John Picacio

Working every day to be a better artist

[john-picacio]

SECOND CHANCE SALE for #Loteria Grande Cards ends tonight! Get your karma today because tomorrow’s too late. ;) http://lone-boy.com/wp/product/loteria-grande-cards-series-two/

[john-picacio]

Missed out on my #Loteria Grande Series Two Cards? ONE MORE CHANCE to grab ‘em before they’re gone. Order by this Sunday, December 18th, and I’ll ship all orders by Tuesday the 20th. After that, online orders will CLOSE for the foreseeable! Get ‘em now!

[john-picacio]

LOTERIA POSTER SALE! One week only. Ends Monday, May 23rd. For the first time ever, ‘La Sirena’ is available as an official Lone Boy poster, while supplies last. http://lone-boy.com/wp/shop/

[john-picacio]

Here's what's coming tomorrow night, San Antonio. You with me? :) http://lone-boy.com/wp/2015/03/16/loteria-fest-at-salud-tequila-bar/

[john-picacio]

Stoked to hear that my ‘El Mundo’ Loteria Grande card art was selected for inclusion in Spectrum 22: The Best in Contemporary Fantastic Art. :) http://johnpicacio.com/onthefront/2015/03/25/el-mundo-spectrum-22-selection/

[john-picacio]

Any GAME OF THRONES fans in San Antonio? You don't want to miss this on March 28th. :) https://www.facebook.com/events/1390390127946020/

[a-bittersweet-life]

[a-bittersweet-life]

Each one of Andrei Tarkovsky’s films is an intense exploration of the possibilities cinema offers to storytellers. They also ask much of the viewer. With each invitation into their cinematic landscapes, there is in addition a challenge to learn the language of these film worlds and the essence behind the visually and aurally presented life. As a filmmaker, Tarkovsky’s touch is very much present in how I personally understand and relate to film, and coming from a background in poetry, for me, this acclaimed “poet in cinema” channels the true poetry that cinema is capable of offering to audiences.

When I speak of poetry I am not thinking of it as a genre. Poetry is an awareness of the world, a particular way of relating to reality, said Tarkovsky. From the perspective of a filmmaker, Tarkovsky allures with his grasp for the art of cinema. Still, and more importantly so, from the stance of one who shares in this experience of human life, Tarkovsky allows us to connect with the heart of cinema through his portrayal of emotions and truth, in other words, what makes us human. In a Tarkovsky film, we face life.

Mirror is a true masterpiece and an unforgettable cinematic experience. It is a world that I enjoy visiting. Nostalghia and Stalker, masterpieces in their own right, share a close spot to it. It is difficult to rate the films of Andrei Tarkovsky; however, this order of these sculptures of time will have to suffice for now. To one of the great artists of cinema…cheers.

(original artwork by Mark Neil Balson)

Journey through the life and films of a master filmmaker with Sacrifices of Andrei Tarkovsky: Andrei Tarkovsky, a genius in life, a myth after his death. A great director who created his own world in cinema, totally understandable and yet much misunderstood. With time, Tarkovsky is becoming more and more of a legend, but behind words like “genius” or “classic” the soul of the artist tends to get lost. The soul which is alive in his movies.

[john-picacio]

Great time yesterday at my Austin Books signing + Robert Rodriguez's Frank Frazetta Exhibit last night. If you have any chance at all -- DO NOT MISS seeing these originals. GO. Thoughts: http://lone-boy.com/wp/2015/03/15/austin-books-signing-frazetta/

[hugoeligibleart]

John Picacio / Selected Works for 2014 Best Professional Artist Hugo Consideration • “La Calavera (The Skull)” / Illustration for Loteria Grande Card (Lone Boy) / October 2014 • “La Escalera (The Ladder)” / Illustration for Loteria Grande Card (Lone Boy) / December 2014 • “El Mundo (The World)” / Illustration for Loteria Grande Card (Lone Boy) / February 2014 • “El Corazon (The Heart)” / Illustration for Loteria Grande Card (Lone Boy) / June 2014 • “El Venado (The Deer)” / Illustration for Loteria Grande Card (Lone Boy) / December 2014 • “Prompt. Professional. Pop!” / Illustration for Walter Jon Williams story (Tor.com) / November 2014 * “Nuestra Señora de la Esperanza” / Illustration for Carrie Vaughn’s story (Tor.com) / October 2014 http://www.johnpicacio.com/portfolio/2014/index.html

[john-picacio]

The Hugo Awards Nomination Deadline is today at 11:59pm Pacific. Turning in my final ballot this morning while listening to highlights from the Worldcon Philharmonic Orchestra. Here are some of my Hugo-eligible works in this year's Professional Artist category.

[john-picacio]

I'm doing an AMA (Ask Me Anything) over at Reddit Fantasy. Post your questions right now about Loteria, science fiction/fantasy cover art, drawing, painting, creative process, movies, whiskey, whatever you want......see you there tonight! http://www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/comments/2y19lq/hi_reddit_i_am_hugo_awardwinning_sff_illustrator/

[jedavu]

Surreal Pencil Drawings of Lips by Christo Dagorov

Switzerland-based illustrator and artist Christo Dagorov created this unusual series of pencil drawings that transform the texture of lips into trees, the aerial layout of a city, and even other human forms. 

[john-picacio]

THE LOTERIA MATCH GAME (Part 1 of 6) at SF Signal! Which author is El Diablito? Which whiskey-slugging writer scores El Barril? Find out!

Tune in for Part 2 tomorrow when we discover who belongs to La Muerte and which creator plays a mean Bandolon?

[john-picacio]

Hey, San Antonio: I'll be signing Loteria Grande Cards at Dragon's Lair Comics this Saturday at 10am. See you there. :)

[john-picacio]

Great feature on my Loteria Grande work in today's San Antonio Express-News. 

[willsliney]

I created a little gif on how to draw The Amazing Spider-Man’s webs.

[goldeenherself]

More shameless Lotería Grande Card selfies!

The author with her Grande La Calavera card and signed La Calavera print

Comparison of La Calavera Grande card and print

Comparison of El Arpa Grande card and the centerfold from Picacio’s 2014 calendar (currently hanging opposite the 2013 centerfold in my kitchen).

A very happy Grande card collector

Have you bought your set yet?

[john-picacio]

Picacio Art For Sale!

One-of-a-kind display piece exhibited at the Society of Illustrators' Spectrum Retrospective in New York City last fall!

Details: http://johnpicacio.com/onthefront/2015/02/05/for-sale-the-creative-fire-redux/