Welcome to Portraits of WAR!

My artwork is hugely influenced by artists and writers from Games Workshop and the Black Library. So I decided to start a blog where to show my drawings and illustrations inspired on Warhammer’s universe.

My favourite technique is ball-point pen on paper. I’ve a fascination for black & white. The beauty of working with ball-point pen is that there is little room for mistakes, there is not an undo button.

Please feel free to leave your comments and thoughts, they’re going to be appreciated. I’ll be uploading old and new artwork as well as sketches and doodles with ideas that are always swirling in my mind.

I’m playing Warhammer Online in the european server of Burlok Karak Norn. I’m a proud member of Grom Karaz.

If you want to find more about me, please visit my website: www.manuelmesones.com

You can contact me at forjador -at- manuelmesones.com

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This site is completely unofficial and in no way endorsed by Games Workshop Limited or Mythic Entertainment.

Tribute: Dwarven Heroes

Drawing: Ball-point pen on paper.

Following my previous sketch about Dwarven Heroes, I have been playing with few more ideas on the subject. I was quite happy with the details and character of the dawi on the sketch. I decided to incorporate Malakai Makaisson to the mix and put them all together in a dynamic composition.

I have drawn this on an A4, so I was limited on the quality of the details. As you may know I love working on details but the smaller the format the trickiest it gets. I should really find the space to place a proper drawing table and start drawing on A3.

I’m really excited thinking about painting this drawing. Different styles comes to mind and I can’t really decide.

This is a tribute to all the creative people that through the years have been bringing the dawi to life with their stories and illustrations. I want to mention specially William King, Nick Kyme, Gav Thorpe, Nathan Long and Adrian Smith.

-Forjador.

P.S. In case you haven’t noticed, if you want to see a bigger image just click on any picture.

Sketch: Dwarven Heroes

Sketch: Pencil on paper.

You may have noticed by now that I have a soft spot for the dwarfs. There is something about their character that I feel identified with. Things like tradition, honour, courage and love for good beer.

There are three characters that in my opinion summarize what the dwarfs are about:

Gotrek Gurnisson from Gotrek and Felix series by William King and more recently by Nathan Long

Morek Stonehammer from Honourkeeper by Nick Kyme

Halgar Halfhand from Oathbreaker by Nick Kyme

Gotrek and Felix series are a Warhammer classic, but if you like dwarfs I heartily recommend Nick Kyme’s books, he is a fantastic writer that really capture the spirit of the dawi. Go and have a look at his website

I will be inking this sketch and perhaps taking it to Photoshop. I’ll keep it simple but I might be able to make a wallpaper out of this drawing.

On my to do list I still have to finish the tribute for herr McNeill and I have some more tributes planned for Dan Abnett and Nick Kyme. Expect more Warhammer 40k as I’m currently reading Tales of Heresy.

Edited: Perhaps I should add to that list Malakai Makaisson, the crazy engineer from Gotrek & Felix novels. Surely Malakai is not your typical dwarf -or your typical slayer!- but he certainly deserves a mention as a dwarven hero and maybe he should have his own entry

-Forjador.

Revisiting the Slayer

Following the advice of my good friend José Luis I amended the perspective on the Slayer’s axe pommel. I just couldn’t see it at the time, it is always good to have people pointing these sort of things out. Cheers Pepe!

I have also created a new wallpaper with the amended version, you can find it by clicking the image above or by checking here: 1280×1024 slayer wallpaper

Talking about slayers, about a year ago I did a lineart drawing of Gotrek & Felix.

Gotrek & Felix, created by William King, are two of my favourite Warhammer characters.

A brief description from the Black Library: “After fleeing the authorities in the Imperial city of Altdorf, writer Felix Jaeger swears a drunken oath to the dwarf Gotrek Gurnisson to record his death saga. In the cold light of day, Felix’s worst fears are confirmed as he learns that Gotrek is a Trollslayer. Their travels throw them into a string of extraordinary adventures as Felix tries to survive his companion’s destiny.”

If you are interested to find more about these adventurers I’d suggest to check it on the Black Library.

-Forjador.

Tribute series: Ultramarines

Sketch: Pencil on paper.

I have been reading Warhammer (Fantasy) and WH40k novels for long time. Some of my favourite writers are (in not particular order): Dan Abnett, Nick Kyme, Graham McNeill, William King, C.L. Werner and Gav Thorpe.

Series like Gaunt’s Ghosts, Gotrek & Felix and Horus Heresy are among my old time favourites. It is thanks to writers like those mentioned above that my imagination gets set free to roam through extraordinary universes. It is for this reason that I decided to start a Tribute series, a personal homage to honour my favourite authors and their novels.

I talked this idea with my good friend Felix Lopez from  Kharak Studios and we decided to work something together. So the plan is to start with some illustrations to finally bring them to life by making a diorama out of them -that is Felix’s expertise.

We decided to start these Tribute series with the iconic Herr McNeill’s Ultramarines.  The picture above is just a pencil sketch that I will use to make the first illustration of the series. I have a lot of things to tweak on that drawing but I’ll do so once painting it.

Finally, I want to apologise once more for the lack of activity recently. I’ll try to keep you updated even if it is just with different stages of progress of the illustration or new sketches and roughs I keep doing for future pieces.

-Forjador.

I’ll be back soon!

I’m writing a quick note to let you all know I’m well and alive!

I want to apologise for the lack of activity on my blog. The past few weeks have been very hectic, I have had hardly any time for anything but work. I’m eager to get back to my illustrations. If everything goes well things will get back to normal for me next week. In any case I’m taking a week off work on August so hopefully I’ll catch up on things

Thank you for your patience!

The devil is in the details

Once I read: “The devil might be in the details, but so is the heart of a story”. I couldn’t agree more.

I’ve been doing my homework. One of the things I value a lot on an illustration is the power of detail. Little things like a rusty brooch, a fading tattoo, embroidered runes on a tattered cloak or an old parchment attached to some dented armour; all these things can tell you a whole story on their own.

So I’ve been gathering all the information I could about the Astartes. Some books are very difficult to track, but there are excellent sites out there like The Bolter and the Chainsword, where you can find the answers if you know the questions

I believe that the better you know your subject, the better results on your artwork. Details add character, realism and are a treat for those who know their lore: the passionates. After some researching and many doodlings I’m ready to start my next illustration. It is going to be part of a bigger picture, a nice little project I’m quite excited about. I can’t tell you any details yet but I’m very motivated and I wish I had more time in my hands.

Leaving Warhammer 40k for a moment and going back to the Old World, I got hold of a copy of Grudgelore -A History of Grudges and the Great Realm of the Dwarfs- by Nick Kyme and Gav Thorpe. Man, what a book! I’d say it is a must for any Warhammer fan. Nicely written it has a lot of detailed information and is full of gorgeous illustrations. It’s a shame it is sold out and I really wish the Black Library to make a reprint in the near future.

On a side note, as some of you may noticed, I’ve reorganized my links. I have added some more links from writers and artists that usually do some work for Games Workshop or the Black Library. If you have some related links that you think I should add, please let me know.

-Forjador.

Where is my mind?

I wish I could produce more artwork more often, I really do. If I just have a bit more time in my hands… but time… time is merciless.

I’m not fast at drawing, I’ve never been. I’m crap at speed painting as well. I like to get lost into details, to me drawing or painting is just like meditating. My mind takes flight and time stops… Well, I wish it did. I just lose track of it completely.

With my long commuting hours and many responsibilities I have been neglecting my drawing for years. Doing it very casually, refusing to do something too complex that would take me ages to complete. This year however things have changed. Something inside me, that inner child with wings, whispered me to remember. Remember old shattered dreams and make them true.

That’s why I started this art blog. I can’t thank enough the support from the WAR community and Warhammer enthusiasts as it has been incredible. I’ve been getting some constructive criticism that is helping me immensely.

Now I want to take a step further and start creating more complex pieces of artwork like full battle scenes. I want to be portraying not only Warhammer Fantasy but Warhammer 40k as well.

Through the next weeks (months) I’ll be showing you my ideas from sketches to full colour illustrations (like the Slayer one). You’ll be able to see the progress from doodles to digital painting. Just bear with me!

Step by step I want to get better.

-Forjador.

Slayer Wallpaper

As promised, I’ve adapted the illustration of the Slayer to make a desktop wallpaper in three different sizes. The wallpapers have been done for the Warhammer Vault so they have the Vault’s logo on the bottom left corner.

You can find a 1280 x 1024 here or by clicking the image above.

You can find a 1280 x 1024, 1600 x 1200 and 1920 x 1200 at the Vault Wallpapers.

-Forjador.

Archetype Series: Slayer II Revised

Above: Illustration done using Photoshop CS3 & a Wacom Graphire 3

Above: Original drawing: ball-point pen on paper

I have spent the past few days tweaking the slayer’s illustration. I’m a lot happier with the results but I know I could carry on amending things for a full year and never be fully satisfied.

The painting is now a bit darker, more in tune with the gritty world of Warhammer.

It would have been harder to adjust things on the illustration if it wasn’t for the honest opinion and constructive critiscism of: José Luis González, Swissy, OniGanon and my wife Sue.

I want to thank as well all the nice people that have been showing me their support by posting here or on their blogs. Cheers guys & gals

I should have ready some wallpapers later next week. Stay tuned!

-Forjador.

Archetype Series: Slayer II

Illustration done using Photoshop CS3 & a Wacom Graphire 3

This is what has been keeping me busy…

Some weeks ago I posted a ball-point pen drawing of Gardar, the slayer. I wanted to put some colour to his world and this took me longer than I expected.

I haven’t been painting anything complex for few years now so I was feeling really rusty. After reading some books about matte painting I decided to try out some techniques, and I have to say I really had good fun messing about with my drawing.

I’m still not 100% happy with the results, I think I’m going to review this painting in the near future. I really want to work more on the slayer’s face. But to be completely honest I’m actually sick of it. It has taken me roughly about 40 hours work. So I though I better post this now or I’ll never do it!

I’m going to make some wallpapers out of this illustration, I will be posting them through the Warhammer Vault, I’ll let you know when these are ready.

Meanwhile, if you want to take a closer look to the painting, please check here.

-Forjador.

Update 12.05.09: I’ll be polishing some details on the illustration soon. I need to work on the face, shoulder and some bits that are too flat. I could do add more depth to some textures as well. Thank you all for your support

Update 13.05.09: I’ve been working on the colours, giving more tones to the skin and creating more volume. I’ve amended the anatomy of the shoulder and reworked the face. I’m trying giving Gardar some scars and veins but I’m not sure if I’ll leave them for the final version. On the next days I’ll rework the axe to make it look more dwarvish. I should have a revised version next week. I’ll keep you informed!