The mythological world of children’s fairytales is at once dangerous and comforting, reminding us of our wide-eyed innocence and our fear of the unknown. Kim Feigenbaum explores this enchanted dichotomy with her elegant heroines and oddly approachable horrors.

Lyrical, elegant figures confront and cavort with the spirit world, windswept hair and flowing cloaks blurring the lines between worlds seen and unseen. Ms. Feigenbaum’s watercolors and inks reveal an ethereal world with a modern flair, with some of the dreamy formality of Art Deco, and perhaps even hints of Ukiyo-e’s floating world. Whatever the source of her inspiration, the result is a unique, ultimately spiritual voyage of discovery.

For a more whimsical journey, be sure to visit the bevy of curious creatures, nightmare hybrids, and improbable intermixes — including a frogbirdbunny and a corgi eva — that populate Kim’s blog.

Visit Blue Moon Rising for more fantasy art and entertainment reviews!]]> http://bluemoonrising.com/artists/kim-feigenbaum/feed 0 http://bluemoonrising.com/artists/steven-belledin http://bluemoonrising.com/artists/steven-belledin#comments Tue, 03 Jan 2012 14:02:16 +0000 Jeff http://bluemoonrising.com/?p=2314

Fantasy offers us a limitless expanse of realms within which to explore, and most artists choose their territory quite carefully. Steven Belledin, however, has chosen to roam far and wide across the infinite worldscapes, and offers us a variety a visions from many alternate pasts and futures.

High fantasy heroes fight beside bloodied Greek warriors, and seafaring pirates wield their muskets shoulder to shoulder with spacefaring soldiers. Whatever the age, these noble warriors and wizards stand tall against daunting odds with no small amount of determination.

Nobility, however is not limited to a particular size or shape. as Mr. Belledin celebrates exotic forms as well. Impossibly slender fey and broad dwarves convene amidst the mortals, adding yet another dimension of diversity to his collected works.

In each of these portraits, be they historical or fantastic, Steven realistically depicts the setting, wardrobe and figures of an unseen age with remarkable skill and clarity. Through his vision, he broadens our horizons.

Visit Blue Moon Rising for more fantasy art and entertainment reviews!]]> http://bluemoonrising.com/artists/steven-belledin/feed 0 http://bluemoonrising.com/television/the-yin-and-yang-of-a-modern-fairytale http://bluemoonrising.com/television/the-yin-and-yang-of-a-modern-fairytale#comments Tue, 22 Nov 2011 12:16:28 +0000 Jeff http://bluemoonrising.com/?p=2260

Folk tales of supernatural creatures and powerful magic have been told for thousands of years, adapting in time to the changing hopes and fears of the cultures who told them. The older, more visceral fables that serve as inspiration for the sanitized, merchandised tales of our times were far darker and far more dangerous. Two new television productions are bringing these ancient fairy tales to the 21st century, each choosing a radically different approach.

Once Upon a Time actually tells two intertwined tales: the plight of medieval kingdom beset by an evil queen, and a modern town populated by that same kingdom’s inhabitants, cursed by the evil queen’s magic to live their lives with no memory of their former lives. Grimm documents the passing on of a family responsibility to combat the creatures described in the collected works of the Brothers Grimm.

In Once Upon a Time, nearly all of the combat is verbal, and all the major characters are women, with the exception of a young boy. Much like Smallville, a primary source of enjoyment is discovering how each well-known character will be reinterpreted for the production, and how the ensemble will interact. There are minor victories and setbacks with each episode, but the main thread is the ongoing struggle against the evil queen’s curse. There is a strong undercurrent of community and cooperation as a force for solving the town’s problems, pitted against a single, powerful adversary

Grimm offers plenty of action and combat with an ever-increasing host of hostile supernatural — if not Supernatural — creatures. All of the major characters are men and while an overarching conspiracy is an important subplot, the show is very episodic with a decidedly ‘monster of the week’ flavor. Grimm‘s namesake hero fights a legion of mysterious foes with only limited help from a few allies.

Both Grimm and Once show great promise, but other than the source material, they are as different as night and day…. literally. It seems as if it’s always dark and rainy on Grimm, and always bright and sunny on Once. While you’re certain to have a favorite, they both may work better together as a counterpoint for the other.

Visit Blue Moon Rising for more fantasy art and entertainment reviews!]]> http://bluemoonrising.com/television/the-yin-and-yang-of-a-modern-fairytale/feed 0 http://bluemoonrising.com/artists/chuck-lukacs http://bluemoonrising.com/artists/chuck-lukacs#comments Sat, 12 Nov 2011 20:08:13 +0000 Jeff http://bluemoonrising.com/?p=2229

The human body has always been an important source of artistic inspiration, inspiring artists long before civilization or even spoken language. While many artists have captured the essence of the human figure, few can transform it into works of alien beauty. Chuck Lukacs is clearly one of those rare artists who fuse inspiration and imagination to wondrously fantastic effect.

Much of his work is boldly stylistic, with a classic comic art foundation with an edge of woodcut starkness, and a hint of the surrealistic. Mr. Lukacs’ appreciation of the human figure is evident even when twisted and stretched into muscular anthropomorphic beasts, sturdy dwarves and lithe elves. Even his non-fantasy characters have slightly superhuman proportions and posing, demonstrating a clear disregard of the physical limits imposed upon most.

Much of Chuck’s time is spent in worlds of high fantasy, but he occasionally visits science fiction and action-adventure realms as well. He explains his process and latest adventures on his blog, but wherever his imagination takes him, be sure to follow.

Visit Blue Moon Rising for more fantasy art and entertainment reviews!]]> http://bluemoonrising.com/artists/chuck-lukacs/feed 0 http://bluemoonrising.com/news/six-answers-from-veronica-v-jones http://bluemoonrising.com/news/six-answers-from-veronica-v-jones#comments Mon, 10 Oct 2011 23:38:44 +0000 Jeff http://bluemoonrising.com/?p=2189

It’s the end of her convention season and Veronica V. Jones must be feeling introspective. After a decade of fantasy illustrations for the role playing and card game industry, she’s recently been expanding into the children’s illustration market.

What was one of your earliest fantasy experiences?

“When I was a girl, I read comics a LOT. My dad and I bonded over comics. He would pick them up for me and bring them home so I could read them. He’d also help me scrape together spare change so i could make the trip to the local 7-Eleven to buy my own comics. Anyway, I was obsessed with the idea of superheroes.

“I remember one day when I was about 10 or 11, I was walking home from a neighbor’s house after school. It was a crisp fall day that is a treasure to experience, and I remember vividly watching the wind whip the golden trees back and forth. I started to fantasize that I was able to direct the wind and I felt keenly that any second, a strong gust would come along and send me soaring.”

How did you become a professional artist?

“It’s a long story full of sighs….I’ve always been big into drawing ever since I was small, doodling characters and unicorns. However, I had it stuck in my head that it’s not something you can do as a profession to make money. So when the time came to go to college, even though art was my favorite class, I made the completely practical decision to go with a completely practical major. I actually enjoyed it very much, but I was missing art. I would go to scifi and fantasy conventions and do drawings for people, and actually get into high demand.

“When I graduated, I kept trying to bring art into my work – doing design of web sites and brochures. Finally I met a medical illustrator and had my eureka moment – people can be professional artists! I immediately started trying to get into this challenging field, taking classes in figure drawing, watercolor, colored pencil and acrylic painting to beef up my portfolio. As i was doing all of these classes however, I came to another realization. I didn’t want to limit myself to just medical illustration but wanted to explore as much as i could. It wasn’t long after this that I was able to find work as an in-house graphic artist and art director at a company that made sticker photo booths. The rest, as they say, is history.”

Where do you find inspiration for your work?

“I try to find inspiration in the everyday. I try hard to keep my eyes open to the beautiful things that are right in my neighborhood – the people, places and things I see regularly. I see inspiration in the work of others, including the design work that shows up in ads, magazines and posters. I also take inspiration from nature. There is so much weird and wonderful out there!”

Is there a single message that you find yourself most drawn to?

“Get to the story behind a picture. I try to imagine what may be going on behind the moment I’m trying to capture and I think that gives my pieces a bit of depth. Use expressive faces to help tell that story and ground it with detail.”

What has been your most challenging project?

“Years ago I was commissioned to create a piece for a company who had the license to create a game based on the Song of Ice and Fire books by George R. R. Martin. The company was going all out creating a deluxe version of the game book and was commissioning artists to create 2 page spreads based on scenes from the books. I’m a fan of the books and loved this opportunity. I also was quite a bit intimidated that I could do justice to a subject I loved so well. I had never before attempted such a massive project, not only in size but scope, as the scene I was given was very dense with 3 separate actions taking place.

“I spent days doing research, rereading section by section to get the characterization right and getting references to work from. I spent weeks on the painting, sometimes scrapping and repainting areas completely that I wasn’t happy with. Although I wasn’t thrilled with my work, I was able to get it in on time and eagerly looked forward to getting paid for my work. However, as happens too often in the hobby game industry, the client had bitten off more than it could chew and closed it’s doors before it could pay the artists it had contracted. I did get copies of the books though. :/”

What are you working on now?

“Right now I’m working on a piece for LFNE: Campfire Tales which is dark and spooky. I’m waiting on some CCG work for Legend of the Five Rings to come in and I have some private commissions I’m working on. While I continue to create work for role playing games and collectible card games, my main focus has shifted to the juvenile book market. I’m working on portfolio pieces and stories.”

Follow Veronica’s latest goings on via Twitter.

Visit Blue Moon Rising for more fantasy art and entertainment reviews!]]> http://bluemoonrising.com/news/six-answers-from-veronica-v-jones/feed 1 http://bluemoonrising.com/artists/alice-duke http://bluemoonrising.com/artists/alice-duke#comments Sun, 25 Sep 2011 21:49:19 +0000 Jeff http://bluemoonrising.com/?p=2182

The fairy tales we tell our children to calm their fears at night and ease them into gentle slumber still retain a hint of their original purpose: to warn us of the dangers of the unseen monsters around us. The original tellings of these tales reveal a far more visceral and dangerous world — a world Alice Duke illustrates in her works.

Subtly sinister, yet oddly comforting — like the warm light of a summer sun slowly fading into twilight — guarded idealists and jaded rouges encounter mischievous imps and unspeakable horrors in her colorful portfolio.

Taking inspiration from centuries of world mythology and adapting the symbols of spiritual art, Ms. Duke creates complex, organic tableaus rich in technical detail and deeper meaning. Through her art, we explore the burdens and obligations of a magical universe that modern beliefs so casually and fearfully deny.

When you are ready to relearn the exciting novelty and hidden dangers of life, Alice will help you remember.

Visit Blue Moon Rising for more fantasy art and entertainment reviews!]]> http://bluemoonrising.com/artists/alice-duke/feed 0 http://bluemoonrising.com/artists/hanie-mohd http://bluemoonrising.com/artists/hanie-mohd#comments Wed, 03 Aug 2011 02:59:04 +0000 Jeff http://bluemoonrising.com/?p=2143

Many artists, over time, become comfortable with a particular theme or style, and settle into a predictable rhythm for the remainder of their careers. Other artists are always restless, and are constantly called to new territory, and happily experiment with new characters, genres and techniques. Hanie Mohd easily falls into this second, more energetic state of artistic vagabondry.

No female character is off-limits to Ms. Mohd, as long as there’s some element if fantasy to be found. Kick Ass’ sassy Hit Girl, The Venture Bros’ seductive Professor Girlfriend, Harry Potter’s studious Hermione, a wide assortment of comic book heroines, and even a defiant Slave Leia are honored by her illustrative attentions.

When not breathing new life into existing characters, Hanie’s pen still does not rest. Her original creations include a bevy of floral fairies, the rare wood nymph and the mysterious Octogirl, who’s only sartorial adornment is an octopus delicately perched atop her head.

Whatever the future brings for Hanie Mohd and her ever-expanding panoply of portraits, it’s certain to be equal parts strange and familiar… and unwaveringly heroic.

Visit Blue Moon Rising for more fantasy art and entertainment reviews!]]> http://bluemoonrising.com/artists/hanie-mohd/feed 0 http://bluemoonrising.com/television/outcasts-provides-a-bumpy-ride-to-salvation http://bluemoonrising.com/television/outcasts-provides-a-bumpy-ride-to-salvation#comments Tue, 14 Jun 2011 16:09:00 +0000 Jeff http://bluemoonrising.com/?p=2118

Science fiction serves us best when it explores our hopes and fears for our very survival as a species. Interpersonal clashes and challenging environments are key components to nearly every story ever told, but in science fiction, the stakes are always higher. One such high-stakes tale premiers this Saturday on BBC America: Outcasts.

Set entirely on an Earth-like planet named Carpathia, the story documents the struggles of humanity’s last survivors amongst themselves, artificially bred AC’s and perhaps the planet itself. The ramshackle town of Fort Haven collects the last vestiges of a ruined Earth’s population, and they anxiously await additional transports from their distant home as they explore and improve their new home. One such ship nears the outpost in the first episode, but the colonist’s joy is muted by a domestic assault and dangerous manhunt.

Even having never watched the Battlestar Galactica reboot, it’s influence can easily be seen in the somber, downtrodden atmosphere. Only after several episodes perhaps overly burdened with world building and character introduction does the story of mankind’s last hope for survival get fully into gear.

Grappling with the weighty philosophical themes of redemption and humanity while offering a solid action adventure is a Herculean task, and the writers and actors grow progressively better with this balance as the series progresses. Sadly, however, the BBC has said this first season of Outcasts will also be its last.

We offer one bright ray of hope, however, for those who come to appreciate this slightly eccentric, thoroughly postmodern, even posthuman parable: series creator Ben Richards suggests that Outcasts may continue in novel form.

Let us hope Mr Richards follows through. While the eight-episode arc answers many questions about the Carpathian landscape, many more answers are still in order.

Visit Blue Moon Rising for more fantasy art and entertainment reviews!]]> http://bluemoonrising.com/television/outcasts-provides-a-bumpy-ride-to-salvation/feed 0 http://bluemoonrising.com/artists/alan-pollack http://bluemoonrising.com/artists/alan-pollack#comments Fri, 03 Jun 2011 05:04:36 +0000 Jeff http://bluemoonrising.com/?p=2047

Arthur C. Clarke is credited with the truism which states “any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.” Alan Pollack‘s impressive portfolio of fantasy and science fiction works span three decades, and clearly demonstrates this delicate distinction. Adventurers from our magical prehistories and technologically enhanced futures call to us from his complex visualizations.

Mr. Pollack’s classic painterly approach is clearly inspired by the modern fantasy masters, yet he also eagerly embraces the digital age — in both subject matter and medium — in his ongoing stylistic evolution. Figures populate seedy spaceport bars and intergalactic marketplaces as well as treasure-filled dungeons and mighty castles.

While many of his meticulous illustrations were commissioned for a particular collectible card game, do remember Terry Pratchet’s corollary: “any sufficiently advanced magic is indistinguishable from technology.”

Visit Blue Moon Rising for more fantasy art and entertainment reviews!]]> http://bluemoonrising.com/artists/alan-pollack/feed 0 http://bluemoonrising.com/news/jeffrey-catherine-jones-remembered http://bluemoonrising.com/news/jeffrey-catherine-jones-remembered#comments Fri, 20 May 2011 21:37:18 +0000 Jeff http://bluemoonrising.com/?p=2059

If ever there was a modern artist who broke more artistic barriers and transcended more artistic mediums than Jeffrey Catherine Jones, then they most certainly did so in secrecy. From comic strips and pulp covers to expressionistic paintings and somber watercolors, Ms. Jones explored the farthest reaches and wildest expressions of fantasy art.

With a body of work first established in the late sixties, Jeffrey is certainly responsible for influencing and defining many generations of artists. Rick Berry best captured this when he said “… I feel like Jeffrey suffered much of the hard work of making those choices for me and a generation of artists—without our having to pay the tuition.”

Fellow-master Frank Frazetta’s proclamation that Ms. Jones is “the greatest living painter” is no longer true, but thankfully her exceptional vision lives on in her phenomenal illustrations and the innumerable artists influenced by her insight.

Visit MaCab Films for news of their upcoming Jeffrey Catherine Jones documentary.

Visit Blue Moon Rising for more fantasy art and entertainment reviews!]]> http://bluemoonrising.com/news/jeffrey-catherine-jones-remembered/feed 0 http://bluemoonrising.com/news/deception-vengeance-and-subterfuge http://bluemoonrising.com/news/deception-vengeance-and-subterfuge#comments Fri, 06 May 2011 03:48:38 +0000 Jeff http://bluemoonrising.com/?p=2028

Idealists paint the world in black and while, while pragmatists see only a thousand shades of gray. Subterfuge — the newly-completed future noir masterwork from Chris Pritchard — is a tale told in dark, wet strokes of lethal gunplay, political intrigue, and self-recrimination.

Homicide Detective Dean Sullivan is called to a crime scene late one night, only to discover they mayor’s daughter brutally slain by a terrorist organization known as the Sons of Liberty. Detective Sullivan begins working the case, but his best suspect turns up dead as well. The situation only gets worse when he and his partner are abducted by the suspect’s killers.

Mr. Pritchard’s hardboiled science fiction fable is set in a world very familiar to us. The differences, however, are profound, and are revealed to the reader gradually over the course of Sullivan’s riveting, determined pursuit of the truth behind the killings. His most heroic trait may be the desire to uncover the lies surrounding his case, whatever the cost.

It’s been said “the truth will set you free,” but whoever said that obviously didn’t know the whole story.

Visit Blue Moon Rising for more fantasy art and entertainment reviews!]]> http://bluemoonrising.com/news/deception-vengeance-and-subterfuge/feed 0 http://bluemoonrising.com/artists/david-revoy http://bluemoonrising.com/artists/david-revoy#comments Thu, 28 Apr 2011 01:44:00 +0000 Jeff http://bluemoonrising.com/?p=1994

While inner strength can most easily be measured through action, this powerful combination of raw power and sheer determination can also easily be seen in the works of David Revoy. How else can we explain the sheer forcefulness and determination in his otherwise slender and delicate figures?

Stylistically, Mr. Revoy enjoys a wide variety of approaches; from quick color sketches and loosely tinted linework to fully airbrushed images and painterly portraits. Nearly all, however, are graced with the smooth tones and gentle curves of the female form. Be they human, sprite or elf, their playful determination serves as their weapon and armor, though many also have actual weapons and armor as well.

Whatever other tools these young women have at their disposal, inner strength is what unifies them, and what will ultimately lead them to victory in whatever battles they encounter.

Visit Blue Moon Rising for more fantasy art and entertainment reviews!]]> http://bluemoonrising.com/artists/david-revoy/feed 0 http://bluemoonrising.com/movies/trusting-the-undead-a-zombie-omnibus http://bluemoonrising.com/movies/trusting-the-undead-a-zombie-omnibus#comments Sun, 27 Mar 2011 19:39:59 +0000 Jeff http://bluemoonrising.com/?p=1924

The horror genre is as old as literature itself, and some of the first movies ever put to film featured the undead. By some counts, there are twice as many zombie films as vampire films. Armchair shrinks will tell us bloodsuckers fulfill our psychosexual needs, but why are we so fascinated by the ambulatory deceased? It comes down to a simple matter of trust.

Last year two hot properties emerged to take zombies in interesting directions.
Zombieland added a new dimension of undead humor, building on the success of Shaun of the Dead, while The Walking Dead made the zombie apocalypse an incredibly personal experience. They both share the same moral: placing your trust in others, even complete strangers — and in turn being worthy of trust — is critical for survival. This simple truth is at the core of every zombie story ever told, but there are a few… refinements.

The shambling infected citizenry are the initial antagonists in The Crazies, but the true villains of the film are the military and government agents who not only unleash the mind-destroying plague, but are also willing to incinerate an entire town to hide their ineptitude. Man-made biological weapons are a common prologue to zombie films, but the military industrial complex was never a more eager villain than portrayed in Crazies.

The most frightening monster of all is the creature that lurks beneath your very own consciousness, as revealed in The Signal. The city of Terminus awakes to an odd television broadcast, that slowly turns its viewers into delusional, paranoid killing machines. As a small group flees to safety, they begin to doubt everything they see and hear, including each other.

Zombies present the ultimate cautionary tale, a thoroughly modern end-of-days. Their horrible moans and piercing screams remind us that without a healthy community, without an honorable government, or without coming to terms with our own dark natures, civilization is well and truly doomed.

Visit Blue Moon Rising for more fantasy art and entertainment reviews!]]> http://bluemoonrising.com/movies/trusting-the-undead-a-zombie-omnibus/feed 0 http://bluemoonrising.com/artists/thanos-tsilis http://bluemoonrising.com/artists/thanos-tsilis#comments Sun, 20 Feb 2011 03:30:36 +0000 Jeff http://bluemoonrising.com/?p=1919

History does not concern itself with the tranquil years devoid of conflict. No, it is the epic battles and personal conquests that are celebrated. Thanos Tsilis handily demonstrates his understanding of history’s love of conflict with his chaotic assortment of edgy renegades and unbalanced antiheroes.

Ranging from ancient Amazon tribes to futuristic computerized soothsayers, Mr . Tsilis captures the precise moments in time that shape past and future events. His off-kilter, oddly-capable protagonists seethe with a vibrant calm, ready to change the world with purposeful violence.

As civilizations rise and fall — or fall and rise, the world will be in a constant state of change, but Thanos seems at home with gritty, badass antiheroes of any age.

Visit Blue Moon Rising for more fantasy art and entertainment reviews!]]> http://bluemoonrising.com/artists/thanos-tsilis/feed 0 http://bluemoonrising.com/projects/tweaks-for-twenty-eleven http://bluemoonrising.com/projects/tweaks-for-twenty-eleven#comments Wed, 19 Jan 2011 01:25:11 +0000 Jeff http://bluemoonrising.com/?p=1903

In what may be a transparent attempt to compensate for the glacial pace of reviews here at BMR, our newly redesigned header will feature artwork from a few of our most favored artist friends. As of now, the list of most favored artists is limited to one Veronica V. Jones, but this may change as time progresses.

There have also been a few other minor style updates, but they pale in comparison to the visual bounty of Ms. Jones’ work. We hope you’ll agree.

There is quite a backlog of artists for whom praises must be sung, but should you — in your travels across the internet — find a fantasy or science fiction artist deserved of accolades, please share your finding with us.

Visit Blue Moon Rising for more fantasy art and entertainment reviews!]]> http://bluemoonrising.com/projects/tweaks-for-twenty-eleven/feed 0 http://bluemoonrising.com/television/doctor-who-christmas-carol http://bluemoonrising.com/television/doctor-who-christmas-carol#comments Thu, 30 Dec 2010 19:01:50 +0000 Jeff http://bluemoonrising.com/?p=1874

The best Doctor Who episodes take a wholly unbelievable premise and work it into an enjoyable story. Steven Moffat proves himself more than up to the task, in Doctor Who’s “A Christmas Carol” with a relentless barrage of sharp dialogue and improbable scenarios that merge to form an unforgettable tangle of classic Dickens, classic Doctor Who, and a bit of J. J. Abrams.

Matt Smith seems well at ease as the chaotic Time Lord, even if mania is the new calm. The Doctor’s mania and cunning propel the story of a ship set to crash land on a planet ruled by one heartless, miserly old man. After being unable to reason with the Scrooge-like Kazran Sardick, (portrayed by Michael Gambon) Amy inadvertently provides the needed inspiration.

Does the key to Sardick’s heart lie in the frozen woman he describes as unimportant? Disbelievingly, The Doctor says “In 900 years of time and space I’ve never met anyone who wasn’t important before.”

The only slight failing of this Christmas special is the near-criminal underuse of Karen Gillan’s Amy Pond. She and her fiance spend the episode on the plummeting spaceship, being rocked about and viciously attacked by lens flares. Don’t be surprised if the shiny, shiny bridge of the distressed spaceliner reminds you of a recent cinematic reboot.

Of all the fanciful, outlandish oddities that present themselves in the episode, perhaps the most outlandish is reaching the limits of psychic paper: “It shorted out. Finally, a lie too big.” To learn that lie, and to visit a world of electric clouds and flying fish, you’ll have to watch it for yourself.

Visit Blue Moon Rising for more fantasy art and entertainment reviews!]]> http://bluemoonrising.com/television/doctor-who-christmas-carol/feed 3