Velociraptor was a lot smaller than is typically depicted in media. They were also covered in feathers. In that way, they really do look like big turkeys. But don’t let that fool you–velociraptors are efficient hunters, and a pack of them can do serious damage. This velociraptor has stopped near the ruins of an abandoned factory. The raptors like spots like this: people tend to stay away, and the dilapidated building offers shade on a hot day. Because of their […]

Categories: Original Art, Science FIction

Most paleontologists think that the Tyrannosaurus rex was probably an ambush hunter (to the degree that it hunted). That’s what these two T. rexes are doing in this particular piece. They’re using the train bridge as a nice little ambush site. And when those deer walk through, the dinosaurs will have a nice little lunch (if the rexes can keep quiet enough). In this dinosaur world I’ve created, non avian dinosaurs have suddenly been springing up in the midwest United […]

Categories: Original Art, Science FIction

Is there a single dinosaur more compelling than Tyrannosaurus rex? I’m not sure I could name one. This piece started off as a simple head study, just trying to understand the shape and volume of a T. rex. But it kept evolving and I’m really thrilled with how it turned out. In this piece, T. rex executes a successful ambush from the forest. The animal feasts on its fresh kill. Want to hang this dinosaur up on your wall? You […]

Categories: Original Art, Science FIction

When I was younger, I’d draw dinosaurs all the time. But I mainly focused on carnivores. I didn’t draw a lot of sauropods. So this diplodocus painting was certainly a challenge! But I was inspired by the diplodocus fossil skeleton on display at the Science Museum of Minnesota. Every time I visited that exhibit, I’d be impressed by the size and scope of that animal. Here, I decided to paint the diplodocus wandering a lonely and mostly unused train yard. […]

Categories: Original Art, Science FIction

Jupiter is easily one of the most compelling planets in the solar system. It’s big, it’s mysterious, it’s… pretty far away. And it has its own mini-solar system of moons. Maybe that’s why I paint these gas giants so often. Anyway, I really wanted to show a sense of scale to the galaxy with this piece–I wanted that ship to look very tiny. Hope you like the piece! If you’d like to purchase prints of this piece, you can find […]

Categories: Original Art, Science FIction

It’s all about the Triceratops. The other day, my wife and I went to William O’Brien State Park here in Minnesota. There was a light drizzle when our hike started. But that light rain quickly became quite the downpour. And that’s what inspired this particular piece. I wanted to add the Triceratops herd to this piece because, well, Trikes are a bit of a challenge. I can paint a velociraptor with no problem, but I don’t paint a lot of […]

Categories: Original Art, Science FIction

I’m not sure where the idea for this post-apocalyptic book club came from, but the image popped into my head in essentially this form. I don’t always like to paint like that. Usually, I like to thumbnail. (I don’t thumbnail as much as I should, but it’s still an important part of my process.) So, the idea here is that even in a post-apocalyptic future, people will still want to read. And this seemed like a nice, quiet spot for […]

Categories: Original Art, Science FIction

So, I had this image in my head of an astronaut entering a rather ominous looking airlock. And that was really the only basis for this painting when I started. As I got into it, I also wanted to try to do some cool things with the light (and, specifically, with the light changing based on the environment). I’m happy with the way this piece turned out. I accomplished what I set out to do, and that’s something. I also […]

Categories: Original Art, Science FIction