I wanted to do a piece of a  more traditional Norse Thor being pulled by his goats Tanngrisnir and Tanngnjóstr, through Jötunheimr. In Norse mythology, Thor has his trusty hammer Mjölnir, his gauntlets that let him grip the hammer, and his belt, which multiplies his strength. The castle in the back winks back to a few of Thors adventures.

You can find the process behind this artwork on my patreon by tapping the button below.

Media: Oil on Linen

Artwork Process

The post Crack The Sky appeared first on Ian Moss Creative.

This artwork represents life, death, rebirth, and growth. This was a perfect piece to get back into the swing of traditional oil painting after taking a break from the medium for several years.

Media: Oil on Canvas with Digital Touchups

Apps & Hardware: Rebelle 7 Pro, Wacom Cintiq

Process Shots

The post The Green Man appeared first on Ian Moss Creative.

Several years ago I went to Costa Rica with my wife and daughter. We started the trip in Montezuma. My daughter climbed up on some rocks near the water and watched the waves and sky during magic hour. As amazing as the trip was, the true magic was seeing how she experienced everything. She lives with joy and purpose, and processes everything she encounters. She has an incredible imagination and a well of untapped creativity. She loves the beach and bright colors, and lights up every life she encounters. This artwork is inspired by our “Child of Promise”

Media: Hand-Painted Digital

Apps & Hardware: Rebelle 7 Pro, Wacom Cintiq

Detail Shots

The post Child Of Promise appeared first on Ian Moss Creative.

Life will not be contained. Life breaks free. Life expands to new territories and crashes through barriers, painfully, maybe even dangerously, but, uh… well, there it is…

— Dr. Ian Malcolm: Jurassic Park 1993

I have always loved space, especially nebulae and all things SCIFI. One day, the idea of a Frog with a nebula behind it came to my mind, and I knew I had to paint it. This piece took on a life of its own while I was painting it. As I worked on the value study/underpainting, it showed me something new and how it wanted to be created. While working on the nebula gibblets, they started looking like tadpoles to me, so I leaned into that. I came up with the idea for the life cycle of a frog being formed out of the nebula.

As I continued to work out the concept, Dr. Ian Malcolm’s Quote came to me, and this artwork took on its true meaning. “Life uh, finds a way”

Media: Hand-Painted Digital

Apps & Hardware: Rebelle 7 Pro, Wacom Cintiq

Process Video

Check out this quick timelapse video that shows my process as I build up the layers. I start with a sketch to get the form down. Then I pop in a color background and do a value study/underpainting. Once that’s done, I start working in color and details.

The post Life Finds A Way appeared first on Ian Moss Creative.

[My skull ring] is to remind me that we’re all the same under the skin, the skull—it has nothing to do with bravado and surface bullshit. To me, the main thing about living on this planet is to know who the hell you are and to be real about it. That’s the reason I’m still alive.

— Keith Richards: Rolling Stone 1988

I was inspired to create this artwork partly because of Keith’s skull ring and other skull pieces he has. That combined with his persona and how many times the man has cheated death, I swear their drinking buddies, I had this idea of mixing a portrait of him with a skull. As I began some research for this artwork I stumbled across the quote above. After reading Keith’s statement to Rolling Stone about his famous skull ring I thought, man that’s beautiful. That’s when this concept took on new meaning for me and really started to come together in my mind.

Media: Digital Painting

Apps & Hardware: Photoshop, Wacom Cintiq

The background color is inspired by Keith’s iconic Butterscotch Fender Telecaster. I wanted something that felt like it was a part of his persona, that would really grab your attention from across the room. I knew I wanted to paint Keith in muted grey tones I thought those would play nicely with the idea of the guitar as color inspiration. The skeleton hands gripping the lighter and his famous Telecaster are designed to push the concept of we’re all the same under the skin further. They also add a nice balance to the piece.  The jagged appearance of the tear revealing the skull is inspired by one of Keith’s guitar straps with a lightning bolt on it.

To get his likeness correct I needed to paint his whole face the way it is before breaking it for my piece Under The Skin. Both artworks are painted by hand in Photoshop using a Wacom Cintiq. While painting this though a few of my artist friends and I thought this version had a presence and weight of its own. So I decided to release this portrait of Keith as a companion piece to Under the Skin. The skeleton hands still convey the concept in a way that’s perfect for those with more subtle tastes. I also like how this piece humanizes Keith himself whereas in Under the Skin, He evolves more into a larger idea.

I painted this first then pushed the concept further for the main art work.

I created this artwork to remind us all, that we are all the same “Under The Skin”. Wise words from a rock legend, that we should all take to heart. Thanks, Keith for these words of insight, keep rockin’!

I would also like to express a special thanks to my friend and colleague Dave Groff. We talked about this piece a bit throughout the process and he helped me come up with ways to push the concept further. Thanks, DG for your friendship, thoughts, and insights!

KeEF

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The post Under The Skin appeared first on Ian Moss Creative.

Imagine a rugged guide leading you to a hidden spot in a tropical paradise, and encountering one of the most iconic little creatures of the jungle. Our family was so excited to see a Red-Eyed Tree Frog in person. I captured some incredible reference photos, which inspired this digital painting. It was an unforgettable experience, and I wanted to capture the feeling of being there, in a moment of connection with nature. Every brushstroke in this digital painting was an attempt to bring that experience to life.

If you love wildlife, adventure, or just the magic of nature, I hope this piece resonates with you. Prints will be available soon, in both limited-edition fine art Giclees and open-run prints, so you can bring a piece of the rainforest into your space.

Media: Hand-Painted Digital

Apps & Hardware: Rebelle 7 Pro, Wacom Cintiq

Detail Shots

Process Video

Check out this quick timelapse video that shows my process as I build up the layers. I start with a sketch to get the form down. Then I pop in a color background and do a value study/underpainting. Once that’s done, I start working in color and details.

The post Ojos Rojos appeared first on Ian Moss Creative.

This piece evolved from a strange little pencil sketch I did over 15 years ago and kept tucked away until the right moment. For me, this was a great way to have some fun while taking a break between some client projects and shows.

I knew it was going to be something volcanic, but I didn’t completely know where the journey would take me. Once I did this lil things obsidian eyes the foreground started to come together for me.

I love being able to explore strange worlds, and this was a fun exercise. Prints will be available soon, in both limited-edition fine art Giclees and open-run prints, so you can bring a piece of the wonder into your space.

Media: Hand-Painted Digital

Apps & Hardware: Rebelle 7 pro, Wacom Cintiq

Details

The post Planet IDK-5 appeared first on Ian Moss Creative.

This piece was inspired by our family’s love of tropical destinations and the magic of places like Costa Rica, Disney’s Polynesian Resort, and the Tiki Room. My daughter is also a big fan of birds, she requested this piece for her 13th birthday! She chose each bird with care: a happy macaw, a singing cockatoo (her favorite), and a grumpy green-and-yellow macaw. I wanted to bring her vision to life while creating a piece that captures the joy, imagination, and magic of amazing adventures.

The floating rings create a sense of enchantment, representing whimsy, surrealism, and have a nod to Walt Disney himself. Set in a lush rainforest backdrop, this piece is a celebration of tropical beauty, creativity, and storytelling.

Media: Oil on Canvas with Digital Touchups

Apps & Hardware: Rebelle 7 Pro, Wacom Cintiq

Details

The post Enchanted Troubadours appeared first on Ian Moss Creative.

This digital painting intertwines my own perspective and these diverse beliefs. This art is a manifestation of the courage and resilience needed to grow and thrive. It speaks of connection, transition, and transformation, themes deeply ingrained in the world of art.

In this artwork, the triangular element represents the strength, wisdom, and courage it takes to embrace transformation and change. It symbolizes the intricate connections we have with nature, our fellow humans, our spirituality, and the art that inspires us. In this artwork, I explore the relationship of life, death, and rebirth. It serves as a reminder of the continual transformation and personal growth that are a part of every individual’s journey. The drips represent how our connects flow from person to person.

Prints and merch available on my art shop!

Media: Digital Painting

Apps & Hardware: Photoshop, Wacom Cintiq

Visit the Art Shop Here!

The post Connection Flows appeared first on Ian Moss Creative.

Sometimes I stare at them so long that I realize my family has walked away. Then I’ll call my wife and ask her, “Babe, where’d you go?”
 Then she answers, “You tell me we lost you at the aquarium like a week ago”.  Just kidding, though I really do love them.

With this piece, I wanted to capture the otherworldly beauty that jellyfish have and share the calming, inspiring feeling they radiate with you.

Media: Hand-Painted Digital

Apps & Hardware: Rebelle 7 pro, Wacom Cintiq

Process Video

Check out this quick timelapse video that shows a peek at my process.

The post Aquatic Ballet appeared first on Ian Moss Creative.