Fantasy: Worlds of Myth & Magic

The EMP Museum in Seattle is currently featuring a terrific exhibition called Fantasy: Worlds of Myth & Magic. If you love fantasy art, literature or film, it's a must-see.

One of my Elric of Melnibone preliminary drawings is on exhibit next to Michael Moorcock's prototype for Elric's legendary sword Stormbringer.

A couple of my artworks for the 2012 George R. R. Martin / A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE Calendar are represented, alongside a fabulous Hildebrandt painting here.

While you're at the EMP, check out the Icons of Science Fiction exhibit too.

One of my favorite details of the collection is this wall. Look closely and you'll see Yoda's walking stick as used by Frank Oz in THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK. That spiky sphere is the Kryptonian ship that launches Kal-El to Earth in 1978's SUPERMAN: THE MOVIE. And yup, that's hanging next to one of the original suits that Christopher Reeve wore for the Superman movies. In the middle of all of that -- one of my cover artworks. This one is for Nancy Kress' classic BEGGARS IN SPAIN.

It's just a paperback with my art on it. No big deal.

But seeing it on a museum wall in the middle of iconic objects that defined my childhood (with Moebius and WATCHMEN on the wall, to boot)?

It was definitely a full-circle moment.

It reminded me how grateful I am to do what I do for a living, and it makes me want to do more, do better, and dream bigger.

A few more pics of characters, real and imaginary, that you might recognize from the Museum's collection:

If you plan to travel to the Pacific Northwest anytime soon, or if you'll be coming to Norwescon this year -- make sure you check it out!

Selected 2013 Published Works

Here's a one-stop visual list of highlights from my 2013 published works. The awards nomination season is upon us again (Hugos, Chesleys, World Fantasy Awards, etc.), and it helps to know which works from a creator are eligible for 2014 consideration. If you wish to reference this list for future deliberation and sharing, I hope it proves helpful. Enjoy! :)

(above)
THE 2014 JOHN PICACIO CALENDAR
Published by Lone Boy
December 2013
(eligible for the Hugo Award / Best Related Work
and Professional Artist categories)

(above)
EL ARPA
Loteria card illustration
Published by Lone Boy
December 2013
(eligible for the Hugo Best Professional Artist category
and Chesley Award / Best Product Illustration category)

(above)

EL PARAGUAS

Loteria card illustration

Published by Lone Boy

December 2013

(eligible for the Hugo Best Professional Artist category
and Chesley Award / Best Product Illustration category)

(above)

LA LUNA

Loteria card illustration

Published by Lone Boy

December 2013

(eligible for the Hugo Best Professional Artist category
and Chesley Award / Best Product Illustration category)

(above)

THE GOOD LIFE

Editorial illustration

Published by Popular Science

June 2013

(eligible for the Hugo Best Professional Artist category
and Chesley Award / Best Interior Illustration category)

(above)

THE DIAMOND DEEP

Cover illustration for the Brenda Cooper novel

Published by Pyr

October 2013

(eligible for the Hugo Best Professional Artist category
and Chesley Award / Best Paperback Cover Illustration category)

(above)
HAUNTERS

Cover illustration for the Thomas Taylor novel

Published by Scholastic / Chicken House

May 2013

(eligible for the Hugo Best Professional Artist category
and Chesley Award / Best Hardback Cover Illustration category)

(above)
THE FALL OF HYPERION

Cover illustration for the limited edition of the Dan Simmons novel

Published by Subterranean Press

June 2013

(eligible for the Hugo Best Professional Artist category
and Chesley Award / Best Hardback Cover Illustration category)

SF/F Artists: Your 2013 Awards-eligible Works?

This is an open thread to all artists, professional or fan, who would like to post links or summaries of their awards-eligible art from 2013. Bear in mind that for the Hugo Awards and the Chesley Awards, this means that your work must have been published in 2013 (except for Chesley categories such as 'Unpublished', of course).

Why post your stuff on a thread like this?

Voters tend to rely on memory when they fill out ballots. It's a challenge for any voter to remember the work of an entire year and recall not just their favorites, but what was actually published in that given year. If this thread helps voters remember which of your stuff is eligible for consideration, that's a good thing.

If you're worried that posting here is campaigning for yourself, don't sweat it. It's not cool to pound your chest and campaign for yourself, but it is alright to inform the public about which works of yours are awards-eligible. That's not just OK -- it's common sense.

Posting your stuff here is not campaigning -- and after all -- you're being invited to post. So go for it. :)

Final note: this thread is a place for artists to post their own work. It's not a forum to argue about who should win, or make comments. Let's keep it streamlined.

And if you really want to be a rock star -- it's super-helpful if you post the awards categories where your work is eligible this year.

Have at it, and good luck, everyone! :)

(Shoutout to John Scalzi for inspiring this post.)