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INFLUENCES AND RESOURCES

Sacred Geometry

Man has an instinctive sense of aesthetics and this has been its earliest manifestation. Its timelessness, like the seasons, goes in and out of fashion but always works for whomever will apply it competently. My favorite expression of this is the guerilla artists responsible for the ornate crop circles that get so much media attention. See their work here. Also four excellent books I recommend are: Notan by Dorr Bothwell & Marlys Mayfield, Projective Ornament by Claude Bragdon, Sacred Geometry: Philosophy & Practice by Robert Lawlor and Sacred Geometry by Miranda Lundy.

Ukiyo-E

"The Floating World" was the New York City demi-monde of its time and place in feudal Japan and left an enduring mark on design and the modern entertainment genres of manga and anime. One of the best collections is in the National Library of Congress and recently exhibited there, as detailed in this book. Online examples can be seen at Corbis Image Archives.

Andreas Vesalius

I was fascinated as a child by this brave man's work (against social taboos of the time) as both medical and artistic pioneer. University of Michigan's medical school provides some examples of his work online. For some background on his life, go here.

Symbolism

ArtMagick.Com is an excellent resource specializing in art of the Symbolist period, along with that of the Pre-Raphaelites, Art Nouveau, Impressionists, and early Surrealism.

Constantin Brancusi

The father of modern sculpture. Abbeville Press Modern Masters series has a great introduction to his work here. His work can best be seen at the Philadelphia Museum of Art and The Guggenheim in New York. His native country of Romania has is also establishing a museum and is overseeing the restoration of work the former totalitarian regime tried to destroy. His work is discussed in-depth at this site.

Isamu Noguchi

Perhaps Brancusi's best student and part of the original 20th Century vanguard in American art. Abbeville Press also has a book on him. His legacy can be viewed in many museums, most particularly his memorial sculpture garden in Queens, New York.

H.R. Giger

Not since the Creature from the Black Lagoon did a movie monster look so incredibly real. His extraordinary use of the airbrush (a medium I just find too intimidating to use) and bizarre sculpting media always makes me envious and filled with wonder. Although often derided as primarily a commercial artist, one cannot argue with the originality and disturbing power of his visions coupled with extraordinary attention to craft. He made me comfortable with giving form to my unconventional thoughts and for that I am always grateful. Official Website.

Alex Grey

After an erratic early life, he has now emerged as the spokesman for the Visionary Art Movement. Two books he recently authorized Transfigurations & The Mission of Art, should be read together to provide a full pictures of what he went through in his life and how he came to be in his present level of talent. See also his website.

Steve Assael

I was walking down Georgetowne in Washington, D.C. in the summer of 1989 when something in the window of an M Street gallery just literally leaped out and grabbed my eyes. Assael's work is a spectacular re-invention of classic painting in all its composition and technique into a thoroughly modern milieu of strangely beautiful and provocative images. That his drawings are sought for college level art textbooks is a tribute. His work can be seen here.

John Michael Linsner

Being a gamer has certain advantages. Among them being able to see up and coming artists when they are first starting out. John Michael Linsner and BROM are two such artists and it has been great to see them evolve from doing work for D&D into more fine art recognized for its style and craft. He's like an odd cross between Alberto Vargas and N.C. Wyeth. Linsner is a passionate artist and writer who, like Neil Gaiman, uses the graphic medium to build his own modern myths based on classic archetypes. Never seen one man do so much with felt tip pen in one afternoon! Official Website.

BROM

Chiefly responsible for giving the original D&D its look for its Forgotten Realms series, he's gone on to become (finally!) the one fantastic artist to knock Michael Whalen off his perch. About time, too. The man paints like Aubrey Beardsley on speed and I hope he continues to push himself. Still young, but what a start! Official Website.

Visionary Art Movement

Encompassing such diverse genres as naive, primitivist, extreme and even some pop culture design trends, this is characterized by a romantic notion of art where inspiration, if genuine, provides the means by which a vision is realized. It succeeds often by flying in the face of all academic art school logic. Best explained by Philip Rubinov-Jabonsin's Drinking Lightning: Art, Creativity, & Transformation. Represented on this earth by the American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore.

Lifecasting

Making sculptures from molds made from life was an applied craft tradition that evolved from medical and scientific research. In the 19th century, art connoisseurs who craved classical sculpture but who could not afford it or, for obvious reasons, acquire such priceless antiquities, had casts made of famous statues. It was also used to preserve likenesses of the deceased, famous examples being Abraham Lincoln and French Revolutionary martyr Marat. For a while, modern technology caused it to almost die out but but it retains its use in medicine, biology, and archaeology. As an art form, it has often been frowned upon as "cheating," but the work of George Segal made it respectable again. I look at lifecasting as a medium which, properly done, has all the power and art of photography; indeed, it's photography in 3D. Several online resources are Life-Casting.Com, Douglas & Sturgess, Inc., and The Association of Lifecasters International.

Sacred Geometry	Man has an instinctive sense of aesthetics and this has been its earliest manifestation. Its timelessness, like the seasons, goes in and out of fashion but always works for whomever will apply it competently. My favorite expression of this is the guerilla artists responsible for the ornate crop circles that get so much media attention. See their work here. Also four excellent books I recommend are: Notan by Dorr Bothwell & Marlys Mayfield, Projective Ornament by Claude Bragdon, Sacred Geometry: Philosophy & Practice by Robert Lawlor and Sacred Geometry by Miranda Lundy.
Ukiyo-E	"The Floating World" was the New York City demi-monde of its time and place in feudal Japan and left an enduring mark on design and the modern entertainment genres of manga and anime. One of the best collections is in the National Library of Congress and recently exhibited there, as detailed in this book. Online examples can be seen at Corbis Image Archives.
Andreas Vesalius	I was fascinated as a child by this brave man's work (against social taboos of the time) as both medical and artistic pioneer. University of Michigan's medical school provides some examples of his work online. For some background on his life, go here.
Symbolism	ArtMagick.Com is an excellent resource specializing in art of the Symbolist period, along with that of the Pre-Raphaelites, Art Nouveau, Impressionists, and early Surrealism.
Constantin Brancusi	The father of modern sculpture. Abbeville Press Modern Masters series has a great introduction to his work here. His work can best be seen at the Philadelphia Museum of Art and The Guggenheim in New York. His native country of Romania has is also establishing a museum and is overseeing the restoration of work the former totalitarian regime tried to destroy. His work is discussed in-depth at this site.
Isamu Noguchi	Perhaps Brancusi's best student and part of the original 20th Century vanguard in American art. Abbeville Press also has a book on him. His legacy can be viewed in many museums, most particularly his memorial sculpture garden in Queens, New York.
H.R. Giger	Not since the Creature from the Black Lagoon did a movie monster look so incredibly real. His extraordinary use of the airbrush (a medium I just find too intimidating to use) and bizarre sculpting media always makes me envious and filled with wonder. Although often derided as primarily a commercial artist, one cannot argue with the originality and disturbing power of his visions coupled with extraordinary attention to craft. He made me comfortable with giving form to my unconventional thoughts and for that I am always grateful. Official Website.
Alex Grey	After an erratic early life, he has now emerged as the spokesman for the Visionary Art Movement. Two books he recently authorized Transfigurations & The Mission of Art, should be read together to provide a full pictures of what he went through in his life and how he came to be in his present level of talent. See also his website.
Steve Assael	I was walking down Georgetowne in Washington, D.C. in the summer of 1989 when something in the window of an M Street gallery just literally leaped out and grabbed my eyes. Assael's work is a spectacular re-invention of classic painting in all its composition and technique into a thoroughly modern milieu of strangely beautiful and provocative images. That his drawings are sought for college level art textbooks is a tribute. His work can be seen here.
John Michael Linsner	Being a gamer has certain advantages. Among them being able to see up and coming artists when they are first starting out. John Michael Linsner and BROM are two such artists and it has been great to see them evolve from doing work for D&D into more fine art recognized for its style and craft. He's like an odd cross between Alberto Vargas and N.C. Wyeth. Linsner is a passionate artist and writer who, like Neil Gaiman, uses the graphic medium to build his own modern myths based on classic archetypes. Never seen one man do so much with felt tip pen in one afternoon! Official Website.
BROM	Chiefly responsible for giving the original D&D its look for its Forgotten Realms series, he's gone on to become (finally!) the one fantastic artist to knock Michael Whalen off his perch. About time, too. The man paints like Aubrey Beardsley on speed and I hope he continues to push himself. Still young, but what a start! Official Website.
Visionary Art Movement	Encompassing such diverse genres as naive, primitivist, extreme and even some pop culture design trends, this is characterized by a romantic notion of art where inspiration, if genuine, provides the means by which a vision is realized. It succeeds often by flying in the face of all academic art school logic. Best explained by Philip Rubinov-Jabonsin's Drinking Lightning: Art, Creativity, & Transformation. Represented on this earth by the American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore.
Lifecasting	Making sculptures from molds made from life was an applied craft tradition that evolved from medical and scientific research. In the 19th century, art connoisseurs who craved classical sculpture but who could not afford it or, for obvious reasons, acquire such priceless antiquities, had casts made of famous statues. It was also used to preserve likenesses of the deceased, famous examples being Abraham Lincoln and French Revolutionary martyr Marat. For a while, modern technology caused it to almost die out but but it retains its use in medicine, biology, and archaeology. As an art form, it has often been frowned upon as "cheating," but the work of George Segal made it respectable again. I look at lifecasting as a medium which, properly done, has all the power and art of photography; indeed, it's photography in 3D. Several online resources are Life-Casting.Com, Douglas & Sturgess, Inc., and The Association of Lifecasters International.