Illustration Archives - Ian Moss Creative https://ianmosscreative.com/tag/illustration Graphic Design, Illustration, Photography, Photo Retouching & Manipulation Sun, 07 Apr 2024 01:45:11 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://ianmosscreative.com/wp-content/uploads/cropped-IMC-Icon-800x800-1-32x32.jpg Illustration Archives - Ian Moss Creative https://ianmosscreative.com/tag/illustration 32 32 The Lion https://ianmosscreative.com/the-lion Thu, 31 Aug 2023 17:42:58 +0000 https://ianmosscreative.com/?p=6598 “ Clouds of thick darkness surround Him. His lightning lights up the skies. He swallows death, He is The Lion. I’m super amped to present this epic piece I just wrapped up! This electrifying illustration was inspired by my love for 80’s Metal as well as Epic and Melodic Metal. The idea for this image […]

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The Lion

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Clouds of thick darkness surround Him. His lightning lights up the skies. He swallows death, He is The Lion.

I’m super amped to present this epic piece I just wrapped up! This electrifying illustration was inspired by my love for 80’s Metal as well as Epic and Melodic Metal. The idea for this image came to me around 15 years ago, I have a very old rough sketch version I did back then. I was finally inspired to resurrect this sleeping beast and to go all out and create this finished piece. 

This supercharged illustration was created live on my Twitch stream. Stay tuned for more artistic escapades ahead! 

Snag a Limited Edition Fine Art Print of this powerful king on my ko-fi.

Purchase a limited edition print

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]]> Destiny 2 Stormcaller Warlock Commission https://ianmosscreative.com/destiny-2-stormcaller-warlock-commission Thu, 17 Aug 2023 00:20:42 +0000 https://ianmosscreative.com/?p=6582 I was truly energized and inspired while working on this illustration! I just wrapped this epic Destiny 2 Warlock commission, featuring someones awe-inspiring Stormcaller Character. Channeling the power of lightning and electricity, this artwork crackles with energy and excitement. A big shoutout to my incredible client, the_best_rocket_queen, for giving me the honor of creating this […]

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Destiny 2 Stormcaller Warlock Commission

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I was truly energized and inspired while working on this illustration! I just wrapped this epic Destiny 2 Warlock commission, featuring someones awe-inspiring Stormcaller Character. Channeling the power of lightning and electricity, this artwork crackles with energy and excitement.

A big shoutout to my incredible client, the_best_rocket_queen, for giving me the honor of creating this electrifying piece as a gift for her partner. Your passion and trust in my craft fueled every brush stroke.

This shocking illustration was created live on my Twitch stream. Stay charged for more artistic escapades ahead! 

Interested in getting one of your characters painted by me? Tap the let’s talk button bellow.

Let's Talk

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]]> Support me on Ko-fi https://ianmosscreative.com/support-me-on-ko-fi Fri, 28 Jul 2023 02:39:57 +0000 https://ianmosscreative.com/?p=6567 Support me on Ko-fi Hello There! I have some exciting news! I just launched a Ko-Fi site! If you aren’t familiar with Ko-Fi it is similar to Patreon but with more options. Check it out here: ko-fi.com/ianmosscreative The Ko-fi page includes: A Print and Merch Shop. Memberships: With discounts, exclusive content, free prints & merch, […]

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Support me on Ko-fi

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Support me on Ko-fi

Hello There! I have some exciting news! I just launched a Ko-Fi site! If you aren’t familiar with Ko-Fi it is similar to Patreon but with more options.

Check it out here: ko-fi.com/ianmosscreative

The Ko-fi page includes:
  • A Print and Merch Shop.
  • Memberships: With discounts, exclusive content, free prints & merch, community access, and more.
  • Different galleries of my work
  • Commissions and Services: a page where you can sign up for commissions and other services as they become available.
  • And other ways for you to share your love and support.
 

PRINT OF THE MONTH CLUB!
I’m most excited about my LVL 2 Membership tier, wich gets you sevral perks including dicounts, exclusive content and a FREE print of the month!

The LVL 2 Perk | A Boon for You:
– You receive a free print of the month! Each month will have a different postcard-sized print you will receive in the mail and it may be a long while before that print comes back around if it ever does.

* Monthly prints and merch typically ship at the beginning of the month. If you signed up after they ship, your first print will be the next month’s shipment.

Make sure you sign up for the membership soon because the first set of prints goes out at the begining of August!

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]]> Fenrir’s Brood https://ianmosscreative.com/fenrirs-brood Tue, 06 Jun 2023 02:48:20 +0000 https://ianmosscreative.com/?p=6520 “ The giantess old in Ironwood sat,In the east, and bore the brood of Fenrir;Among these one in monster’s guiseWas soon to steal the sun from the sky. — Völuspá. 40 : (Translated by Henry Adams Bellows) Ragnarök the doom of the gods, it is the end of the world, the gods, and of men. […]

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Fenrir’s Brood

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The giantess old in Ironwood sat,
In the east, and bore the brood of Fenrir;
Among these one in monster’s guise
Was soon to steal the sun from the sky.

— Völuspá. 40 : (Translated by Henry Adams Bellows)

Ragnarök the doom of the gods, it is the end of the world, the gods, and of men. In Norse Mythology there are three main wolves that herald and participate in the end of all things. Well technically there is a fourth, Garmr but we will save him for another time. The three main wolves of Ragnarök this illustration represents are Fenrir, Sköll, and Hati. I chose to represent the three as one wolf for design purposes and this one wolf represents “the Brood of Fenrir” concept. There are a few different schools of thought about these three wolves. One thought is that Sköll and Hati are Fenrir’s offspring or “Brood”. There are multiple places where different Norse texts are interpreted as saying that at least Hati may be the son of Fenrir. The poem Grímnismál says “…Hati, Hróðvitnir’s son…” In other texts, Hróðvitnir is used as another name for Fenrir. Some scholars believe that Sköll may be Fenrir’s child as well.  Another theory states that the word “Brood in the poem Völuspá may mean the breed of Fenrir where they aren’t necessarily his children but of the same kind or the same breed that Fenrir is, or even a type, that being a monstrous wolf that brings destruction. During Ragnarök, Fenrir kills Odin, and Sköll, and Hati swallow the sun and the moon. Yet other sources believe that Fenrir is the one that swallows the sun as well as kills Odin. With some of the inconsistencies that we have between the different poems and texts that were written afterward from spoken stories handed down through generations in different regions it can be hard to know for sure. So I chose one wolf to represent all three or just the one depending on the story.

Purchase a Limited Edition Print

The wolf of course represents Fenrir, Sköll, and Hati. The Ribbon around the Great Wolf is Gleipnir, the bonds that Fenrir breaks at Ragnarök. The sun and moon are being swallowed by the wolf/wolves and each represents the actions of Sköll, and Hati who will devour them. The center line represents Fenrir and his “brood” while the 2 smaller lines at the moon also represent Sköll, and Hati.

In Norse Mythology, Fenrir is one of Loki’s children with the giantess Angrboða. The gods bring him to their home in Ásgardr and Týr the god of war raises him from a pup. Fenrir grows to a monstrous size and keeps growing and getting stronger. The gods begin to see him as a threat, and Odin receives a prophecy that says that Fenrir will bring destruction and doom to the gods. So the gods devised a plan, they trick Fenrir into letting them chain him up to test his strength. He breaks the biggest strongest chains they can find several times. So the gods go to the dwarves to have them make a magical binding that Fenrir cannot break. The dwarves use 6 things to make the bonds;

  • The sound of a cat’s footfall
  • The beard of women
  • The roots of mountains
  • The sinews of the bear
  • The breath of the fish
  • The spittle of the birds


The dwarves name their invention Gleipnir, it is as thin as a silken ribbon but stronger than any iron chain. Some say the things used to make it don’t exist which makes the rope impossible to break because it’s made from impossible things. Others believe these things don’t exist “anymore” because they were used to make Gleipnir.

The gods then trick Fenrir into letting them tie him up with Gleipnir. He smells treachery and says he will only do it if one of the gods puts their hand in his mouth, if he is unable to break the chains they must free them, if not then he will take their hand. Týr volunteers for the job, and of course when Fenrir can’t break the bonds, and when the gods don’t free him, he takes Týr’s hand. The Gods then bind him up and pin his jaws open with a sword, where he will stay until he breaks free at Ragnarök. Fenrir swears he will take revenge on the gods for their betrayal. could it be they caused their own doom by trying to prevent it?

Sköll, and Hati are two giant wolves that chase the sun and the moon around the earth, causing the day and night. Ragnarök they will finally catch their prey and everything will be in darkness. Fenrir will finally escape his bonds and take revenge upon the Gods killing Odin.

The Norse culture and stories that inspired this illustration and my artist’s statement are far deeper and richer than I went into. I encourage you to do your own reading and research to learn more.

This illustration is hand drawn digital ink piece done in photoshop, using a Wacom Cintiq and True Grit Texture Supply Brushes.

Thanks for reading -Skål!

SOURCES:

Grímnismál .39

Völuspá .40

Vafþrúðnismál .46

https://norse-mythology.org/gods-and-creatures/giants/fenrir/

https://norse-mythology.org/skoll-hati/

ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDED SOURCES:

Jesse Byock (2005) Snorri Sturluson, The Prose Edda. 1st. edition. London, England: Penguin Books Ltd. ISBN-13 978-0-140-44755-2

Anthony Faulkes (1995) Snorri Sturluson, Edda. 3rd. edition. London, England: Everyman J. M. Dent. ISBN-13 978-0-4608-7616-2

Lee M. Hollander (1962) The Poetic Edda. 15th. edition. Texas, USA: University Research Institute of the University of Texas. ISBN 978-0-292-76499-6
Grab Some Merch!

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]]> Chief Popper the Barbarian Penguin https://ianmosscreative.com/chief-popper-the-barbarian-penguin Thu, 01 Jun 2023 20:12:16 +0000 https://ianmosscreative.com/?p=6513 Popper the Barbarian defeated an enemy king at 3 days old, his tribe then made him their chief. This deadly warrior was created on my Twitch stream, during a segment we are calling “INCONCEIVABLE!: Character & World Building with Ian & Matt. Matt comes up with the ideas for the characters, worlds and stories. While […]

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Chief Popper the Barbarian Penguin

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Popper the Barbarian defeated an enemy king at 3 days old, his tribe then made him their chief. This deadly warrior was created on my Twitch stream, during a segment we are calling “INCONCEIVABLE!: Character & World Building with Ian & Matt.

Matt comes up with the ideas for the characters, worlds and stories. While I add some of my own ideas and draw what we are coming up with live on stream. 

Be sure to check out other episodes:
www.twitch.tv/ianmosscreative

Grab Some Merch!

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]]> Sir McNubbins https://ianmosscreative.com/sir-mcnubbins Mon, 29 May 2023 20:05:22 +0000 https://ianmosscreative.com/?p=6506 I present to you, Sir McNubbins, The Goodest Boy! He was Captain of the guard till her Majesty fired him for always taking off his armor. He now travels the world as a monk. “Sir McNubbins he’s the Goodest Boy. He’s a Knight who will vanquish the evil.” I created this lil guy live on […]

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Sir McNubbins

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I present to you, Sir McNubbins, The Goodest Boy!

He was Captain of the guard till her Majesty fired him for always taking off his armor. He now travels the world as a monk.

“Sir McNubbins he’s the Goodest Boy. He’s a Knight who will vanquish the evil.”

I created this lil guy live on my twitch stream for one of my subscribers.

Watch my Twitch Stream for some fun times, I create different art while chatting and sometimes create things at the request of my subscribers!

https://www.twitch.tv/ianmosscreative

Purchase a Limited Edition Print
Grab Some Merch!

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]]> Arry P. Otter https://ianmosscreative.com/arry-p-otter Mon, 15 May 2023 19:47:38 +0000 https://ianmosscreative.com/?p=6491 A wizard as great as this lil guy comes along less often than a blue moon. May his Magic take him on some amazing journeys! I illustrated this Otter Wizard live on Twitch! These magical Limited Edition Prints are available on my art shop!  Purchase a Limited Edition Print

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Arry P. Otter

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A wizard as great as this lil guy comes along less often than a blue moon. May his Magic take him on some amazing journeys!

I illustrated this Otter Wizard live on Twitch!

These magical Limited Edition Prints are available on my art shop! 

Purchase a Limited Edition Print

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]]> May The Fourth Be With You! 2023 https://ianmosscreative.com/may-the-fourth-be-with-you-2023 Sun, 07 May 2023 19:45:13 +0000 https://ianmosscreative.com/?p=6482 Hello There! Here are some fun sketches from my Twitch Stream on May 4th-5th 2023. I drew these sketches live with ideas and prompts from my viewers! It was a great time! Checkout My Twitch Art Stream!

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May The Fourth Be With You! 2023

Hello There! Here are some fun sketches from my Twitch Stream on May 4th-5th 2023. I drew these sketches live with ideas and prompts from my viewers! It was a great time!

Checkout My Twitch Art Stream!

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]]> Huginn Ok Muninn https://ianmosscreative.com/huginn-ok-muninn Thu, 20 Apr 2023 23:08:48 +0000 https://ianmosscreative.com/?p=6297 “ Huginn and Muninn fly each dayover the spacious earth.I fear for Hugin, that he come not back,yet more anxious am I for Munin. — Grímnismál. 20 : (Translated by Benjamin Thorpe) I have always loved and appreciated Ravens, Vikings, Norse Culture, Mythology, and Lore. I planned and thought about this illustration for several years […]

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Huginn Ok Muninn

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Huginn and Muninn fly each day
over the spacious earth.
I fear for Hugin, that he come not back,
yet more anxious am I for Munin.

— Grímnismál. 20 : (Translated by Benjamin Thorpe)

I have always loved and appreciated Ravens, Vikings, Norse Culture, Mythology, and Lore. I planned and thought about this illustration for several years before I finally began the physical work of it. The original concept I thought of was a single raven sitting on a Viking axe embedded in a Viking shield, with a skull on the ground next to it facing to the left. I knew I wanted it to be in a pen and ink or old etching-like style. I knew that Odin actually has two ravens, Huginn and Muninn. As I began planning out the initial composition for this illustration I realized that I wanted both Ravens in it and I really wanted to tell a deeper story with the illustration. I decided to expand my knowledge of Norse culture and did more research on Huginn and Muninn themselves. As I read my vision for this illustration expanded and grew into what would be this final piece of art.

In Norse culture, Huginn and Muninn are Odin’s two ravens, they sit on his shoulders and whisper all that they have seen and heard in his ears. Early every morning Odin sends his ravens out. They fly the whole world and all of the nine realms gathering information and reporting everything back to Odin when they return.

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Huginn in Old Norse is “thought” and Munin in Old Norse is “memory” or “mind”. This Illustration shows Huginn (thought) looking forward to the future and thoughtfully looking toward Muninn (memory). This represents how we or Odin might look back on memories and think about them whether good, bad, or indifferent. You will notice that Huginn’s body is facing forward toward us the viewer and his head to the right or looking forward as if toward the future. Thought can look at the memories of the past, think about the present, and contemplate the future. Muninn has his back to us and is looking to the left past Huginn or past thought. Since memory is about things that have already taken place, we see Muninn facing back and looking to the left, or looking at the past. Muninn sees all that has already taken place and stores the knowledge of all that was.

In Norse culture and poetry from the Viking Age, Odin is known as Hrafnaguð (the raven god), and the ravens are often used to represent him in images, speech, and literature. Odin is also known as Hrafnblóts Goði (the priest of the raven sacrifice), some sources refer to the warriors slain in battle as being sacrifices to Odin and to the ravens. Odin rules Valhalla and chooses worthy warriors slain in battle to enter the great hall and live there until Ragnarök, when they will all join Odin in the final battle that is to come. The Norse poets have been known to use Huginn and occasionally Munnin as a replacement for the word raven. Blood has been seen as their sea or drink. The warriors have been said to be the ones that redden (or bloody) the ravens’ claws and/or beaks. We also see references to the battle being the ravens’ feast. So in this illustration of Huginn and Muninn, we see they are perched on a Viking axe driven into a Viking shield, the acts, and remnants of a glorious battle. This imagery represents the battle and the warriors who participated in it. It represents one warrior’s victory over another, and the honorable battle and death that took place between the two. The skull in the snow represents the fallen warriors and sacrifice to the ravens and Odin. The fallen warrior looks towards the ravens and the battle valiantly fought. This can also be interpreted as the fallen warrior looking toward his new place in Valhalla, as the skull is looking toward Huginn and Muninn, a representation of Odin who rules Valhalla. The ravens are also thought to be a possible physical manifestation of Odin’s thought and memory (or mind) which is why he fears they might not return.

Finally, we come to the setting of the scene. To honor the origins of these stories and rich culture I took inspiration from different parts of Norway. The illustration features a prominent moon in the background, the side, angle, and textures seen in the moon are based on photos taken of the moon from Norway. The lake and mountains in the background are from one part of Norway, while the inspiration for the snow and field is taken from other parts of Norway. I was more concerned with telling the story in a visually compelling way and referencing the region as a whole than I was with accurately representing one location. The snow has many meanings behind it as well. The calm cold aftermath and death after a battle. The cold, long, harsh yet beautiful winters that the Vikings survived. The winter snow that covers everything, just as winter and death will eventually cover us all. But just as winter leads to spring so death can lead to our next life. The way we live is what determines what that next life will look like.

The Norse culture and stories that inspired this illustration and my artist’s statement are far deeper and richer than I went into. I encourage you to do your own reading and research to learn more.

This illustration is hand drawn digital ink piece done in photoshop, using a Wacom Cintiq and True Grit Texture Supply Brushes.

Thanks for reading -Skål!

SOURCES:

Grímnismál .20

https://norse-mythology.org/gods-and-creatures/others/hugin-and-munin/

https://skjalden.com/huginn-and-muninn/

Wikipedia: Huginn and Muninn

https://vikingr.org/norse-gods-goddesses/huginn-muninn

Jackson Crawford (2019) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsvM-nXQK3s&ab_channel=JacksonCrawford

ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDED SOURCES:

Jesse Byock (2005) Snorri Sturluson, The Prose Edda. 1st. edition. London, England: Penguin Books Ltd. ISBN-13 978-0-140-44755-2

Anthony Faulkes (1995) Snorri Sturluson, Edda. 3rd. edition. London, England: Everyman J. M. Dent. ISBN-13 978-0-4608-7616-2

Lee M. Hollander (1962) The Poetic Edda. 15th. edition. Texas, USA: University Research Institute of the University of Texas. ISBN 978-0-292-76499-6
(WARNING: THIS VIDEO CONTAINS FAST FLASHING IMAGES, photosensitive Viewers Beware)

HUGINN OK MUNINN: Process

Check out this quick video that shows 80 plus hours of work in 60 seconds. I started with a rough sketch to get the form down. Then a tighter line drawing with some details which you see at the start of the video. Then I started the digital inking which you can watch here. This was the very first piece I live-streamed on my new Twitch Art Stream. I live-streamed almost the entire inking process.  (for my photosensitive viewers I recommend the next video which just shows the layers building up on the full image.)

You can check out my art stream here: 
twitch.tv/ianmosscreative

HUGINN OK MUNINN: LAyer Progression

Check out this quick video that shows over 110 layers build up and come together. 

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]]> Twitch Art Stream https://ianmosscreative.com/twitch-art-stream Mon, 27 Mar 2023 21:11:23 +0000 https://ianmosscreative.com/?p=6272 Chekout My Twitch ART STREAM! Hello there! I recently started a Twitch Art Stream and I really love it! It’s a fun place where anyone is welcome to come to hang out, chat, and watch me create. I have been working as a professional artist for over 20 years and I love to share my […]

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Twitch Art Stream

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Chekout My Twitch ART STREAM!

Hello there! I recently started a Twitch Art Stream and I really love it! It’s a fun place where anyone is welcome to come to hang out, chat, and watch me create. I have been working as a professional artist for over 20 years and I love to share my art, knowledge, and creative process with others while I work. I have a strong passion to create and connect with other creatives, and honestly, pretty much anyone else who comes along on my journey. This is also a great Twitch Community to just hang out and chat on, and of course, lurking is cool too. I hope for this to be a fun and safe place for everyone where we can make friends and grow together!

I started this Twitch Community for artists, creatives, and art lovers alike. It’s a creative live stream where we can be in a community with each other. It’s a great place to get to know other creatives, people who enjoy creativity and pop culture, and/or just chill while I’m working on different creative projects.

Most of the time this Twitch Art Stream is fairly chatty, there is something for just about everyone. I give art tips and techniques and talk about my process. We talk about all kinds of fun topics, like DND, Games, Movies, Pop Culture, Mythology, Lore, etc. Of course, we do still talk about art, art philosophy, and art psychology it is an art stream after all. I will discuss the deeper meanings, backstory, and symbolism of the pieces I’m working on. We talk about different creative projects. There will be times when I am quietly focused on creating, but I still try to be responsive to the chat.

This Twitch community has been great for me and my mental health, and I hope for everyone else who comes along as well. One of the hardest things for me, when I made the switch to full-time freelance, was being by myself. I am a people person and need to be around people. Being full-time freelance has been difficult at times, being completely by myself for an entire workday. I personally thrive in a community, especially a community of creatives.

Come hang out while I draw, paint, and create on Twitch!

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