THANK YOU, LAcon V — what a week! Sunday night, I won the 2026 Hugo Award for Best Professional Artist. Had a dream last month that Martha Wells and I won Hugos and then we blasted off with friends, late-night style, to Disneyland. Midnight alcohol-soaked hijinks ensued. Apologies to Haunted Mansion and the Millennium Falcon.…
For those seeking one-stop summaries of eligible work for the 2020 awards season, I hope this curated gallery is helpful. Here are a few of my selected published artworks from 2019 for your consideration. ‘La Palma’ • Product illustration for the Loteria Grande Card • Client: Lone Boy • February 2019 • Media: Graphite Drawing…
I’ve been busy handling some family matters this month, and in the midst of those, I ventured to Dublin for this year’s World Science Fiction Convention. I couldn’t miss it, considering www.mexicanxinitiative.com was a Finalist for the Hugo for Best Related Work. Proud to be part of the fearsome foursome listed for that recognition along…
There’s a new Hugo Award category this year. It’s called “Best Art Book” — not to be confused with “Best Graphic Story”. And yet, I suspect some will confuse the two, so I’ll offer how I’m clarifying my own ballot selections, choosing from works released in 2018. If a book tells a story with pictures…
For those seeking one-stop summaries of eligible work for the 2018 awards season, I hope this curated gallery is helpful. Here are a few of my selected published artworks from 2018. ‘La Musica’ • Product illustration for Loteria • Client: Lone Boy • December 2018 • Media: Graphite Drawing / Digital Finishes. (Art © 2018…
Last week, I stood centerstage at Worldcon 76‘s Opening Ceremonies with my fellow Mexicanx, locked arms in ‘X’ formations, reading a statement condemning the inhumane treatment of immigrants and families at the border. We banded together, strangers united by a desire to share our visions, to give our all, to do more than we can…
This weekend, the 76th World Science Fiction Convention announced me as the Master of Ceremonies for this year’s Hugo Awards in San Jose, CA, while also opening the Hugo Awards’ Nominations Period! Having won two Hugos for Best Professional Artist, I know how much the Hugos mean to the sf/f field, and it’s a huge…
For those seeking one-stop summaries of eligible work for the 2018 awards season, I hope this curated gallery is helpful. Here are a few of my selected published artworks from 2017. ‘La Valiente’ Product illustration for Loteria Media: Graphite Drawing / Digital Finishes Client: Lone Boy October 2017 (Art © 2017 John Picacio.) ‘When The…
Had the best time this weekend jurying the SPECTRUM 24 Annual with Christian Alzmann, Victo Ngai, Laurie Lee Brom, and Mark Newman. It was mind-blowing, enlightening, and grueling. I miss these people already. Notes from this weekend: When submitting digital entries, make sure they’re big enough that jurors can appreciate the love and labor invested in…
Right now is the 2017 Hugo Awards nomination period and the window to turn in nomination ballots is March 18th. I’ve posted a list of my awards-eligible work, but I want to shine spotlight on five pro artists who all deserve serious Hugo Award consideration. Every year, I hear art fans, authors, and readers asking whether…