It’s time for random thoughts Monday, my time to rattle off whatever is on my mind.  Lucky you!

Dungeons & Dragons Version 4:  Man, I was deeply, deeply tempted to buy these today.  They looked so cool, and the rules just look like they seriously rock!  The new character classes…  New races…  Easily customizable monsters…  Oh man, I wanted it bad.  But, sometimes you have to let the past just stay in the past.  At $104 bucks, I just can’t buy it for a group that can only get together a couple times a year these days.  Getting old sucks.

The Umbrella Academy: This looks cool, but I haven’t read it yet.  Grant Morrison wrote the intro, so has to be at least somewhat cool, eh?  I’m looking forward to it.

Fire From the Sky: I had never seen this UFO movie, and it wasn’t bad.  I like Robert Patrick, and he was fine in it.  I give it a workmanlike “B-.”

Mothman Prophesies: This movie was wonderful!  So dark, dreamlike, and moody.  So damn creepy, so sad.  It’s a tale of sad, lost people in a gray, sorrowful world, and I loved it!  It was very artfully done, and Richard Gere proved once again that he is just a great actor.  I award it an “A.”

The Art of John Howe: I found this in a clearance bin for about $9 bucks.  What’s wrong with people?  Why didn’t they buy it up?  One of the great fantasy artists ever!  He’s right up there with greats like Howard Pyle, Frank Frazetta, the Hildebrandt brothers, and Alan Lee, among others.  So, why was a book about him on a clearance rack?  Sacrilege, I say!

Airbrush Magazine: I don’t use an airbrush, but this magazine had a long interview with Alex Ross, another artist I adore.  The rest of the magazine was a rare glimpse into the art and techniques of the airbrush world, which is all well and good, but the Alex Ross interview was quite enjoyable.

Well, I was going to post some new art today, but I rambled on long enough that I think I’ll save the new art for Wednesday.

Be Good, or at least Be Lucky! Scott

Artistic Influences

Over the years, numerous people have hazarded guesses at who my artistic influences are. I’ve never kept those influences a secret, but I also don’t think they really show in my art style. Now, to set the record straight, I present the definitive list.

Cheesecake: Joseph Michael Linsner, Gil Elvgrin

Digital Painter: Greg Horn

Figure Artist: Andrew Loomis, Burne Hogarth

Others: Alphonse Mucha, M.C. Escher
Painter: Norman Rockwell, Frank Frazetta

Pen & Ink Artist: Charles Dana Gibson

Water Colorist: Alex Ross, John Howe, Alan Lee

Penciler, Original Influence: John Buscema, Gil Kane

Modern Comic Influences: Al Rio, Bruce Timm, Frank Cho, Frank Miller, George Perez, Jack Kirby, Jim Lee, John Byrne, John Romita Jr., Mike Mignola, Neal Adams

If you are an artist, who are your influences? The same question may be asked of writers and their influences.