The only true distinction between accounts of historical events and the great works of literature are that scholars believe the former are truthful, where the latter are merely stories. After witnessing the works of Eric Braddock, you may come to understand that the true history of civilization lies somewhere between fact and fable.

With characters and concepts that live both in the Middle Ages and Middle Earth, Mr. Braddock’s vibrant, moody characters are at once both powerfully epic and fallibly human. Here, warriors from many epochs marshal their courage and ply their trade with cunning and ferocity. Even his learned sorcerers seem particularly well-versed in the arts of combat, with magical spells more than a match for any man-made weapon.

Vibrant colors and lush landscapes are in clear conflict with the somber, even dire circumstances faced by these mighty figures. It’s almost as if these environments are directly influenced by the inner strength that radiates from Eric’s characters. When you visit his gallery, you’ll most certainly feel the power for yourself.

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From the first roll of the die around a paper dungeon, fantasy roleplaying has transported participants to far away lands to pursue magic and adventure. In keeping with this fine tradition, Howard Lyon adeptly illustrates these fantastic feats of noble heroes and mighty foes.

With the fierce gazes of valiant warriors and the introspective faces of disciplined sorcerers, Mr. Lyon deftly captures the elusive spirit of high fantasy combat. A myriad of races and classes can be found in his portfolio, but they all share the determination and skill to complete their quests.

That a few of Howard’s most stalwart combatants stand no more than a few inches high should be no cause for concern, for even these adventuresome rodents clearly have the blood of heroes coursing through their tiny hearts.

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Fantasy has been called an escapist genre, but the escape route illuminated by Jeff Himmelman is fraught with danger at every turn. His alternate realities are not filled with idyllic scenes of pastoral beauty, but of garishly illuminated cityscapes, foreboding forests and war-torn battlefields.

Mr Himmelman’s gallery presents many clear visions of incredible unhistories and fantastic futures, each highlighting a stalwart hero at odds with an indifferent or hostile environment. With grim determination, fiery sorceresses cast incendiary spells, and grizzled warriors contend with menacing metropolises.

However dire the situation, Jeff’s protagonists seem well prepared for victory… whatever the cost.

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A certain kind of fantasy aficionado is constantly on guard for the telltale signs of sudden intrusions of mischievous magic, mythological monsters, or other extradimensional mayhem. It seems that David Palumbo also waits patiently for such otherworldly occurrences with a keen eye, ready to capture every detail in his illustrations.

From dragons and detectives to punks with pistols, Mr. Palumbo has a knack for realistically depicting the decidedly unreal. Each of his subjects are given life through the expert application of detail and lighting, daring the viewer to disbelieve what is so clearly seen to be true.

Nearly all of David’s fanciful creations exemplify the warrior spirit, and wield a wide variety of lethal items. Swords are far and away the weapon of choice, but more than a few firearms can be found at the ready. Raw energy itself is at the beck and call of mighty mages. Whatever the adversary, these compelling characters certainly come well equipped.

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For those intimately familiar with the complexities of the natural world, it is only a small step into the realm of mythological fantasy. Brenda Lyons takes obvious delight in imbuing exotic, wondrous creatures of the mundane world with magical abilities, and honoring their rich mythological traditions.

Gryphons and unicorns feature prominently in Ms. Lyons’ gallery, as do terrestrial birds of prey. Each of these creatures, however, seem equally enchanted in her colorful visions. Almost all of her humanoid figures are given animal aspects as well. While winged women are no stranger to fantasy, angels and fairies here are far more grounded and naturalistic that would otherwise be expected.

Expect a lush, verdant landscape and flights of feathered fantasy when visiting Brenda’s gallery, with spiritual creatures of all shapes and sizes.. and species.

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In a world so oppressively dominated by gravity, it is so surprising that our dreams are filled with sensations of flying, floating, and falling? Jon Foster molds the raw stuff of these dreams into haunting images of disturbing clarity and dark mystery.

Within Mr. Foster’s powerful compositions, figure and environment interact in empowering, unsettling ways. Deceptively familiar settings are torn asunder by the sudden appearance of malevolent forces or seeming fluctuations in gravity itself. Valiant hero and unwitting victim alike struggle bravely in the face of such unrelenting elemental chaos.

Truly the only constant in Jon’s works seems to be change itself, and the guarantee of another thrilling glimpse into the mind of a slightly mad artistic genius.

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If flights of fantasy are born in childhood, it may be surprising to find that they cannot be fully explored or shared without the experience and maturity that comes with time. Annie Rodrigue clearly has the illustration skills to realize her visions, while keeping a clear eye on the dreams and nightmares of her youth.

Brave heroes, mischievous sprites, whimsical wisps are all captured with childlike glee in Ms. Rodrigue’s works, with only a hint of malice in their eyes. Bold colors and watercolor washes reveal serene scenes and precocious perils in mythical ponds and ancient forests, illuminated by moonlit skies and magical energies.

While a few of Annie’s characters have more than their fair share of wickedness, the majority of her creations will no doubt bring back fond memories of your own childhood friends…. real or imaginary.

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In a world where tots and teens reign supreme, surely Nick Southam would be king. His whimsical, moody illustrations reveal a youthful spirit, but the studied grace of his forms reveal artistic experience beyond his years. Manically wandering between cartoon and painting, Mr. Southam’s works are unified by the expressiveness of his characters and the depth of his settings.

While precious few of his creations appear old enough to drive, they all exhibit a take-charge attitude that practically guarantees their victory over impossible odds. With all of this improbable pluck, Nick still skillfully avoids the common pitfalls of children’s illustration by neither being too saccharine nor overly glum. What we have here are beautiful illustrations that just happen to feature an awful lot of children.

Like many slightly slacking artists these days, Mr. Southam’s latest projects aren’t in his main gallery, but over at his blog. As long as he keeps creating his uniquely childlike artwork, he can certainly be forgiven for that.

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For many, the ancient past is a dusty collection of books, and a cloudy haze of half-remembered names and dates. Anders Finér sweeps these moldy musings aside with his smoldering, atmospheric works of historical illustration. An undeniable air of authenticity permeates even his fictional and dark fantasy settings, allowing the real and unreal alike glow with life.

Valiant warriors, reluctant heroes and hapless victims are all given an equal showing in Mr. Finér’s portfolio — each in a pivotal moment of doubt or triumph. His portraits, however undramatic or dire their situation, are given form with deftly crafted shadow and light, texture and wash, and perhaps even intellect and emotion.

This grand collection of ancient heroes and nameless monsters may or may not hold many of history’s lost lessons, but there is certainly a wealth of artistic beauty to behold in Anders’ portfolio.

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While it is generally known that the surface of the Earth is two-thirds water, few realize that less than five percent of our oceans have been explored. With so little known of the briny deep, no one can conclusively deny the existence of the charming cephalopodic creatures so finely crafted by Meg Lyman.

Octopuses, squid and and cuttlefish populate the magical waters of Ms. Lyman’s illustrated imagination, each with their own distinct personalities. Whatever the demeanor of these undersea subjects, each — replete with weapons, accessories and haberdashery as needed — is wildly cuter than the last.

When Meg’s whimsy bursts forth onto dry land, antic aardvarks, frolicsome frogs and other cavorting critters are the inevitable result. Nevertheless, it’s an easy bet that her heart belongs to the sea.

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Have you ever woken a fitful sleep, uncertain if you had just escaped a nightmare’s icy grip, or had been rudely snatched from a beautiful dream? Lydia Burris‘s ghostly portraits and shifting imagery may leave you similarly conflicted.

Her heavily textured, yet gracefully flowing forms seem composed entirely of delusion and fantasy, trapped on canvas by the weight of her brush or perhaps the strength of her will alone. Through Ms. Burris’ works, we catch noisy, fractured glimpses of alien landscapes with oddly familiar features, and mundane environs made bizarre by unwanted, uncomfortable insights.

The most challenging and rewarding of Lydia’s works remind us of the bestial, nightmarish qualities within our own psyches that threaten to ravage our most cherished dreams. If she knows the ultimate outcome of this eternal struggle, she is keeping it to herself.

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In recent times, the world of high fantasy has been revealed as a darker, more sinister place that previously believed. With his somber, determined adventurers, Thom Scott excels in delivering such grim, yet oddly hopeful revelations.

With a demonstrable affinity for dark elves and crazed sorcerers, Mr. Scott depicts a world dominated by powerfully arcane magics and fearsomely enchanted weapons. Armored guardians and wicked beasts are pitted against one another in a constant struggle for supremacy, neither side fully able to claim victory or concede defeat.

It is interesting to note that even Thom’s angels are cloaked in shadow, which calls into question the supposed “evil” nature of the more vicious beasts portrayed in his works. Without these confusing, and perhaps meaningless labels, these characters are passionate enough to appreciate as wondrous portraits of violent beauty.

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