Discussion
Loading...

Post

Log in
  • About
  • Code of conduct
  • Privacy
  • About Bonfire
Michael Whelan
Michael Whelan
@MichaelWhelan@mastodon.art  ·  activity timestamp 6 hours ago

DRAGONSDAWN (1987)
Acrylic on Watercolor Board - 25” x 36”

This was the first cover in the Dragonriders of Pern series to feature the beloved fire lizards and I really enjoyed painting them. 1/5

#sciencefiction #illustration #bookcover #pern #annemccaffrey #delreybooks

A redheaded woman in a yellow jumpsuit emerges from a cave. She stands with arms outstretched in a T shape. A tiny dragon perches on each forearm. She's framed by the entrance of the cave, which is set in a hillside on a small island. Water washes up the sand in front of her. Bare alien trees extend upward from the hillside. The trunks are tan and segmented like bamboo. Some trunks are thicker, combining many thick shoots into their mass. Leafless branches project out sharply. More islands can be seen in distance on the left side of the painting along with two moons hanging in a gold and pastel sky glowing as the sun rises out of view.
A redheaded woman in a yellow jumpsuit emerges from a cave. She stands with arms outstretched in a T shape. A tiny dragon perches on each forearm. She's framed by the entrance of the cave, which is set in a hillside on a small island. Water washes up the sand in front of her. Bare alien trees extend upward from the hillside. The trunks are tan and segmented like bamboo. Some trunks are thicker, combining many thick shoots into their mass. Leafless branches project out sharply. More islands can be seen in distance on the left side of the painting along with two moons hanging in a gold and pastel sky glowing as the sun rises out of view.
A redheaded woman in a yellow jumpsuit emerges from a cave. She stands with arms outstretched in a T shape. A tiny dragon perches on each forearm. She's framed by the entrance of the cave, which is set in a hillside on a small island. Water washes up the sand in front of her. Bare alien trees extend upward from the hillside. The trunks are tan and segmented like bamboo. Some trunks are thicker, combining many thick shoots into their mass. Leafless branches project out sharply. More islands can be seen in distance on the left side of the painting along with two moons hanging in a gold and pastel sky glowing as the sun rises out of view.
  • Copy link
  • Flag this post
  • Block
Michael Whelan
Michael Whelan
@MichaelWhelan@mastodon.art replied  ·  activity timestamp 6 hours ago

When I finished, I had a vague sense of unease and didn't send it off to the publisher before leaving for the World Science Fiction Convention in Brighton, England. 2/5

Alternative preliminary concept for DRAGONSDAWN featuring a woman on one knee, leaning forward with a tiny dragon perched on her arm. A man stands beside her with a dragon perched on his far shoulder.
Alternative preliminary concept for DRAGONSDAWN featuring a woman on one knee, leaning forward with a tiny dragon perched on her arm. A man stands beside her with a dragon perched on his far shoulder.
Alternative preliminary concept for DRAGONSDAWN featuring a woman on one knee, leaning forward with a tiny dragon perched on her arm. A man stands beside her with a dragon perched on his far shoulder.
  • Copy link
  • Flag this comment
  • Block
Michael Whelan
Michael Whelan
@MichaelWhelan@mastodon.art replied  ·  activity timestamp 6 hours ago

We took a side trip to the fabulous beaches in South Wales. While standing in the water, I looked back at the shore and realized a flaw in the painting still sitting on my easel at home. 3/5

Alternative preliminary concept for DRAGONSDAWN featuring a woman standing on a small island with her arms out wide. Tiny dragons perch on her arms and others swirl around her.
Alternative preliminary concept for DRAGONSDAWN featuring a woman standing on a small island with her arms out wide. Tiny dragons perch on her arms and others swirl around her.
Alternative preliminary concept for DRAGONSDAWN featuring a woman standing on a small island with her arms out wide. Tiny dragons perch on her arms and others swirl around her.
  • Copy link
  • Flag this comment
  • Block
Michael Whelan
Michael Whelan
@MichaelWhelan@mastodon.art replied  ·  activity timestamp 6 hours ago

When I got back to the studio, I repainted the water and then sent it in. There's no substitute for studying the real thing. 4/5

3 media
Preliminary concept developed for DRAGONSDAWN featuring a woman emerging from a cave on a small island with her arms out wide and dragons perched there.
Preliminary concept developed for DRAGONSDAWN featuring a woman emerging from a cave on a small island with her arms out wide and dragons perched there.
Preliminary concept developed for DRAGONSDAWN featuring a woman emerging from a cave on a small island with her arms out wide and dragons perched there.
Figure detail from DRAGONSDAWN featuring a woman in a yellow jumpsuit emerging from a cave. She stands with arms outstretched. A tiny dragon perches on each forearm.
Figure detail from DRAGONSDAWN featuring a woman in a yellow jumpsuit emerging from a cave. She stands with arms outstretched. A tiny dragon perches on each forearm.
Figure detail from DRAGONSDAWN featuring a woman in a yellow jumpsuit emerging from a cave. She stands with arms outstretched. A tiny dragon perches on each forearm.
Background detail from DRAGONSDAWN featuring islands rising from the blue lavender sea. On the foreground island, a leafless alien tree stands at the edge of a rocky hill. The trunk is comprises of short cylinders that form plateaus as if expressing a vertical growing cycle. Stiff pointy branches extend to the side like spears.
Background detail from DRAGONSDAWN featuring islands rising from the blue lavender sea. On the foreground island, a leafless alien tree stands at the edge of a rocky hill. The trunk is comprises of short cylinders that form plateaus as if expressing a vertical growing cycle. Stiff pointy branches extend to the side like spears.
Background detail from DRAGONSDAWN featuring islands rising from the blue lavender sea. On the foreground island, a leafless alien tree stands at the edge of a rocky hill. The trunk is comprises of short cylinders that form plateaus as if expressing a vertical growing cycle. Stiff pointy branches extend to the side like spears.
  • Copy link
  • Flag this comment
  • Block
Michael Whelan
Michael Whelan
@MichaelWhelan@mastodon.art replied  ·  activity timestamp 6 hours ago

Cover illustration for DRAGONSDAWN by Anne McCaffrey (Del Rey) 5/5

https://www.michaelwhelan.com/galleries/dragonsdawn/

Book cover for DRAGONSDAWN by Anne McCaffrey, published by Del Rey
Book cover for DRAGONSDAWN by Anne McCaffrey, published by Del Rey
Book cover for DRAGONSDAWN by Anne McCaffrey, published by Del Rey
The Art of Michael Whelan

DRAGONSDAWN

This was the first cover in the Dragonriders of Pern series to feature the beloved fire lizards and Michael really enjoyed painting them. He finished the painting, but he had a vague sense of uneas…
  • Copy link
  • Flag this comment
  • Block
Kat S
Kat S
@KatS@chaosfem.tw replied  ·  activity timestamp 4 hours ago

@MichaelWhelan I read most of the Dragonrider series, back in the day. I think you illustrated most of my teen years.

  • Copy link
  • Flag this comment
  • Block

BT Free Social

BT Free is a non-profit organization founded by @ozoned@btfree.social . It's goal is for digital privacy rights, advocacy and consulting. This goal will be attained by hosting open platforms to allow others to seamlessly join the Fediverse on moderated instances or by helping others join the Fediverse.

BT Free Social: About · Code of conduct · Privacy ·
Bonfire social · 1.0.1 no JS en
Automatic federation enabled
Log in
  • Explore
  • About
  • Code of Conduct