Sci-Fi Cover Illustration: More Jack Vance work...

Cover Illustration: Miro Hetzel (Omnibus Edition)...

It has been far too long since the last post, but it's been wonderfully and completely busy (thank God) on the freelance front. I've been doing all sorts in the past few months, from book cover art and web design, to iPad and iPhone art assets. It's been consistent and I've had good solid Clients honouring their side of the bargain... which is always shiny. I've been very lucky. The by-product however is that the poor old personal art folio sits idle, and any notion of getting to it soon seems foolish at best. I had thought it entirely possible that I may not manage to post up before the New Year, but luckily I was able to get this one out there ;) 

So here it is, the last of the Miro Hetzel covers... done during the small and unholy hours of mornings, slithered in between freelance gigs, domestic chores, IEP meetings, Kid's homework and school swimming lessons :) It was one of those pieces that I'd have to set aside, but kept wanting to come back to... a real stop/start affair, but a labour of love. Looking back at it now, there's a million and one things I'd love to fix, but at the end of the day all you can do is your very best; your best with the knowledge you have, your best to complete your tasks on time, and your best to look after the people who have elected you to handle their art. Chalk it up to experience, and keep moving to do better next time :)

It's been an absolute blast, and I wouldn't trade the experience with the Vance's for the world; they are truly a generous, unique and wonderfully supportive family. It's been great to be a part of the Vance ebook project, and even greater to be immersed in the energy and enthusiasm that has surrounded it. I've had a tonne of fun, made some new friends, and feel like I've had something positive to offer after what had been a very testing time out of the work force. Thanks to John Vance, David Russell and Koen Vyverman for all the kind correspondence and feedback, and for the opportunity to play in Mr. Jack's universe. It's been a truly memorable experience; one I hope to have again some day, and one received by just taking a punt and introducing myself.

More updates from me soon...  

Listen to the Soul: remember always what is most important, and never compromise on it. Defend that like a Savage.....

J S Pullen

Two Years of Soulful Savage!

Cover Illustration: The Dogtown Tourist Agency...

This month marks two years since the creation of Soulful Savage, and sees me undertaking some cover art for the works of Science Fiction Grandmaster Mr Jack Vance! It's been a welcome and very humbling hit out to produce cover illustrations for the esteemed Mr. Jack and his Miro Hetzel novels. Formerly packaged as the collection entitled 'Galactic Effectuator', the two books I've been lucky enough to illustrate for are 'The Dogtown Tourist Agency' and 'Freitzke's Turn', with a third cover on the way for the Omnibus title called 'The Miro Hetzel Omnibus', slated for release later in the year.

It's been a very busy time here as I juggle all sorts of things toiling from the Creature Grotto at home! From negotiating with the rampant and insidious dishes, to pacifying a detritus uprising on Ye-Olde wooden floors; I've been effectuating all manner of alien domestic duties as I also tackle freelance on various fronts :) Despite being here with chores to keep the home fires burning, I'm still making a good go of things with freelance. It's a starkly different beast to the Studio scene for sure, and it moves and breathes in an entirely alien way, with a rhythm all it's own. I am thankful for the opportunities. I am also very lucky...

Cover Illustration: Freitzke's Turn...

Truth to tell I'd never regarded myself as a particularly lucky person; quite the opposite rather, putting my stock in meritocracy and the whole 'you get out what you put in' edict. If there was a prize to win, I'd miss out. If I dropped my bread, it was always buttered side down. If there was dog poo on the sidewalk, my boot would find it. I didn't really believe in luck....but then there are people out there who continually defy logic, make every wrong turn imaginable and yet still inexplicably come out on top :)
Yes luck does exist... though I feel one has to sometimes engineer the conditions of it's making and try to create opportunities... Hmm, perhaps that's still just the whole 'hard work' ethos again? Hehehe... No, I'm talking about just 'taking a punt' and backing yourself... talking with good connections and friends and introducing yourself to new circumstances :) Showing initiative gets the dice rolling... but a good measure of what follows is wild and variable affected luck :)

It was after talking with David Russell, an industry professional in the field of storyboarding and illustration whom I regard as a friend, when I saw the opportunity to possibly paint some Jack Vance cover art. I got very excited as the works of Jack Vance are incredibly special. David is a dear friend of Mr Jack and was handling the covers for his Tschai, Demon Princes and Dying Earth titles. I checked out Mr Jack's website as David had sent me the link, and saw that they were advertising for cover artists. Weirdly enough my Mother phoned me that same day to let me know that on jackvance.com they were asking for artists... 

Providence? Luck? A cross-convergence of guiding consciousness? (lol) Whatever it's name, fates were in motion that were not entirely of my fashioning it seemed. I contacted the Vance Family through the website and took a punt, introducing myself. As luck would have it, the welcome was warm and I was asked to do the works you see here. It's been extremely humbling to produce art works for one of the most prestigious and brilliant science-fiction authors of all time; one whose works have shaped and governed the landscape of modern Sci-Fi writing the world over. I hope I've done his books some measure of justice... but as always you must decide! 

So home chores and duties aside, I'm a pretty lucky guy: Lucky being able to ride out the industry drought and work from home... luckier to have these rare and unique associations and opportunities cropping up out here in the Wild. Luckiest though to have a treasured, empowering Family that supports me at every turn; indulging my vocation and feeding  my Spirit to keep taking punts and back myself. Luck seems to be at my back... and besides: it's not every day you get to draw for Mr. Jack! 

I think 'luck' is out there for all of us, but we have to go looking and then see it for what it is; the fleeting shade of opportunity. When it speeds past, reach out and catch it, then hold on for all you're worth. You never can tell where that one thing will lead you :) So more coming from me in this vein very soon... I hope you all like this offering! Keep a keen, observant eye out for the works of Jack Vance coming soon in Ebook format online at: www.jackvance.com

You can also find me and my buddy Ron Marc, (who is an absolute fanatic disciple of the written word of Vance!) up there on the site under the 'Jack Vance' tab, then click 'Resources'. It was Ron who first exposed me to the works of Mr Jack some time ago, so very fitting that he also is handling cover illustrations for some memorable Vance titles! Be sure to check out his site soon for updates on his progress at: carefulconan.daportfolio.com
So happy, lucky 2nd Birthday to this soulful little savage and more from me later.... I'm off to clean my boots and hit it again!

Listen to the Soul: remember always what is most important, and never compromise on it. Defend that like a Savage.....

J S Pullen 

Head Study: Alien Huntress Facial Design...

Alien Huntress Facial Design...

This month truly is the month for Marching forward, and sees me firmly back in the saddle, riding the beast that is Freelance Concept Art. Two hands will be needed to control this wild thing I believe, for since February it has truly started to awaken. In response, this month has seen the launch of 'Soulful Savage Concept Art & Design' as an official freelance concept art business, with me as the sole artist. Currently it is a 'feast and famine' regime, and like many things early on in their infancy, there are many posibilities before it. So as I expand my skill set and do my absolute best to look after the Clients that I have, I'm looking forward to creating, trying new things and really pushing myself to honour the Craft... bringing in some fresh new works in 2012 that hopefully inspire. I'm excited, for there is nothing better than inspiring People to inspire... 

So I've been underground for a while, toiling away in the Grotto and giving my skills a Face-Lift; the results of which can be viewed here in this latest offering: The Alien Huntress. So much to do, so much to learn, so it is best to start at the beginning... I'll be revamping this blog with a more updated look; a sort of Face-lift if you will for 'Soulful Savage', with new art from the varied sub-sets of  Film and Games concept art. (For now I have chosen to begin with Character and Creature Design.) Along with the fresher look will be new regular features like 'The Savage Armoury' as well as a 'Feature Artist' segment on some of the finest concept artist's in the business... my Friends :) 

'The Dragon's Vault' will also return in full with more insight into the World of Spyro The Dragon, with new works also planned that expand on the vision and show the direction I would have taken had I still been involved. Old posts will also be edited, explaining this and that about how The Legend Of Spyro games were made and the inspiration behind the art... 'til then Peoples, keep creating! It's going to be a good year. Always looking Forward...

Alien Brute Facial Design...



  

Listen to the Soul: remember always what is most important, and never compromise on it. Defend that like a Savage.....
J S Pullen

Freaky Creature Illustration: The Naysayer

The Naysayer...

Welcome once more to Freaky February! As promised please find enclosed yet another offering of the freakish and the bizarre! I have been gone for far too long, turning this way and that as change sweeps across all that I know, revealing in its wake a landscape that is familiar yet wholly uncharted.... unemployment. This creepy little fiend, dubbed 'Naysayer' finds me back on the hunt in 2012, looking for work in fresh places. Once more, like so many of us from the Australian games industry I'm navigating my way about the dust bowl, scounging here and there... looking for a fresh kill to scavenge... (too freaky?) So when leaving for more abundant hunting grounds is not an option momentarily, it can be easy to feel doubt... but you just can't give in.

We all of us, no matter who we are, at one stage in Life or another, experience self doubt. Doubt in our career direction, doubt in what we really want, and (specifically where art is concerned) doubt in our own abilities. Nagging self doubt is for me (without a doubt) worse than a tangible crisis :) It's a time when that intrusive, secreted monster coiled deep within you stirs, rising to scale the ladder of your spine and take up residence within your Spirit... 'He' comes at you in sections, through dark and irrational places, herding fears like a shepherd through your Mind, and once he gets his hooks in, he can be very hard to shake. In that nagging, Nay-Sayer voice he spits in your ear; "You can't do it." Whatever 'it' may be...

Self doubt and the feeling that you're really behind the 8-ball skill wise (much like the pursuit of perfection) seems to come hand in hand with many of the art disciplines. It's that age old curse of self deprecation. Humility is a beautiful quality and is to be admired, but specifically self doubt, if left unchecked can do some serious damage long term. From experience, being paralyzed by doubt can often lead to stagnation in ability as you'll be less likely to try new things. As such you'd probably be less likely to develop as an artist :(

It's the same thing for Leads of any profession, who rise to the position because of their skill, only to wind up involuntarily shelving their craft in favour of managing a Team (and the task sheets) to handle the workload. If you don't make time to continue to develop (or you have no time to invest in your own skill development) before long the Team you're managing are leaving you in their dust :) And its easy to dispair the situation and start doubting your own abilities. Just never give up! Defeat is only momentary, and I believe its true that the best storytellers (for that's who we really are as artists) are the ones that have travelled long the paths of adversity.

Naysayer grey scale illustration...

Everything you do and everything you say (and I mean everything) has an energy... and that energy has power over us; for good or ill. While challenges can lead to 'will power', self doubt can lead to 'won't power'... the trick is to use energy in a positive way so that you (and potentially others) can benefit from it. For Freaky February I decided to give my doubt a name and a face, and use it as an art opportunity to have some fun and create something... albeit a bit sinister and weird. While he is not a joy to behold, he seems less intimidating on the page than when wreaking havoc in the mind ;) Again it borders on the edge for me, but all in all Naysayer was fun to bring out for you all to see. (Craig Mullins did something similar a while back when he gave his doubt a visual persona.)

I definitely think Life is what you make of it, and more importantly how you see yourself colours how you view the World and all things in it. It's easy to doubt yourself should your peers surpass you. Its easy to doubt your place if you feel you don't have what it takes. It's easier still to become synical and even bitter if you hold onto that doubt for a long time. So... take what you've got right now. Use it... weild it like a weapon and swing it for all you are worth. For you are worth alot indeed. Never doubt your value... You can do it, so go for Yours. I know I am :)

Creature Character Head Studies: The Alien Condition...

Alien Bust Final Design 01

Alien Bust Final Design 02

Alien Bust Final Design 03

Alien Head Study (Rough) 01: Seer

Alien Head Study (Rough) 02: Privateer

Alien Head Study (Rough) 03: Pirate

Listen to the Soul: remember always what is most important, and never compromise on it. Defend that like a Savage.....

J S Pullen

Costumed Characters and The Super Hero Space...

Coming soon ;)

Creature and Environment Illustration: Freed Souls WIP

"Freed Souls" WIP...

Hi Peoples, stay tuned for an update on my "Freed Souls" piece. Busy, busy, busy.. and getting busier! Will be posting this asap to give an update :)

Kindest regards... and GO THE ALL BLACKS in 2011 ;)

Soulful Savage.

Work in progress section 01...

Work in progress section 02...

Overall Illustration WIP...

Once More Inside The Dragon's Vault: Prop Concepts From The World of Spyro...

The Ancient Scrying Pool...

Stay tuned for more from the Dragon's Vault, in which we'll take a look at various prop concepts from the World Of Spyro The Dragon...

With much to do and so little time. Keep on creating Peoples :)

Boom Barrel from The Munitions Forge...

Diseased Silt-Hopper...

Obsidion Beetle Hive...

Obsidion Beetle Hive: Damage Remnant State...

Smashable Plate-Rock Entrance...

Smashable Plate-Rock Entrance: Remnant State...

Infernal Pool Shoots...

Corrupted Tree: Small Scale...

Corrupted Tree: Mid Scale...

Corrupted Tree: Large Scale...

Corrupted Tree: Feature Piece Scale...

Listen to the Soul: remember always what is most important, and never compromise on it. Defend that like a Savage.....

J S Pullen