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Artist R.L. Gibson

Category: Illustration

Want & Will: The Birth of Discovery

"Discovery" by Artist R.L. Gibson
“Discovery” (digital & hand-drawn illustration) by Artist R.L. Gibson

All discovery of any sort requires a first step.  Those first steps are rarely technological.  Often, they are instead, steps of want and will and determination.

The average inhabitant of this planet is fascinated by space discovery and lunar exploration but feels ill-equipped to contribute.  That disconnect can be remedied by the reminder that discovery and exploration begin with curiosity… the same curiosity a child might have in whether or not one can touch the moon.  “Discovery” combines digital illustration with hand-drawn patterns–a blending of the technical with the rudimentary.

This was a themed project,
Click Here for add’l illustrations!

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Snow Plant.

"Sarcodes sanguinea" by Artist R.L. Gibson

Sarcodes sanguinea, which translates roughly to “the bloody flesh-like thing”, is a fleshy saprophytic plant in the heath family, native to western North America, having a scaly reddish stalk and scarlet flowers and typically emerging early in the spring –often at the end of the snow melt.

Learn more about the
Wildflowers of Yosemite Nat’l Park!

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1/46

A needed distraction…

I’ve been knee-deep in an illustration that has my head swimming.  I REALLY needed a diversion when I tripped across this Call for the 46 Million Turkeys project… a perfect distraction. (continues below)

"1/46" for the 46 Million Turkeys project!

The 46 Million Turkeys project is a free, all-hung exhibit & ongoing project of the Fireseed Arts Gallery.  Shipping only costs a stamp since the dimensions are limited to 2″ x 2″.

Here’s my 1 of 46 Million, “1/46″…

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ART OPP: Yosemite

Snow Plant image from YosemiteExplorer.com
Snow Plant image from YosemiteExplorer.com

Have you ever been to Yosemite? 

Or, do you have work that was inspired by Yosemite?  Then check out this call for Yosemite Renaissance 31.  It is an open media Call for Entries for work inspired by its namesake.

If you’ve never been to Yosemite, but are motivated to enter anyway, good news… There are MANY public domain images of Yosemite available for inspiration, including the NPS Archives.  Please note, I am NOT encouraging you to use someone’s work that has NOT been released to public domain for your images.  Respect copyrights folks, please.

I am working on a piece featuring a snow plant, a common flower spike found in the area that often blooms through the snow just before the Spring melt.  Gorgeous, but complicated, not unlike the area.

Stay tuned to see the final image!

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DESIGNS: The Dark Slide

Progress continues…

Thanks to Zumiez (Sevierville) & Headquarters Skateshop (Knoxville), I have decks for The Dark Slide project sponsored by the Dubuque Area Arts Collective. They are in the midst of being sanded, primed & gesso’d. But, in the meantime, I finished the initial designs, left to right — London Calling, México Floración & Miami Reclining. (continues below)

Designs by Artist R.L. Gibson for The Dark Slide exhibit in Dubuque, Iowa!

These designs are meant to be a study in iconography and how it connects us to times & places entirely personal.  The London Eye, an umbrella and bowler hat, sugar skulls, flowers & mattress ticking, Deco-era waves, a bikini & seaweed.

Safe, but personal –the psychology of iconography.

BEFORE: The Dark Slide

How excited am I?

My decks have arrived.  Special thanks goes out to Zumiez (Sevierville, TN) & Headquarters Skateshop (Knoxville, TN) for hooking me up with decks for my new project for The Dark Slide sponsored by the Dubuque Area Arts Collective. (continues below)

Skate Decks for The Dark Slide project by Artist R.L. Gibson sponsored by Dubuque Area Arts Collective!

The next step is to get them sanded, primed & gesso’d for illustration transfers.  I kind of hate to sand them down because they already look pretty rad even in their current state.  But, I just gotta.  In addition to being a great art project for me, it is also a benefit for a new skatepark in Dubuque, Iowa.

Stay tuned for updates on
The Dark Slide project!

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Cosel & Hellia.

Earlier this Summer…

I was approached by author Annette E. Neumann about illustrating her upcoming book, Songs of the North Series: Short Stories inspired by history of Northern Europe. Because these are stories lost, I thought a minimalist, silhouetted approach with intricate patterned detail offered plenty of space for the reader to fill in the gaps of place and time that make stories feel personal. (continues below)

"Cosel on Horseback" & "Hellia at Campfire"--illustrations by Artist R.L. Gibson

This book in the series is slated to contain four stories.  I have finished 6 illustrations for the first story, “Pestilence”, and I thought I would share a little sneak preview.  The book will be published in trade-size format 6″ x 9″, but the  original illustrations are 12″ x 18″.  Prints may be available once the book is released.  I am excited to tackle the additional illustrations.

Stay tuned for add’l information about
the book release & print availability!

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