Building Skill Takes time 1979 to 2024


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v4.3.9
Criaturas míticas, mundos épicos e visões mágicas!




This is a shout-out to beginning fantasy artists to keep honing your craft. I thought it might be fun to show a detail from David Delamare's very first mermaid painting in 1979 and a later version of the same concept in 1997. You can see the final, un-cropped 1997 painting in the mermaid gallery at www.daviddelamare.com.
Anything with really good world building that could inspire a lot of work?




I love mermaids and faeries. We were doing a "spirit animal" art lesson, and I demonstrated what I would be if I were magical. For the rest of the year, my students were caught drawing little merfaeries and other magical creatures in their free sketch times. It made me smile. You never know what is going to speak to the heart of a child...and the childlike.





This was a commission piece for a salon owner, who had been looking for a while for an artist to execute her vision. I was really excited that she trusted me to create this Harry Potter inspired three panel, large painting. She had many elements that she wanted included, which I was able to do plus a few extras as surprises. It is in her massage room where she works.




I have a collector who has commissioned Harry Potter inspired critters. She is my business neighbor and has a coffee shop and is hanging them up in her shop. This is my latest piece inspired by Hermione. I’ve also done a Harry Potter hamster, a Dumbledore owl and a Hagrid hamster. This all started when one of my students that I give private lessons to wanted to paint a hammy Potter because she’s obsessed with hamsters.
I have two more pieces planned. Who do you think they’re inspired by and what critter will they be?
Ps. And it glows in the dark!
What are some good, immersive novels/series/movies for when creative inspiration is feeling low?