Category Archives: Picacio Art

FOR SALE: THE CREATIVE FIRE • REDUX!

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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!

ELRIC Ink!

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Wow! Fan-designed Elric of Melniboné Tattoo Sleeve!

Wow! Fan-designed Elric of Melniboné Tattoo Sleeve!

I love when fans create cosplay based on my artwork — and even better? When they’re tattooing themselves with my art! 🙂

Of course, what’s on this guy’s arm is not exactly my art. It’s an adaptation of it, interpreted by a tattoo artist. You can also see a tribute to Michael Whelan‘s legendary Stormbringer cover art, in this passionate sleeve design.

Hats off to the tattoo owner, who very kindly requested to remain anonymous, but had no problem sharing these photos. And BIG shoutout to the tattoo artist who did the design work — way to go!!!

I’m honored — it’s a real labor of love.

So much good genre TV happening right now. Couple that with the wave of social change that’s happening, and it just feels like the time is right for Michael Moorcock’s Elric of Melniboné to become a pop culture phenomenon. He’ll always be an icon of counterculture for me — and to truly be Elric, he always has to be — but I think the mainstream may finally be ready for him and his sword’s soul-sucking glory. Who’s with me on this?

Here are the artworks that inspired these tattoos:

Cover art by Michael Whelan for Michael Moorcock's STORMBRINGER.

Cover art by Michael Whelan for Michael Moorcock’s STORMBRINGER.

Cover art by John Picacio for Michael Moorcock's ELRIC: SWORDS AND ROSES.

Cover art by John Picacio for Michael Moorcock’s ELRIC: SWORDS AND ROSES.

Cover art by John Picacio for Michael Moorcock's ELRIC: THE SLEEPING SORCERESS.

Cover art by John Picacio for Michael Moorcock’s ELRIC: THE SLEEPING SORCERESS.

Elric art by John Picacio, created for MicroVisions. Original art owned by The Sean Lackey Collection.

Elric art by John Picacio, created for MicroVisions 2012. 5″ x 7″ on illustration board. Original owned by The Sean Lackey Collection.

INSPIRED

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Featured in the new art book INSPIRED, clockwise from top left: Art by John Picacio, Rebecca Yanovskaya, Wylie Beckert & Marc Scheff

Sample art from INSPIRED, clockwise, top left: Art by John Picacio, Rebecca Yanovskaya, Wylie Beckert, Marc Scheff

Yesterday, I received word that three of my artworks will be included in the forthcoming art annual, Infected By Art 3.

Today, I want to share news of a forthcoming fantastic sf/f art book called Inspired. It’s the brainchild of Chesley Award-winning art director and Art Order mastermind Jon Schindehette. The collection features a juried selection of works from over 30 international artists via Art Order’s “Inspiration” Challenge. I’m honored to be included amongst the artists chosen for this volume, and you can see the full list of selected artists here.

The jury for this book — an amazing lineup of sf/f luminaries:

Irene Gallo — Associate Publisher, Tor.com

Julie Bell — Illustrator

Lauren Panepinto — Creative Director, Orbit Books

Rebecca Guay — Illustrator / Founder of Illustration Master Class & smArt School

Terese Nielsen — Illustrator

Terryl Whitlatch — Illustrator and Creature Designer Extraordinaire

Inspired is going to be a dynamite art collectible and the print run is limited to only 1000 copies — now taking pre-orders!

BONUS! All pre-orders also receive a digital copy of the book for free!! You can score your books here.

‘Can’t wait to see the finished product, and be inspired. Congrats to Jon — and thank you for creating not only this book, but potentially a new art book model where all parties share the revenue pie. Thank you to the jury, and congrats to all of the artists that were selected!

THREE IBA3 Jury Selections!

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Great start to 2015! Three of my 2014 artworks have been jury-selected for the forthcoming Infected By Art 3 Annual, including two that were “Unanimous Selections”! Very grateful to be included in this book with some AMAZING artists!

Wanna see all of the art that was jury-selected for the book? Here you go. Congrats to all of these creators — some truly inspiring work here!

Special shoutout to all of the Grand Prize Winners! Way to go, all!

My three selected works are:

"El Mundo" / Loteria artwork © John Picacio.

“El Mundo” / Loteria artwork © John Picacio.

"La Calavera" / Loteria artwork © John Picacio.

“La Calavera” / Loteria artwork © John Picacio.

"El Corazon" / Loteria artwork © John Picacio.

“El Corazon” / Loteria artwork © John Picacio.

All three of these are from my Loteria series, and that makes the news even more gratifying. “El Mundo” and “La Calavera” were voted “Unanimous Selection”.

Thank you to the jurors: Donato Giancola, Rebecca Guay, Greg Hildebrandt, and Jon Schindehette! And thank you, IBA — grateful and honored to be included.

Selected 2014 Published Works

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PICACIO2014Here’s an abbreviated one-stop gallery of selected highlights from my 2014 published works, including cover illustrations, interiors, and product artworks.

http://www.johnpicacio.com/portfolio/2014/index.html

The awards nomination season is here again (Hugos, Chesleys, World Fantasy Awards, etc.). When voting, it helps to know which works from a creator are eligible for which awards categories. If you wish to reference this list for future deliberation and sharing, I hope it proves helpful!

I invite all of my fellow authors, illustrators, sculptors, visual artists, art directors, editors, and bloggers to add links to YOUR eligible bodies of work for this year’s various awards in the Comments. This is your chance to remind voters that you’re in the running. Best of luck, all!

 

NEW! Loteria Grande / Series 1

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Loteria cards by John PicacioGood news, Loteria fans! 2014 finishes in grand style with the release of a new Loteria Grande card series from Lone Boy, including “La Calavera”, “El Corazon”, “El Venado”, “El Mundo”, and “La Escalera”! These cards feature the same production value and giant size as the Grandes originally released with my 2013 Calendar’s Kickstarter campaign — 4.5″ x 7.5″ on thick, durable cardstock, with rounded corners. All cards also include my final pencil drawing for each artwork reproduced on the reverse side.

I’m remodeling my blog and web store, and moving it all to WordPress over the New Year’s holiday. Once that work is done, my store will be taking orders for Loteria Grande / Series 1 during the first full week of January.

Here are the rest of the cards included in Series 1.

Happy New Year, all!

Loteria Grande cards by John Picacio

 

 

LA ESCALERA

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Presenting the final color artwork for ‘La Escalera’ — the latest addition to my Loteria series! In English, ‘La Escalera’ means ‘The Ladder’, inspired by the traditional Loteria cards I played with as a kid, such as this one:

Those who own The 2014 John Picacio Calendar will remember a progress version of my ‘La Escalera’ artwork was featured in the August layout. As with ‘La Calavera’, I liked the concept but felt I could do a better drawing. So I started over, and re-drew the entire thing from scratch, and then added a stronger, final color treatment. Here are the improved pencils, followed by a look at the ‘La Escalera’ Grande Loteria card  — available very soon!

If you’re not a member of the Lone Boy List, send your email addy to info (at) lone-boy (dot) com, and we’ll add you to the List! 🙂

Loteria Posters!

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Here are my two new limited-edition Loteria posters that will be debuting at Detcon1 and San Diego Comic Con this month!

“El Corazon” and “La Luna” measure 11″ x 18″, and are printed on thick cardstock. Each can be yours for only $20. There will only be 500 of these available, and they will NOT be for sale online for the foreseeable.

How do you get yours? Come see me at my signings + special events at the following conventions. First come, first serve!

Detcon1 / (Detroit, MI)

Poster Sale + Signing Locations and Times:

Friday, July 18 / After “Loteria! with John Picacio”, which begins at 2pm / (Nicolet B)

Friday, July 18 / Mass Autographing / 8pm (Ambassador 1 & 2 / 3rd Floor)

Saturday, July 19 / After “The Art of John Picacio”, which begins at 11am / (Signing Location TBD)

San Diego Comic Con

Poster Sale + Signing Locations and Times:

Saturday, July 26 / After “Spotlight on John Picacio”, which begins at 1pm (Room 4) / I’ll be signing in the Autograph Area in the Sails Pavilion after this panel.

Also available at my Special Guest table appearances throughout the weekend (schedule forthcoming)

Loncon3 / (London, UK)

Dragon Con / (Atlanta, GA)

Alamo City Comic Con (San Antonio, TX)

If you’re not attending any of these events, my best suggestion is see if you have any friends that are, and ask them to purchase the items for you. I’ll be posting updated details on each event, and the locations and times where I’ll be signing and selling these.

More soon! 🙂