I’m all about cheery pics tonight, the other two I was thinking of were pretty dark too.  Something in the air maybe?

This is Jules Elie Delaunay’s Plague in Rome (1869, Oil on canvas, 52″ x 69″), also known as The Angel of Death. I might be wrong, but this isn’t the happiest of images I’ve done with these art blogs. It is, however, one of those pieces that seems to be at odds with itself.

Let’s start with the visual sense of it, especially in the contrast.  The image is virtually split in half, between the light and the dark areas of the work. In this version (originally from the Musee d’Orsay), which is brighter than some of the others online (such as here), the balance isn’t quite as obvious.  But it is apparent that the angels (both good and bad, seemingly) are in a far brighter area than the rest.

Delauney uses both the palette and the composition to enhance the angels. The left half of the image (and to some extent the lower right corner) has very subdued tones, and very crowded figures.  The angels are much brighter, both in color and in tone, and are in a simpler, more open area of the image.  Your eye is drawn to them, but you still examine the horrors of the plague in the darkness nearby.

The angels perfectly demonstrate the dynamic, almost paradoxical nature of the image.  The brightness of the angel in flight, the “glory of god” come to save man.  In contrast, the dark angel banging on the door, as if bringing death to all.  But in their motions, the flying angel seems to be directing the dark one, ordering him to be death whether he likes it or not.

That’s where this painting starts to take on a new life.  Are the angels good, removing the horror of the plague from the house within?  Are they bringing light to such a dark, horrible time?  Or is it the opposite, have they come to bring death to all?  Are they angrily attacking, demanding to put a stop to the horrors at all costs?

The victims and others in the scene are almost torn in what they want.  Some are fighting death, some seem horrified by the angels, and some are even indifferent. It’s as if the others in the scene are just as taken aback by the angels as we are.

This is what I love about the best pieces in art.  Sometimes a fairly accepted image of angels, one that’s easily passed off as religious art, brings up far more ideas than originally expected.  The Plague of Rome challenges the ideas of good and evil, pagans and religion, and even destiny.

Opinions?

Fantastic news, for the first time ever I will be an official guest at a con!

I am one of the guests at VisionCon in January, in Springfield, Missouri (website at www.visioncon.net). Along with Brian Keene, Mike Oliveri, Cullen Bunn and a bunch of other folks.

I went last year, and it was a great convention.  Lots of interesting folks, a lot of energy and a great staff.  If you can, I highly suggest checking it out.

The one thing I’m definitely going to make time for is to go to Lambert’s, home of the “throwed rolls”. Last time we almost went, but we didn’t have quite enough time to go in. We did get Brian Keene hooked on Red Robin’s burgers though.

So, who’s with me? Who’s coming to VisionCon?

Not pictured: me! He escapes getting his picture taken again!

It’s definitely been an interesting couple of weeks, and to start things off here’s how last week (Sunday evening) started:

Out in Colorado here we call that, “turning on a green arrow”. Basically, we get the green turn arrow (everyone else gets red), we start turning and BLAMMO!, other party never stopped at the light.  Luckily, being on a fast road, he wasn’t going the full 65 mph that is the speed limit through there.  Only 45 or 50 mph.  Lucky us.

Now, no worries.  Other than being knocked around a bit the family and I are fine.  But it definitely wasn’t how I imagined starting my week going into KillerCon in Las Vegas. I think it also tempered by stay in Vegas some, and I hope that either I hid that well or at the very least I didn’t bore the living crap out of anyone.  Or ignore anyone.  Or both.

KillerCon (put on by the great Wrath James White and crew) turned out to be a good, smaller con.  I was able to talk to several folks I hadn’t been able to in awhile (Keene, Tomo, EvylEd, Mark, Sam, and on), quite a few folks I’d only met online before (Maurice, Bill Ollie, and so on) and quite a few new folks as well (Scotty, Erik, Jeannie, and plenty more). There were a few bumps in the road for the overall con, but for a first shot out of the cannon it turned out well.

KillerCon also held a first for me: the first time I was officially on a panel (in this case, with Allen K and John Palisano).  Now, with all the cons out there and all the people at them it’s probably not a real big deal.  Not to mention we had a light showing (I was going to tell myself that it was because it was Sunday morning at 10 am). But for me, it was a great feeling to be up on the stage and having people be genuinely interested in what I had to say.

It was really great to talk to the crowd, and get their feedback.  I also thought talking with Allen K and John Palisano was great too.  I’m always fascinated listening to how other artists (hell, any creative-types) do things, and hearing where the things I do are similar and where they are not.

Now, don’t let this picture scare you away from the internet for the rest of creation (which is 2012 anyway), but here I am (on the far right) at the panel. Make sure any children or ferrets avert their eyes, I don’t want to be responsible for blindness because of my hideous appearance.  Though I do like my Clutch shirt:

Although, since you skipped that photo in the hopes of avoiding permanent monitor damage looking at me, it is worth pointing out that my portfolio made it nicely into the picture (score!). Also, thanks to Matt Schwartz for taking the photo.

There was only one drawback to the trip.  Here’s what I saw as I was leaving Vegas:

Here, though, is today in Colorado, the day I have to drive all over the place and walk around outside:

Karma: kicking me in the willies since 1972.

I decided to try to get some sketching time in tonight, and after a couple of hours it actually turned into a finished piece.  It was a fun, experimental sort of piece, which is always nice to try.

This one is a cross between a painted style and the textured/layered style that I attempt when I can.  It’s a good stretch of my techniques, and hopefully you think it came out well.

I simply call it, “The Green Girl”.