I'm Back

Here's a 3D sculpt I'm working on in Mudbox, still a work in progress. Between 3dcoat, Mudbox and Zbrush, the skys the limit when it comes to 3d sculpting and painting.

Here is the concept I did for it and the base mesh I started out with.

Oil painting update and sketch

Just a quick update of that oil painting I started this month and also a sketch I did last night.

JP

Sketching again

Ahhh! feels good to hit the graphite again, I missed you old friend. The one thing I always answer to those who ask me what is my fav medium to use? "Graphite baby all the way". I started drawing with pencil at age 4 it's never let me down. Drawing and sketching are the essence and foundations that hold a painting together. Never give up on your sketching.

Whats on my Easel 2 "da oils"

There's nothing like the smell of oil paints and painting medium in da mornin. Aside from killing a few brain cells with the fumes it brings me back to my youth when photoshop was non-existent and illustrators had to actually lift a paintbrush up and dip it into real paint and apply it to a canvas. The age of photoshop is here but there are still a good number of illustrators who prefer analog over digital. I dwell between both digital and analog, digital for speed and ease of use (no messy paints to clean up) analog I use for archiving and exposition of the original and selling to collectors. For me I still do an original oil painting from time to time it's important to leave a legacy of art for my sons.

Here is the start of oils on the "Dominator" piece. As you can see the more muted muddy color is the under-painting and under-drawing. In order to create very detail oils you must have a tight under-drawing or under-painting. You can achieve higher levels of detail quicker with a tight drawing before you start painting instead of going straight to painting with no base drawing.

Whats on my Easel

On May 10 the fantasy art world lost a living legend Frank Frazetta. His work influenced me greatly as a youth and continues today. The thing that made him special was that he created his own defining archetypes. Whether it was a battle worn Barbarian or a beautiful Martian princess, he created these visual archetypes that will stay with us for a long time. When people say "That's a Frazetta girl" you don't think of Kate Moss you think of Jennifer Lopez, you know exactly what they are talking about, that's the impact of the mans work on the genre.

I never had the chance to meet him regretfully, but through his visions I could see his raw passion for life and art in general. Without sounding melo-dramatic I will never forget the first time I laid my eyes on a Frazetta painting it ignited my imagination into overdrive and my desire to cut my own artistic path.

I created a Frazetta tribute piece and if you saw my webpage splash page you can see the BW version and here is the under-drawing in Charcoal and white pastels for the oils I will be painting.

I'm having tons of fun with this. How can you not enjoy a battle scene with an out of his mind charging warrior, sub-human baddies and beautiful tied up women?.

Original Targete oil paintings for sale

Hello,
I get many people who ask me "Hey where can I get an original piece from you not to mention an affordable one?" well these are the facts and answers.
Between 1989 and about 2004 I was painting book covers mainly with oil paints. Many of these paintings took about two weeks or more to complete, some were more detailed then others depending on the deadlines I had. Many were craeted not long after I graduated from the School of Visual arts. I was still learning and developing my style so many of these pieces were a sign of that time.
I have in my possession quite a few originals that were stored away and even forgotten by me. I've kept them for sentimental reasons because each of those pieces marked a certain evolution in my career and life. Recently we moved to Texas and I've unpacked many of those box's that had these classic Targete paintings and I've decided to put them up for sale for anyone interested in getting an orioginal.

Please visit The illustration exchange to see what pieces I have available for sale just type in "Targete" without the quotes in the search box. I also have a few on my website in the "For sale" section.

At this point in my career I do oil paintings when I get the chance and get a break from my film and video game concept work which is mainly done in digital. You can never forget your roots and what got you where you are.

JP

A speed painting and 3d

Ahh its been a while since I've updated. With work and another baby on the way I have my hands full. Things are going good, I wrapped up my work on John Carter of Mars and am fully immersed on a graphic novel/comic book with Radical comics. It's a lot of work but I like the challenge. I've also been working with Blizzard on some World of Warcraft tcg art, cant post those yet. I actually had fun painting scenes from that universe, quite a change up from my darker pieces.

Below is a speed painting I did to loosen up a bit. Also a head sculpt I did in Mudbox titled "Smiling Bastard ". The alien ships were created with a nifty little program called "easy toy" its a sketch based modeler and man its great for 3d challenged guys like me . Textures and rendering was done in Photo shop cs4.

The evolution of my art is ongoing, and I've been at it since I was old enough to hold a pencil. Professionally I've been working as an illustrator/concept artist and art director since 1989. I've worked on book covers , game box art, video game art , matte paintings and costume designs for Film and now finally I get to work on a graphic novel for a major comic book publisher. The circle is not complete though until I write, concept and illustrate my own graphic novel which has been ongoing for sometime now. When I am far enough along to show something I definitely will. I will also be looking at potential publishers as well as this will be the pure Targete, unfiltered , unchained and out to shock :). I will definitely give the fans what they have been asking me for a long time.

As soon as I am allowed to unveil art from the graphic novel project I surely will. I appreciate all the support and kind emails I receive about my artwork.

JP Targete