The Art of Lucas Durham

Art, sketches, and other things...

[lucasdurham]

Another FanArt token mockup. Like so many, I found out about Chappell Roan when Hot to Go! went viral in 2024. Since then I've loved following her showmanship and one of my favorite costume sets was the Joan of Arc theme she had at the 2024 VMAs. This particular portrait study is based on a concert photo taken by Mike Coppola.

[lucasdurham]

I had an idea for a fan art painting based on a photograph of Billie Eilish by Kelia Anne MacCluskey. As I was painting it, I started seeing it as a Magic the Gathering token, so I mocked it up for fun. I kinda like the idea of music artist inspired tokens, so i may do a couple more and make this a fan art series.

[lucasdurham]

This piece had a long journey, and I'm glad to finally share it with you. It started as a napkin sketch while I was listening to Ashley Eckstein moderate the Sisters of the Force panel at Star Wars Celebration Chicago in 2019. I've always wanted to do a Star Wars homage to Delacroix, and during Ashley's introduction to the panel I kept thinking how Ahsoka would be a perfect fit for the idea, because she could represent the new era in the fan community moving to a more hopeful and inclusive future. It sat dormant for a few months because I knew a multifigure piece like this would take a lot of effort to compose, but in the fall, I started sketching it as an art show proposal for SW Celebration 2020. Unfortunately, it was rejected, but in many ways that ended up being a blessing in disguise. Without a deadline, I was free to take as long as I needed to really flesh out the details, and it was the perfect distraction through the long quiet weekends of 2020. Anyway, like Ahsoka in this painting, hope you can find the inspiration to press forward in whatever life is throwing your way right now, big or small. May the Force be with you!

[monthoffearart]

“Be Well, My Son” by Lucas Durham 6″x10″ Watercolor Mixed Media Instagram | Twitter www.LucasDurham.com Week four of the 2018 Month of Fear challenge: “Blindness” Tropical disease was devastating for Filipinos living in the swampy barrios in the 1920’s. With no medical facilities, villagers could only wait and pray for loved ones . That’s what that did for my grandfather who was in a fevered delirium, seeping eyes swollen shut. Alone on a mat in the night, he suddenly cried, “Come back, come back!” Amazingly the fever had broken and his eyes were clearing. The boy described a strange woman laying cool hands on his eyes and murmuring, “Be well, my son,” but no one was there. Later, he identified his mysterious healer in a faded photo. The image was his 18-year-old mother who had died a month after he had been born.

[monthoffearart]

“Do You Think I’m Pretty?” by Lucas Durham Instagram | Twitter | Artstation www.lucasdurham.com For week 2 of the 2018 Month of Fear challenge: “Beauty” Kuchisake-onna is a malicious spirit in Japanese folklore. According to the modern version of the legend, she walks around wearing a surgical mask. The woman will ask a potential victim “Am I pretty?” If they answer no, she will kill them with a pair of scissors, which she carries in her pocket. If they answer yes, she will pull away the mask, revealing that her mouth is slit from ear to ear, and ask, “How about now?” If they answer no, she will cut her unfortunate victim in half. If the person answers yes, then she will slit his/her mouth so it resembles her mouth. It is impossible to run away from her, as she will simply reappear in front of the victim. When the legend reappeared in the 1970s, rumors of ways to escape also emerged. Some sources say she can also be confused by the victim answering her question with ambiguous answers, such as “You are average” or “So-so”. Another method is to flip her questions towards her, such as asking her “Do you think I’m pretty?” Unsure of what to do, she will give a person enough time to escape while she is lost in thought. Another escape route is to tell her one has a previous engagement; she will pardon her manners and excuse herself. In some variations of the tale, she can be distracted by fruit or candies thrown at her which she will then pick up, thus giving the victim a chance to run.

[lucasdurham]

I was on the road last night, so I couldn't post this during the @lightgreyartlab gallery opening, but here's my contribution to their Magic the Gathering Tribute Show. The original is available for purchase! Click here for details:  https://shop.lightgreyartlab.com/collections/a-tribute-to-25-years-of-magic-the-gathering/products/black-dragon

[monthofloveart]

“Love Conquers Gods” by Lucas Durham Prints Available

For the 2018 Month of Love challenge, “Yellow”

[monthofloveart]

“Death & The Maiden” by Lucas Durham Prints Available

For the 2018 Month of Love challenge, “Black”

“Death and The Maiden” by Matthias Claudius

The Maiden: Pass me by! Oh, pass me by! Go, fierce man of bones! I am still young! Go, rather, And do not touch me. And do not touch me. Death: Give me your hand, you beautiful and tender form! I am a friend, and come not to punish. Be of good cheer! I am not fierce, Softly shall you sleep in my arms! Poem in its original language, German:

Das Mädchen: Vorüber! Ach, vorüber! Geh, wilder Knochenmann! Ich bin noch jung! Geh, lieber, Und rühre mich nicht an. Und rühre mich nicht an.’

‘Der Tod: Gib deine Hand, du schön und zart Gebild! Bin Freund, und komme nicht, zu strafen. Sei gutes Muts! ich bin nicht wild, Sollst sanft in meinen Armen schlafen!”

[lucasdurham]

Even though 2017 isn't over, I saw #best9of2017 was up and running, and I was curious what I'd get. Interesting that 8 of 9 were posts about personal work. Mostly #fanart but I think it's because it carries a cultural/emotional weight that my personal images haven't tapped into yet. If you have any other observations, please send me your thoughts. Would love the feedback as I lightly plan for my art career in 2018. #reflecting #illustratorproblems #instaart #yearinreview

[lucasdurham]

Happy Krampusnacht! Hope you've been good! (Drawing from c.2015) #krampus #krampusnacht #pencildrawing #graphitedrawing #personalart #igart #instaartwork #instaart#sketch #sketchbook #sketchdrawing #draw #drawing #drawingoftheday #drawsomething

[monthoffearart]

Lucas Durham “Medusa” 4.25″x4.24 Oil on Wood

For “Paralyzed” challenge of Month of Fear 2017

Portfolio site: http://www.lucasdurham.com

Tumblr: https://lucasdurham.tumblr.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lucasdurham1000/

[monthoffearart]

The Soul Collector Digital By Lucas Durham Created for The Month of Fear 2017 Challenge, “Howl.” There is a deep history in folklore of dog’s having a connection to the spirit world. In many cultures, the howl of a dog signifies something ominous. Some trace this association back to ancient Egypt, where it was believed that a howling dog was calling a soul to the collecting god, Anubis. 

[lucasdurham]

Was stoked to do an official portrait of Kylo Ren for Fantasy Flight Games. Art Director: Taylor Ingvarsson #kyloren #starwars #knightsofren #digital #photoshop #illustration #starwarsdestiny #firstorder #theforceawakens #commercialart #igart #instaartwork #instaart #alongtimeagoinagalaxyfarfaraway #rogueone #iamonewiththeforcetheforceiswithme #maytheforcebewithyou #nofilter #emokyloren

[lucasdurham]

Happy 80th birthday to the Hobbit! Thought I'd share a preliminary drawing to a painting I started, but never finished, depicting the dinner scene early in the book as an homage to the famous Norman Rockwell painting. Should I attempt it again? #lordoftherings #hobbit #lordoftherings #jrrtolkien #tolkien #bilbo #normanrockwell #sketch #sketchbook #preliminary #instaartwork #igart #drawing #pencildrawing #throwbackthursday

[lucasdurham]

#Repost @fairgamestore (@get_repost) ・・・ Love Star Wars? Join us on September 9 for a Meet the Artist and Kids' Art Workshop event with @lucasdurham1000 !! He does work for many of our favorite Star Wars games (and a lot of others, too). We're super excited to have him join us for this event!! Contact the store for more details.

[lucasdurham]

View this post on Instagram

Process video for my latest fan art painting. Music: Wizardtorium by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ #rey #reyoflight #starwars #reystarwars #fanart #graphitedrawing #pencildrawing #process #wip #theforceawakens #personalart #igart #instaartwork #instaart #alongtimeagoinagalaxyfarfaraway #rogueone #iamonewiththeforcetheforceiswithme #maytheforcebewithyou #nofilter #graphite #sketch #sketchbook #sketchdrawing #draw #drawing #drawingoftheday #drawsomething

[lucasdurham]

"The belonging you seek is not behind you -- it is ahead." Finally finished with this one! I always saw Rey on Jakku as a great opportunity to homage the Howard Pyle painting, Marooned.