • Please add $75 for shipping outside the USA • 10% of purchase price will be donated to relief effort of buyer’s choice

To purchase, email john (at) johnpicacio (dot) com with the subject line, “El Paraguas”. We’ll exchange emails and I’ll give the payment contact info so that we can finalize the transaction via Paypal. I’ll then donate to your favorite food bank or relief charity — and ship your artwork to you.

 

(above)  EL NOPAL (The Cactus) / Original Final Drawing
This kid feels like a kindred spirit. I think we all feel like him at some point in our lives. I think some of us do on a daily basis. There’s a lot of angst and pain in this world of ours right now. So many have had their hard-earned worlds ripped away in a blink. What would we want if that was us? If this drawing finds a new home, then hopefully it can help someone else along the path to finding a new one for themselves.

Graphite on Strathmore 500 Bristol • 11″ x 18″ (drawing dimension) • 14″ x 21″ (full sheet dimension)

$5000 • Ships flat and unframed • Includes free shipping within the continental USA • Please add $75 for shipping outside the USA • 10% of purchase price will be donated to relief effort of buyer’s choice

To purchase, email john (at) johnpicacio (dot) com with the subject line, “El Nopal”. We’ll exchange emails and I’ll give the payment contact info so that we can finalize the transaction via Paypal. I’ll then donate to your favorite food bank or relief charity — and ship your artwork to you.

LIES AND UGLINESS: THE ORIGINAL ART

Posted on by

(UPDATE: This original artwork was for sale today — and it sold in less than an hour. WOW. Thank you and congratulations to author Mark Van Name for scoring this for his collection. Most importantly, we’ve chosen to donate a portion of the proceeds to Mexican earthquake relief, and are now deciding which charitable conduit is best. NEXT: I’ll have FIVE previously not-for-sale Loteria original artworks available for purchase, with portions of proceeds going to further help victims of recent natural disaster in Houston, Florida, the Islands and Mexico.)

*******************************

Like many of you, I’ve been trying to do my part to help Houstonians devastated by Hurricane Harvey, as well as Floridians and Islanders impacted by Hurricane Irma. The Mexican Earthquake victims have not left my daily attention, since that massive 8.1 earthquake struck on September 7th. They need our help there, even as they’ve been heroically offering their own relief assistance to the United States.

Sixteen years ago this week, Americans felt compelled to rally around our own. Whenever I look at this piece of original art, I think of 9/11. I had become a fulltime professional illustrator in April of that year, resigning my job in the residential architecture field. More than anything in the world, I wanted to be a professional sf/f book cover artist. It was a heady time. I was slowly building a pro art career, as publishing clients were beginning to take notice of my early cover and magazine work. That morning, I was sketching ideas for the cover of Brian Hodge’s collection Lies and Ugliness. The phone rang, and I heard my mother’s voice, “Are you watching?”

“TV’s not on.”

“A plane crashed into the World Trade Center. It’s on fire.”

“Oh my god. What channel?”

“All of them,” she said.

“OK. Love you. Bye.”

I watched a towering grey cloud billow across a field of blue, as my drawing hand went buzzy and tingly — and then the second plane hit. I don’t remember any work after that. What I do know is this cover idea was born on that terrible day because one of the morning’s thumbnails eventually evolved into the final artwork you see here. I’ve always called this artwork “Lies and Ugliness” because that’s the name of the book it illustrated, but those words and their synchronicity resonate more profoundly as years unfold.

In those fledgling days, I was experimenting across a wide range of media. I still have people ask me, “When are you going to do another shadowbox assemblage cover?” This cover was one of those, and the answer is “not anytime soon” because these were so time-consuming. I did my assemblage covers by hand, with traditional media. The drawing and painting wasn’t the time-consuming part. It was the search for found objects, the construction, and then the careful installation of the pieces. It added an uncertainty and vitality that was incredibly fun, but not the most efficient process either. I was learning lessons and working through my influences at that time — Cornell, McKean, Bantock, Rauschenberg, and so on.

In my 2006 art book Cover Story: The Art of John Picacio, I shared what I thought about the manuscript, and what I was thinking when I did this artwork, “Upon closer study, there was a common denominator: the exploration of faith and sexuality and their effects on the mundane and epic — especially their effects on the perception of the ‘truth’. In many of the stories, Hodge almost seemed to relish in the violent ideological collisions between the pagan and the Christian. There’s a mad love of ritual….”

I also described how the original was created. “I drew and painted the Christ figure in mixed media on masonite, and then positioned it into a homemade wooden box that was built and painted proportionally to the cover dimension. The gargoyle is a a found object that I carved, textured and painted to make it more fearsome. After carefully melding the painting and the gargoyle, the two were surrounded with silk roses, which I painted and touched up individually by hand to make them look just right.”

So here we are — sixteen years later — and I’d like to use this original artwork to help people in need, as best I can. I’m donating 10% of the proceeds from this one to the food bank or relief charity of the buyer’s choice. I’m also pricing this original lower so that it gives the best chance for a donation to occur. For example, my Loteria original graphite drawings (11″ x 18″) currently sell in the $5000 range, so the price listed below for this early shadowbox original is a rare bargain for my stuff — and these shadowbox originals almost never become available. 🙂

Dimensions: 12.5″ wide x 19″ high x 2.5″ deep

Weight: 7 lbs. (before shipping)

Price: Only $1500 (includes free shipping within the continental United States / please add $100 for shipping outside of the United States)

Contact: john (at) johnpicacio (dot) com — Email me with the subject line “Lies and Ugliness”. First come, first serve. We’ll exchange emails and I’ll give the payment contact info so that we can finalize the sale via Paypal. I’ll then donate to your favorite food bank or relief charity — and ship your artwork to you.

Good luck, all!

LOTERIA: THE ORIGINAL ART

Posted on by

14856169_10154721395111318_5537307343922724185_o

This past October, I was proud to exhibit eight of my Loteria final graphite drawings together for the first time at Worlds Beyond Gallery, co-sponsored by Alamo City Comic Con and The Association of Science Fiction and Fantasy Artists (ASFA). I spent many days and nights drawing these, and this was the first time these beloved originals were formally exhibited together. It was fun watching people circulate through the display, eyeballing the work up close. Over the years, I’ve turned down several buy offers because I wanted to present them together at a special occasion like Worlds Beyond.

Now that I’ve done that, these eight originals are now available for sale, and I suspect some of them will sell very quickly. All prices include shipping within the continental United States. Please email me with questions and inquiries. john (at) johnpicacio (dot) com

(below)  LA SIRENA • WINNER / 2013 Chesley Award for Best Product Illustration • Graphite on Strathmore 500 Bristol • Professionally-framed and matted with Masterpiece Acrylic • 11″ x 18″ (raw original dimension) • 17″ x 24″ (framed dimension) / SOLD2sirenagraphite(below)  LA CALAVERA • FINALIST / 2015 Chesley Award for Best Product Illustration • Graphite on Strathmore 500 Bristol • Professionally-framed and matted with Masterpiece Acrylic • 11″ x 18″ (raw original dimension) • 17″ x 24″ (framed dimension) / $65007calaveragraphite(below)  EL VENADO • FINALIST / 2015 Chesley Award for Best Unpublished Monochrome Work • Graphite on Strathmore 500 Bristol • Professionally-framed and matted with Masterpiece Acrylic • 11″ x 18″ (raw original dimension) • 17″ x 24″ (framed dimension) / $5000 / SOLD6venadographite(below)  LA BOTELLA • Graphite on Strathmore 500 Bristol • Professionally-framed and matted with Masterpiece Acrylic • 11″ x 18″ (raw original dimension) • 17″ x 24″ (framed dimension) / $5000 / SOLD1botellagraphite(below)  EL ARPA • FINALIST / 2014 Chesley Award for Best Product Illustration • Graphite on Strathmore 500 Bristol • Professionally-framed and matted with Masterpiece Acrylic • 11″ x 18″ (raw original dimension) • 17″ x 24″ (framed dimension) / $65008arpagraphite(below)  LA LUNA • FINALIST / 2014 Chesley Award for Best Unpublished Monochrome Work • Graphite on Strathmore 500 Bristol • Professionally-framed and matted with Masterpiece Acrylic • 11″ x 18″ (raw original dimension) • 17″ x 24″ (framed dimension) / $65004lunagraphite(below)  EL MUNDO • Graphite on Strathmore 500 Bristol • Professionally-framed and matted with Masterpiece Acrylic • 11″ x 18″ (raw original dimension) • 17″ x 24″ (framed dimension) / $50005mundographite(below)  EL ARBOL • WINNER / 2016 Chesley Award for Best Product Illustration • Graphite on Strathmore 500 Bristol • Professionally-framed and matted with Masterpiece Acrylic • 11″ x 18″ (raw original dimension) • 17″ x 24″ (framed dimension) / $70003arbolgraphite

Gift Ideas From Worlds Beyond

Posted on by

If you missed Worlds Beyond Gallery at this year’s Alamo City Comic Con, it was one of the stellar art events of 2016. Brom, Todd Lockwood, Peter Mohrbacher, Ruth Sanderson, Jeffrey Alan Love and I were the six featured artists, and thanks to a partnership between ACCC and ASFA (The Association of Science Fiction and Fantasy Artists, headed by Sara Felix), this inaugural gallery exhibition / vendor experience was an eye-popping success. Here are six out-of-this-world holiday gift ideas, for the art lovers in your life — or for yourself. 🙂

LOST GODS: For readers who love classic mythology and modern nightmares — the latest novel written and illustrated by Brom is for you. New York Times best-selling author Richard Kadrey says, “LOST GODS is an adventure tale and a mythic odyssey. It’s like Dante played out in muggy rural graveyards and the depths of Purgatory on the eve of a demonic war.” Pictured upper right is an original Brom painting I happily acquired at Worlds Beyond Gallery. It’s one of the header illustrations in the new book. The bottom images feature Brom’s WBG exhibition setup, as he autographs books and prints for ACCC fans.nov25brom

THE GOLDEN KEY: For readers who love classic fairy tales and timeless art — there’s Ruth Sanderson’s brand-new, gorgeously-illustrated version of the George MacDonald classic. And if you order it before December 1st, she’ll send you a free, autographed book plate. Her scratchboard work is masterful, and I was lucky enough to come home with the amazing Green Man masterpiece you see in the upper right. Thank you, Ruth! She had a terrific display of originals and prints at Worlds Beyond, and across her lengthy bibliography of illustrated children’s’ works, I think THE GOLDEN KEY interiors are some of her all-time best.nov25ruthTHE SUMMER DRAGON: For dragon-loving epic fantasy readers — Todd Lockwood is a beloved artist amongst Dungeons and Dragons fans worldwide, and this is his debut novel as an author / illustrator. It’s one of Amazon.com’s Best Science Fiction / Fantasy Books of 2016. Best-selling SHANNARA author Terry Brooks says, “The master of dragon art brings the same skills to dragon storytelling. This is a compelling, fully realized story which is as detailed and exciting as anything since the Pern tales. A sure winner.”
nov25todd

ANGELARIUM: For Magic The Gathering fans and lovers of lush art prints — Pete has a fan following as an MTG artist, but his current, creator-owned Angelarium work is the best of his career so far. If you want one of his time-limited edition prints of Raziel: Angel of Mysteries — ACT FAST because the deadline to order is Friday, November 25th. If you miss out on that, his ANGELARIUM: BOOK OF EMANATIONS is a winner. I love the way Pete’s building his art brand, and I’m already looking forward to ANGELARIUM: BOOK OF WATCHERS.
nov25pete

NOTES FROM THE SHADOWED CITY: For graphic novel fans — I think this is one of the coolest illustrated stories of the year. It’s a book about swords and magic, memory and loss. The format is not the typical ‘sequential art’ format one expects from a graphic novel, but books like this expand the possibilities of what graphic novels can be. I loved Jeff’s spare and elegant display he exhibited at Worlds Beyond, and I was fortunate to acquire a couple of his small original works, pictured upper and lower right.
nov25jeff

LOTERIA GRANDE CARDS / SERIES TWO: For card collectors, Loteria lovers, and tarot aficionados — this deluxe five-card set debuted at ACCC, and will only be available online until December 5th! Cards measure a giant-size 4.5″ x 7.5″ and are printed on thick card stock, with my final graphite drawings reproduced on the reverse side. Pictured here are the five cards in the new set, as well as a glimpse of my Worlds Beyond Gallery display, featuring eight of the full-size graphite originals exhibited for the first time together.nov25john

Best wishes to everyone this holiday season!

Worlds Beyond Gallery • Thank You, SA!

Posted on by
The Worlds Beyond Gallery Artists / Alamo City Comic Con 2016: Ruth Sanderson, Brom, Peter Mohrbacher, John Picacio, Todd Lockwood, and Jeffrey Alan Love.

The Worlds Beyond Gallery Artists / Alamo City Comic Con 2016: Ruth Sanderson, Brom, Peter Mohrbacher, John Picacio, Todd Lockwood, and Jeffrey Alan Love. (Photo by Sara Felix / ASFA President)

If you saw the Worlds Beyond Gallery this weekend at Alamo City Comic Con, you experienced something that hasn’t quite been done before at a major pop culture convention — a museum-level exhibition of original contemporary sf/f artwork with the creators live and in-person all weekend, meeting fans and signing merchandise within a custom-built museum environment. True — there are amazing illustrator lineups at San Diego Comic Con, NYCC, and other major cons, but none of those experiences coupled the art and the talent with the architectural and spatial experience that was just produced within a media con like ACCC, with the invaluable sponsorship support of The Association of Science Fiction and Fantasy Artists (ASFA).

Ruth Sanderson, Brom, Peter Mohrbacher, Todd Lockwood, Jeffrey Alan Love and I were the six artists featured, and wow, there was some artistic firepower on those walls and tables. I said it earlier today on Twitter, but I felt the world tilt a little after watching thousands of people flow through the walls of this exhibition this weekend, eyeballs popping wide, mouths agape. I saw thousands of people stunned by the work of illustrators creating their own intellectual properties and telling their own stories in words and pictures, and I saw those thousands spending money strong and steady on this, instead of row after row of knockoff licensed property art.

If you weren’t there, you truly missed one of the best sf/f art happenings of 2016. From my vantage point, it was a joy to see my artist pals succeed. I loved watching Pete sell out of his ANGELARIUM card decks. I loved watching Brom sell out of all of his books. I loved watching Jeff sell out his copies of NOTES FROM THE SHADOWED CITY. I loved watching Todd sell almost every copy of THE SUMMER DRAGON. I loved watching big gaps open up on Ruth’s display as artworks sold to happy collectors. And I loved watching the first series of my Loteria Grande cards completely sell out forever.

The camaraderie amongst the artists was one of my very favorite experiences of recent years. We helped each other. We rooted for each other. We ate and drank together. We talked shop together. The ‘we’ was bigger than the ‘me’. While the initial spark of this venture may have been my idea, it was teamwork that made the whole thing work. It was fun watching representatives of other conventions wonder how this was done, and ask what it would take to have our lineup appear at their show with an experience like this.

After it was over, we ventured to the home of a world-class sf/f art collector here in SA, and it felt like we all went to church together, mesmerized by the original works of Virgil Finlay, Richard Powers, Ian Miller, John Berkey, Don Maitz, Michael Whelan, Bernie Wrightson, J. Allen St. John, Ed Emshwiller, and so many more art legends. It took so much work to make Worlds Beyond Gallery happen, but it was all worth it.

Where does something like this go from here? I don’t know yet, but I will soon. I’m still assessing what just happened in the months leading into this show, as well as the show itself. I do think the key word is ‘evolve’. I purposely wanted this exhibition to celebrate the works of contemporary fantastic artists creating their own properties and I know that was the right call, and it will continue to be the right call moving forward. Anything less than that is selling this short, within pop-culture convention environments starved for this kind of originality and art value. Major applause to Apple De La Fuente, Sara Felix, Austin Rogers, Wes Hartman, Merlin, Elaine Ryan, Becky Searson, Pete Barnstrom, Jose Guajardo and all of the people who helped make Worlds Beyond Gallery not only a reality, but an unqualified success for fans and artists alike. And most of all, thank you to all of the art lovers who experienced an sf/f art happening that will likely reverberate for years to come.

Coming Soon to Santa Fe: Loteria Fest!

Posted on by

LOTERIAFESTcocteauENG2

SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO: You ready to play Loteria and win fabulous prizes?

Here’s the skinny: Starting August 12th, George R. R. Martin’s Jean Cocteau Cinema will host “Loteria Fest” — a first-ever exhibition of large-scale giclées featuring my first series of Loteria artworks. They’ll also have a limited supply of my first eleven Loteria Grande cards for sale, as well as limited-edition prints of my George R. R. Martin / A Song of Ice and Fire calendar artwork and other cover artworks. The exhibition and sale will run from Wednesday, August 12th to Saturday, August 29th.

What you don’t want to miss is the big night of the whole event. That’s Thursday, August 27th, and that’s when I’ll be in town to host several rounds of Loteria (AKA Mexican Bingo), giving away terrific prizes including DVDs, books, signed Loteria posters, and more. I’ll be there from 7pm to 9pm, playing this traditional Mexican game of chance, and signing cards and posters. I’m really looking forward to it. If you’ve played Loteria before, you know how fun and addictive it is. If you’ve never played, this is your chance to learn, as it’s super-easy to do so, and you’ll have a blast. Here’s some more info on the game and how I’m re-imagining it in a new and personal way.

FYI: The Cocteau has posted an online write-up about the event, but they may be having trouble with their website, as their posted information currently contains some inaccuracies. So don’t get confused. The information I’ve posted above is what you need to know. Holler at me if you have any questions.

The theatre only seats 132, so make sure to mark your calendar and get there by 7pm on Thursday the 27th. I’ll have more updates soon, regarding the prizes and goodies you’ll see that night.

Help me spread the buzz in advance of this event, Santa Fe! This is my first time to your town. Let’s pack the Cocteau!

In Loteria We Trust! 🙂

Austin, TX: Winter Is Coming!

Posted on by
'The Others'. Detail from the limited-edition A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE print art by John Picacio.

‘The Others’. Detail from the limited-edition A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE print art by John Picacio.

And so is Loteria! 🙂 Alright, Austin — so I know the temps are hitting 90 degrees right now, and it definitely doesn’t feel like winter. That’s for sure.

So where are my Austin-area Game of Thrones fans? You out there? If you’re glued to every episode like I am, then you know that the series finale is coming soon! BREAKING NEWS: I’ll be appearing in Austin the day before on Saturday, June 13th to talk about the show with fellow fans at Dragon’s Lair (2438 W. Anderson Lane), and I’ll have some of my limited-edition A Song of Ice and Fire prints at special prices for you.

In addition, you’ll have a chance to score my all-new Loteria Grande cards and posters too, and some lucky Dragon’s Lair customers are going to win cool prizes when we play the game of Loteria together that day! Never played Loteria? It’s easy. Think Mexican Bingo. Totally fun. Totally addictive. And it’s the best of times. For all who grew up playing this traditional game of chance with their family and friends (as I did), gather your homies (and any friends who love card games and tarot cards) and come play with me at Dragon’s Lair on Saturday the 13th. Let’s pack the house!

See you there from 12noon to 4pm, Austin!!

DLAIRaustinPOSTER

 

FOR SALE: THE CREATIVE FIRE • REDUX!

Posted on by

CREATIVEFIREspectrumpicacio2Heads up, Spectrum fans and art lovers — here’s a work that was displayed at the most recent Spectrum Retrospective, and it can be yours!

THE CREATIVE FIRE (YOU SAY YOU WANT A REVOLUTION?)

• 17″ x 22″ archival print on Hahnemuhle paper, professionally framed and matted, with glass, enclosed in 23″ X 27″ frame.

• Artist signature on back of frame.

• The illustration was created for the cover of Brenda Cooper’s novel The Creative Fire: Book One of Ruby’s Song.

• This framed artwork was on display this past fall at the Society of Illustrators in New York City for the 3rd Spectrum Retrospective, and was juried and featured in Spectrum: The Best in Contemporary Fantastic Art 20.

• One-of-a-kind item, produced especially for the Spectrum show.

• Special reduced price of $600 (originally $750).

• Free shipping.

First come, first serve! Interested buyers may contact me at john (at) johnpicacio (dot) com.

Thank you!