Cover illustration by John Picacio for Robert Silverberg's forthcoming TIMES THREE (Subterranean Press). Available April 2011.

Here’s my cover illustration for Ballantine/Del Rey‘s forthcoming edition of Michael Moorcock‘s ELRIC: SWORDS & ROSES. It contains Moorcock’s full-length Elric novel, THE REVENGE OF THE ROSE, his novella “Black Petals” as well as several bonus goodies. Tad Williams [Read it all...]]]>

Cover illustration by John Picacio for Michael Moorcock's forthcoming ELRIC: SWORDS & ROSES (Ballantine/Del Rey).

Here’s my cover illustration for Ballantine/Del Rey‘s forthcoming edition of Michael Moorcock‘s ELRIC: SWORDS & ROSES. It contains Moorcock’s full-length Elric novel, THE REVENGE OF THE ROSE, his novella “Black Petals” as well as several bonus goodies. Tad Williams contributes the foreword. I contributed plenty of interior illustrations to this volume and it’s scheduled to release this December. Amazon US & UK are taking pre-orders. It’s been a huge honor contributing to this series of Elric books. If you’re new to Elric, this series of books starting with ELRIC: THE STEALER OF SOULS is the perfect onramp to some of the finest and most influential sword-&-sorcery literature ever. If you’re a diehard Moorcock fan, Del Rey has done a phenomenal job with this reasonably-priced series, sharing rare goodies from the Moorcock archives in each book. I’ll share more about the interior art from SWORDS & ROSES in coming weeks.

I received great news this week — one of my artworks has been selected as the forthcoming cover of the UK edition of SCI-FI ART NOW. This is a major [Read it all...]]]>

John Picacio artwork featured on the forthcoming UK edition of a major artbook called SCI-FI ART NOW, edited by John Freeman. Coming October 2010!

I received great news this week — one of my artworks has been selected as the forthcoming cover of the UK edition of SCI-FI ART NOW. This is a major artbook that will collect some of the best in contemporary science fiction art by a wide range of creators. Edited by John Freeman, the volume includes an introduction by the legendary Chris Foss and will be published in October 2010 by Ilex/Collins Design.

The cover art is a special piece — it’s the Chesley Award-winning illustration that originally appeared as the cover of FAST FORWARD 2, edited by Lou Anders. He won the 2009 Chesley Award for Art Director and he art-directed this piece. I’m really honored that this art was chosen for this cover, and look forward to the images that Freeman has assembled. Artists in the book include Bob Eggleton, Tom Kidd, Lee Moyer, Mike Kaluta, Rian Hughes, Scott Altmann, Patrick Jones, Dermot Power, Jon Sullivan, Jeff Fennel, and many more. The US edition of the book will feature art by Steve Sampson.

Check out Freeman’s blog for the book for forthcoming updates. The US edition can be pre-ordered here, and the UK edition will soon be available for order here.

Last week, I was interviewed by musician/blogger John Anealio and author/blogger Patrick Hester, who together form The Functional Nerds podcast. The two describe their show as a “new podcast…focusing on science fiction and fantasy media: television, film, comics; and new media [Read it all...]]]>

Cover artwork by John Picacio for L.E. Modesitt Jr.'s collection VIEWPOINTS CRITICAL (Tor).

Last week, I was interviewed by musician/blogger John Anealio and author/blogger Patrick Hester, who together form The Functional Nerds podcast. The two describe their show as a “new podcast…focusing on science fiction and fantasy media: television, film, comics; and new media such as fan films, audio dramas, online animated comics and more plus technology, gadgets and all things Apple as well as music and the occasional video game.”

The conversation was wide-ranging and discusses the past, present and future of my illustration work and where I think the sf/f art field might be headed. Quite frankly, I have no problem giving interviews, but nothing makes me more squeamish than hearing the recorded playback of my own voice so I haven’t ventured a listen yet (but I will). Fortunately, I’ve heard plenty of feedback from those that have, and I’m glad folks have enjoyed it. Check it out along with the other Functional Nerds podcasts with luminaries such as author Blake Charlton and podcaster/blogger Mur Lafferty.

Good news here — I’m nominated for four 2010 Chesley Awards!

Grateful, honored and thrilled. Congrats to all fellow nominees! Wow, when I look at the ballot, [Read it all...]]]>

Four 2010 Chesley Award finalists. Art by John Picacio. Clockwise from top left: DROOD; AGE OF MISRULE: WORLD'S END; 'SALEM'S LOT; and ASIMOV'S (September 2009 Cover).

Good news here — I’m nominated for four 2010 Chesley Awards!

Grateful, honored and thrilled. Congrats to all fellow nominees! Wow, when I look at the ballot, it’s mindblowing and inspiring in all categories. Truly an honor to be on this list, and working in this field. My nominations are as follows:

Best Hardback Cover Illustration: DROOD

Best Paperback Cover Illustration: AGE OF MISRULE: WORLD’S END

Best Magazine Cover Illustration: ASIMOV’S, September 2009 issue

Best Interior Illustration: ‘SALEM’S LOT (for the Stephen King artbook, KNOWING DARKNESS)

Many thanks to ASFA voters and the art directors and publishers who made these works possible, including William Schafer of Subterranean Press; Lou Anders of Pyr; Victoria Green of ASIMOV’S; and Jerad Walters of Centipede Press.

The Association of Science Fiction and Fantasy Art has posted the list of 2010 Chesley Award nominees. ASFA says the nominees for Best Art Director and Artistic Achievement are forthcoming soon. Lou Anders is one of the finalists for Best Art Director, as announced on his blog this morning. (Congrats, Lou!) Very curious to see the other nominees in that category and Artistic Achievement.

This year is the 25th anniversary of the Chesley Awards which, according to ASFA’s site, “were established in 1985 as ASFA’s peer awards to recognize individual works and achievements during a given year. The Chesleys have long been internationally acclaimed as the most prestigious awards in the field of fantastic arts. These awards are nominated and decided upon by the members of the Association of Science Fiction and Fantasy Artists.”

The 2010 Chesley Award winners will be announced at NASFiC: The North American Science Fiction Convention, August 5th-8th, 2010, in Raleigh, NC.

Free John Picacio art for your digital wallpaper, courtesy of Tor.com!

I heard the news via Twitter yesterday, as it spread like wildfire. Legendary fantasy painter and icon Frank Frazetta passed away Monday, May 10, 2010, leaving an unparalleled legacy of inspiration and enduring [Read it all...]]]>

"Fire Demon" by Frank Frazetta. Book cover art for SWORDS AGAINST DARKNESS, edited by Andrew J. Offutt (Zebra Books, 1977).

I heard the news via Twitter yesterday, as it spread like wildfire. Legendary fantasy painter and icon Frank Frazetta passed away Monday, May 10, 2010, leaving an unparalleled legacy of inspiration and enduring masterworks. Cause of death was reportedly a stroke — an occurrence that repeatedly ravaged the artist during the latter years of his life.

I’m a pro illustrator in the science fiction and fantasy field, and it’s impossible not to be impacted by him. Even for artists who don’t appreciate the art on some level, he and his wife Ellie were trailblazers as businesspeople — the first to negotiate for publishers to return original artwork back to the artists who created it. It’s a common practice, taken for granted by pro artists now. The Frazettas were key to making this an industry standard.

I was a late bloomer. I first saw Frazetta’s work in the late 70′s, through the peripheral vision of my elementary school years. His work was everywhere — on paperback spinner racks and hard rock album covers. It wasn’t until I became a pro that I fell in love with their raw primal power. When that power hit, it hit like a ton of bricks. His Conan and Death Dealer paintings are amongst the usual suspects when people name their favorite Frazettas. Mine is pictured here. Why? It’s hard for me to say other than it has a rage, vitality and poignancy that nail me every time. It’s the rapture of dreams, nightmares, and magic in one iconic image. I hear a surging Wagnerian choir every time I see it. More than all that, I feel for that monster, and hope he’s OK.

I recommend the 2004 DVD, Frazetta: Painting With Fire, for anyone who cares to know more about the man and his work. It’s a fascinating documentary. Frazetta’s legend is loaded with stories of swagger and feat that are Paul Bunyanesque in a way that sometimes makes common sense squint sideways, but his passion for life, love, family, and work is palpable and inspiring. My favorite moment is near the end where the camera films Frazetta tenderly drawing a sabretooth tiger with his left hand. Not a remarkable scene, except that Frazetta wasn’t left-handed. He was a natural right-hander. Late in life, he was forced to train himself to draw and paint with his left when debilitating strokes rendered his right incapable of great work. Watching him draw that tiger with his left was, and still is, unforgettable. Every once in a while, when I’m up late at night, against deadline, pushing against my own shortcomings as an artist, I think of a right-handed Frazetta patiently drawing with his left hand.

To all readers of Missions Unknown — San Antonio and beyond — feel free to drop a comment below and share your favorite Frazetta work and memory.

SPECTRUM 17: THE BEST IN CONTEMPORARY FANTASTIC ART last month announced its list of artists selected for inclusion in the forthcoming annual. SPECTRUM is a much-anticipated, juried volume compiling the finest works [Read it all...]]]>

Cover illustration by John Picacio for Mark Chadbourn's AGE OF MISRULE: BOOK 1 -- WORLD'S END (Pyr). Art directed by Lou Anders.

SPECTRUM 17: THE BEST IN CONTEMPORARY FANTASTIC ART last month announced its list of artists selected for inclusion in the forthcoming annual. SPECTRUM is a much-anticipated, juried volume compiling the finest works from the worlds of books, comics, advertising, editorial, 3D and concept art in the previous year. This weekend, I was notified that two of my 2009 works were selected. They are my cover illustration for Mark Chadbourn’s AGE OF MISRULE: BOOK 1 — WORLD’S END (pictured here), and my cover illustration for James Dashner’s THE 13TH REALITY: THE JOURNAL OF CURIOUS LETTERS.

Lou Anders was the art director for the MISRULE illustration and I thank him for once again being a superlative collaborator, allowing the room to roam and find this image. Lisa Vega was the designer that commissioned THE 13TH REALITY illustration. I’m especially gratified the SPECTRUM jury selected this one. THE 13TH REALITY: THE JOURNAL OF CURIOUS LETTERS released last year in paperback, and the publisher rejected this image in favor of a much less potent, color version of the artwork for publication. I’ll be pleased when my preferred version debuts in SPECTRUM’s pages this November.

Have you seen the traycased edition of Centipede Press’ KNOWING DARKNESS: ARTISTS INSPIRED BY STEPHEN KING? This past December, I geeked about the finished hardcover trade edition of this gorgeously-produced book that includes King-inspired art by Michael [Read it all...]]]>

IT'S A MONSTER: Behold the traycased edition of Centipede Press' KNOWING DARKNESS: ARTISTS INSPIRED BY STEPHEN KING.

Have you seen the traycased edition of Centipede Press’ KNOWING DARKNESS: ARTISTS INSPIRED BY STEPHEN KING? This past December, I geeked about the finished hardcover trade edition of this gorgeously-produced book that includes King-inspired art by Michael Whelan, Bernie Wrightson, Drew Struzan, Phil Hale, Don Maitz, Dave McKean, Rick Berry, J.K. Potter, Mark Ryden, John Jude Palencar, Yours Truly, and many more. It followed in the tradition of the World Fantasy Award-nominated ARTISTS INSPIRED BY H.P. LOVECRAFT, and both are amongst the most beautifully produced art books I’ve ever seen.

With the newly-released traycased edition, Centipede Press has officially blown my mind. I’m not even sure how to describe it. For starters, this thing is massive. What you’re looking at above is the traycase itself (with cover art by Steve Stone). On top of that is a trade hardcover edition of Stephen King’s final book in the DARK TOWER series (book not included; merely presented for scale comparison). Bear in mind, that DARK TOWER book is 850 pages long, and next to most volumes, that would be a significant object. Now look at how tiny it is compared to the scale that Centipede Press has lavished on this art presentation. That tells you just how big the art pages of this book are, and just how monstrous the traycase is. To the right, you see the actual hardcover art book itself, signed by 33 artists (including all of the above), with cover art by J.K. Potter.

SON OF THE BEAST: An additional hardcover book of oversized art prints with back cover art by John Picacio.

In the second photo, you see the felt-lined interior of the tray case, with an additional hardcover book of oversized prints. The back cover artwork of this volume is an original piece of ‘SALEM’S LOT art by Yours Truly, unique to this Centipede Press release. King scholar George Beahm provides a well-crafted retrospective of 34 years of King art, while screenwriter Frank Darabont (THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION) provides an introduction.

Needless to say, the production values of this set are breathtaking. What matters is the art inside and the same standards continue throughout every page. I still can’t get over how good it all looks. It’ll take a while to absorb. So how much does it cost? This edition retails for $895, which in its own way takes a moment to absorb. However, if there’s ever been an art book worth every penny, this is it. The good news is that it doesn’t take much searching to find retailers offering discounts for the cash-conscious King collector, such as this one. I can’t recommend this book, or its less-expensive trade hardcover counterpart ($295), more highly for Stephen King fans and fans of dark art. It’s a mind-blowing experience.

Here’s my final cover illustration for the forthcoming Pyr edition of Mark Chadbourn’s THE DARK AGE: BOOK 2 / THE QUEEN OF SINISTER. It’s the second book of the trilogy that follows Chadbourn’s AGE OF MISRULE. Folks with long memories will [Read it all...]]]>

Final cover illustration for Mark Chadbourn's THE QUEEN OF SINISTER by John Picacio.

Here’s my final cover illustration for the forthcoming Pyr edition of Mark Chadbourn’s THE DARK AGE: BOOK 2 / THE QUEEN OF SINISTER. It’s the second book of the trilogy that follows Chadbourn’s AGE OF MISRULE. Folks with long memories will likely notice that this cover is radically improved and modified from the catalog version.

I believe the book releases in June. Pyr unveiled the cover yesterday via their blog, and I was encouraged to see the instant comments across Twitter and social media. The world really is a smaller place these days.

Here’s how the finished cover will look when it hits US shelves later this summer.