(Cover for the anthology, Hitting the Skids in Pixeltown)

As promised, today’s Friday Favorite features more science fiction art, this time buy the digital master Stephan Martiniere.

(Cover for Probability Moon by Nancy Kress)

Like many of the artists whose sites dominate my favorites file, I discovered the work of Stephan Martiniere through the incomparable annual Spectrum art collection.

(Cover to Building Harlequin’s Moon by Larry Niven, Brenda Cooper)

His amazing digital work is reminiscent of the works of the paintings of John Berkey, John Harris, and Les Edwards. It is a science fiction art style that begs for its own classification.

(City in Winter)

There is a sweeping grandiosity to Martiniere’s work that allows the imagination to travel beyond the borders of each piece. One can imagine the hussle and bustle of these future worlds. His cities remind me of the imperial city of Coruscant in the Star Wars films, illustrated marvelously in the prequels. (Say what you want about the lates SW films…and they have some HUGE problems…the digital effects for this city are amazing.) Small wonder that Martiniere had his hand in the design phase of these films.

(Blastoff…I love this image because the ship reminds me so much of the art of the previously mentioned artists)

If you take the time to check out Stephan Martiniere’s site you will notice a variety of work. His pencil roughs and some less polished digitals are as interesting to look at as his finished works.

(Cover to Elantris by Brandon Sanderson)

In an odd bit of coincidence, I had picked Martiniere in my mind last week for the feature today and yesterday I pointed you to an article by Brandon Sanderson, author of the above book which I bought first and foremost because of the cover work by Stephan Martiniere. How’s that for a segue?

(Nautilus)

Stephan Martiniere has a creativity and a style that is both uniquely his and harkens back to the work of science fiction masters who have been around for awhile. If you spend any time in the fantasy/science fiction section of your local bookstore you no doubt have seen his work. Over the last few years his presence on book covers has increased tremendously and it is easy to see why. On more than one occasion I have picked up books because of his cover work and then been pleasantly surprised by how great the story/stories are inside. Martiniere’s site features two art books for sale as well as prints of his work and the prices of both are incredibly reasonable. Stephan Martiniere is another artist whose books will soon take their place alongside my other art books and will be able to sit there proudly. There are many, many more amazing, awe-inspiring works on his website. Check them out.

(Cover to Skinner by Neil Asher)

Hope you enjoyed today’s Friday Favorite. Visit his site and enjoy the rest as that is the purpose of these week ending posts.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone. It is supposed to ice and snow here and I couldn’t be more excited (not about the ice, just the snow). A three day weekend of hunkering down reading, watching movies, playing games, and doing a little furniture work sounds heavenly!