On Friday last I posted a series of videos on SF Signal created by sculptor Tim Bruckner to celebrate the upcoming Spectrum Fantastic Art Live event, May 9-11 in Kansas City, Missouri. The post started off with the above promotional video created by Tony Moorman and Making It Pictures.

I invite you to check out the post on SF Signal. Not only is Tim Bruckner an incredibly talented sculptor, but the efforts he is putting into promoting SFAL 3, and the live sculpture plans he has been making for the event itself, are kicking this year’s convention to the next level.

The post contains a series of mostly one minute videos, set to music, showcasing art of merely a handful of the nearly 200 artists that will be there.

Coming up beginning Monday will be a series of posts here revealing the 5 artists I am nominating for the Best Professional Artist category for this year’s Hugo Awards. I hope you’ll check them out and give the artists a lot of love. I’m off for a couple of days to our favorite Missouri inn to celebrate Mary’s birthday. Keep this place hopping for me while I’m gone.

(Art by Melissa Nucera)

“Come away, O human child: To the waters and the wild with a fairy, hand in hand, For the world’s more full of weeping than you can understand.”

~William Butler Yeats

As I walked along a wooded trail in nearly 70 degree temperatures over my lunch break I was indeed aware that Spring…had sprung. Or at least it has poked its head out of the ground for a few days before it turns cold again. Sigh.

At any rate, the calendar is telling us that the season has changed and that still small voice is calling, “Come away…”

It is that voice that beckons us to Middle-earth and Newford, that calls out from the gap in the village of Wall and from the world of London Below. It is the voice that packs so much promise into four little words…

“Once upon a time…”

Perhaps you too have heard that voice whispering on the spring wind, or perhaps Old Man Winter continues to drown out the sound; either way that time has come: Once Upon a Time is here!

Friday, March 21st begins the eigth annual Once Upon a Time Challenge. This is a reading and viewing event that encompasses four broad categories: Fairy Tale, Folklore, Fantasy and Mythology, including the seemingly countless sub-genres and blending of genres that fall within this spectrum. The challenge continues through June 21st and allows for very minor (1 book only) participation as well as more immersion depending on your reading/viewing whims.

Don’t like the word “challenge”? We have something special just for you.

Come away, and I’ll tell you more…

Continue reading Once Upon a Time VIII →

(Interior art from Words of Radiance, painted by artist Michael Whelan)

My first introduction to the seemingly inexhaustible imagination of author Brandon Sanderson was when I joined several other readers in a group read of his novel, The Way of Kings, the first in a series of ten novels that will make up The Stormlight Archive. I was most impressed with the world-building and characterization, and contrary to my usual stance on long series, was satisfied to count myself as one of many who will be there waiting when each new novel is released.

My hope was to continue the group reading tradition with this series and here we are set to kick off the reading of book two of The Stormlight Archive, Words of Radiance.

Continue reading Words of Radiance Group Read →

(Illustration by Cory Godbey)

My alphabetical trip (by first name) continues with a look at the C list.

These artists are scheduled to be in attendance May 9-11 in Kansas City, MO at Spectrum Fantastic Art Live 3.

I offer the art without comment, as it can speak well enough for itself. Besides, I’d rather get your thoughts.

Under each piece is the name of the artist and a link to their respective website. Please consider giving them a visit to explore more of their work.

Come along, and enjoy!

Continue reading Spectrum Fantastic Art Live 3: The “C” List →

The Illustration Academy and Spectrum Fantastic Art Live are offering aspiring artists the opportunity to put their illustration skills to the test and compete for a number of valuable prizes.

Spectrum Fantastic Art Live 3 (SFAL) will be held the weekend of May 9-11, 2014, in Kansas City Missouri. SFAL will feature some 200 artists who work in a variety of mediums creating art that falls in the realm of the fantastic. In addition to providing the opportunity for fans to interact with artists and buy great art, SFAL provides the opportunity for budding artists to have their portfolios reviewed by creative directors from some of the prominent SFF publishing houses (including Tor and Orbit) and attend educational opportunities held during the weekend.

The Illustration Academy is offering some tremendously valuable prizes for young people in high school and those continuing education artists aged 18 and above.

Head on over to my post on SF Signal for all the details.